Cook

About the Role:

Silk is a craft cocktail lounge in downtown Utica with a food program built to impress. The Silk Lineup is bold, non-traditional, and meant to be shared, and every plate that leaves this kitchen has to earn that reputation. This role executes it.

You will prep, cook, and plate to spec under the direction of our kitchen leadership. This kitchen runs on discipline: prep is done before it's needed, stations are stocked before service, and downtime is work time. Phone use during your shift is zero. Use company time effectively or go home. If that sounds harsh, this isn't the kitchen for you. If that sounds like how a real kitchen should run, keep reading.

What You’ll Do:

• Set up, stock, and maintain your prep station and the kitchen for service
• Ensure adequate prep at all times. Running out mid-service because prep was skipped is not acceptable.
• Prepare components of every menu item to spec and to chef's standards
• Cook menu items on the line with the support of the kitchen team
• Report to kitchen leadership and follow their instructions thoroughly and completely
• Follow directives from management and ownership with professionalism
• Keep all food prep and storage areas up to health and safety standards
• Clean prep areas throughout the shift and properly handle leftovers and waste
• Stock inventory and supplies and communicate needs before they become problems
• Find the next task during slow periods: prep ahead, clean, restock. If you can lean, you can clean.

Who You Are:

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar kitchen role
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Solid knowledge of kitchen best practices, cooking methods, and knife work
• A self-starter who sees what the station needs and handles it without being told
• Respectful to every member of the kitchen staff, every shift. This kitchen has no room for egos or attitude.
• Coachable. You take correction professionally, apply it, and don't repeat the mistake.
• You take direction from chefs, management, and ownership without pushback
• Detail-focused, organized, and able to multi-task under pressure
• Reliable. You show up on time, every shift, ready to work.
• Able to lift 50 pounds repetitively per shift and work efficiently in a team environment

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 36.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• At Silk Utica, we pride ourselves on experience, professionalism, and commitment — they’re non-negotiable parts of who we are. In a few sentences, tell us why your experience and work ethic make you someone worth our time and investment. What sets you apart from the average applicant?

Work Location: In person