Line Cook

Black Briar; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 27,552 - 31,684; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off (after 90 days)

Paid sick leave (Illinois law)

Employee dining benefit

Annual merit increase

Job summary

Black Briar in Chicago's West Loop is seeking a Line Cook who can own a station, cook with consistency, and take pride in every plate that leaves the pass. You report to the Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine in a hands-on, high-standard kitchen built around a coal grill and live-fire cooking.

The kitchen emphasizes method, consistency, and teamwork. 1+ year line experience preferred; Illinois Food Handler certification required or obtained before start date.

Qualifications

• 1+ year on a professional line preferred — full-service a plus; we will train strong talent.
• Solid fundamentals — knife skills, station discipline, and seasoning instinct.
• Live-fire or grill experience a plus — this kitchen runs on coal.
• Ability to work clean, fast, and consistent under volume.
• Valid Illinois Food Handler certification required, or obtained before start date.
• Availability for a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Reliable, coachable, and team-first.

Responsibilities

• Executing your station to spec during service — quality, consistency, and timing.
• Full pre-shift prep and mise en place — organized and ready before every service.
• Holding food safety and sanitation standards on every shift, no exceptions.
• Cooking to recipe and presentation standards without variation.
• Communicating clearly on the line — calm and effective under pressure.
• Keeping your station clean, organized, and stocked throughout service.
• Complete station breakdown, storage, and closing procedures.
• Learning additional stations and supporting the team where needed.

Skills

Knife skills

Station discipline

Seasoning instinct

Live-fire grill experience

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 Line Cook who can hold a station, cook with consistency, and take genuine pride in every plate that leaves the pass.

The Role

The Line Cook is the backbone of the Black Briar kitchen. You own your station — prep, execution, and cleanliness — and put out food to the standard set by the chefs, every ticket, every shift. You report to the Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine. This is a hands-on, high-standard role where technique and consistency matter.

What You Own

• Executing your station to spec during service — quality, consistency, and timing
• Full pre-shift prep and mise en place — organized and ready before every service
• Holding food safety and sanitation standards on every shift, no exceptions
• Cooking to recipe and presentation standards without variation
• Communicating clearly on the line — calm and effective under pressure
• Keeping your station clean, organized, and stocked throughout service
• Complete station breakdown, storage, and closing procedures
• Learning additional stations and supporting the team where needed

What We’re Looking For

• 1+ year on a professional line preferred — full-service a plus; we will train strong talent
• Solid fundamentals — knife skills, station discipline, and seasoning instinct
• Live-fire or grill experience a plus — this kitchen runs on coal
• Ability to work clean, fast, and consistent under volume
• Valid Illinois Food Handler certification required, or obtained before start date
• Availability for a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Reliable, coachable, and team-first

The Kitchen

The Black Briar kitchen is built around a coal grill and a raw bar. The menu is live-fire forward, ingredient-driven, and rooted in American tavern cooking — honest, refined, and without unnecessary complexity. Every cook is expected to understand the food, execute it consistently, and take pride in the standard.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly wage $20.00-$23.00
• 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 take your station personally. You show up early, work clean, and put out the same plate on a slow Tuesday that you would on a packed Saturday. You want to get better — to learn the grill, the raw bar, the whole kitchen — and you want to do it somewhere the standard is real. 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.