Grill Cook

Black Briar; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,307 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Paid sick leave

Employee dining benefit

Annual merit increase

Job summary

Black Briar in Chicago, IL is seeking a Grill Cook to own the coal grill and deliver plates over live fire with precision. You will manage temperature, timing, and station flow during service, coordinating with the pass and line to maintain high standards.

The role requires at least 1+ year of professional line experience on live-fire or grill, strong fundamentals, and a valid Illinois Food Handler certification or obtain before start date. We offer competitive hourly wages and benefits.

Qualifications

• 1+ year professional line experience with live-fire/grill preferred
• Strong temperature and timing control
• Composure at a high-volume station

Responsibilities

• Run the coal grill during service, controlling temperature and timing
• Manage fire, read heat, and maintain station readiness
• Cook proteins and vegetables to exact temperature and presentation
• Complete pre-shift prep and post-shift breakdown of grill station

Skills

Live-fire cooking

Grill mastery

Temperature control

Teamwork

Food safety basics

Education

Illinois Food Handler certification

Job description

Company Overview

Black Briar is a creative American restaurant anchored by an open coal grill, a serious raw bar, and ingredient-first cooking with a Chicago tavern soul. Led by Chef Jimmy Papadopoulos, we are opening in the West Loop and building something permanent — a kitchen with a point of view, a team with standards, and a menu that earns its place in the city we love.

We are looking for a Grill Cook who is comfortable with fire — someone with the timing, instinct, and composure to run the coal grill at the center of this kitchen.

The Role

The Grill Cook owns the heart of the Black Briar kitchen: the coal grill. You cook proteins and vegetables over live fire to exact temperature and standard, manage the fire and the station through service, and put out the dishes that define this menu. You report to the Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine. This is a demanding, high-skill station for a cook who reads fire.

What You Own

• Running the coal grill during service — temperature, timing, char, and consistency on every plate
• Managing the fire — building, maintaining, and reading heat across the shift
• Cooking proteins and vegetables to exact temperature and presentation standard
• Full pre-shift prep and mise en place for the grill station
• Holding food safety, sanitation, and fire-safety standards at all times
• Communicating timing and temps clearly with the pass and the line
• Keeping the grill station clean, organized, and stocked throughout service
• Complete breakdown, ash management, and closing of the grill station

What We’re Looking For

• 1+ year cooking on a professional line, with live-fire, grill, or wood/coal experience strongly preferred
• Real command of temperature, timing, and doneness across proteins
• Composure and consistency at a hot, high-volume station
• Solid fundamentals — knife skills, seasoning, and station discipline
• Valid Illinois Food Handler certification required, or obtained before start date
• Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Reliable, focused, and team-first

The Kitchen

The Black Briar kitchen is built around a coal grill — live fire is the center of this menu, not a garnish on it. The Grill Cook holds the hottest, most-watched station in the room. It is demanding work for a cook who likes the heat and takes the char personally.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly wage $22.00-$25.00
• Health benefits
• Paid time off, accruing after 90 days
• Paid sick leave per Illinois law
• Employee dining benefit
• Annual performance review with merit increase opportunity

Who You Are

You like the heat. You read a fire the way other cooks read a clock, and you put out a perfect plate of fish or steak in the middle of a rush without losing your head. You take the grill personally because it is the center of the room. You want to cook over fire somewhere the standard matches the ambition. If that is you, we want to hear from you.

Black Briar is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the city we are proud to call home.