Server

EXPERIENCED SERVER / FOH LEAD

Passione Emporio | Berkeley, CA

Passione Emporio is a small, independently owned Italian restaurant in Berkeley focused on authentic Italian food, warm hospitality, and high-quality ingredients.

Our menu features wood-fired pizza, Pinsa Romana, traditional pasta dishes, Italian wines, and seasonal specialties.

We are looking for an experienced, professional server who can also take ownership of the dining room during a shift.

This is an ideal position for someone who is excellent with guests, understands restaurant operations, notices what needs to be done without being asked, and wants the opportunity to grow into a larger leadership role.

THE ROLE

You are not simply taking orders.

You are responsible for helping create the entire guest experience — welcoming guests, explaining our food, recommending wine, maintaining the dining room, supporting the team, and helping ensure that service runs smoothly from opening through closing.

We want someone who can speak confidently about Italian food and wine and who genuinely enjoys hospitality.

Guest Service

• Provide warm, attentive, professional service
• Build relationships with regular guests and neighborhood customers
• Understand the timing and flow of the entire table experience
• Anticipate guest needs rather than waiting to be asked
• Handle guest concerns professionally and calmly

Food & Menu Knowledge

• Learn our menu in detail
• Understand our pizza, Pinsa Romana, pasta, ingredients, and preparation methods
• Explain menu items clearly and confidently
• Understand allergies and dietary restrictions
• Communicate daily specials and menu changes accurately

Italian Wine & Beverage Service

• Develop strong knowledge of our Italian wine selection
• Recommend wines based on guest preferences and food pairings
• Properly present, open, pour, and serve wine
• Help increase beverage sales through knowledgeable recommendations rather than aggressive selling

FOH Leadership

• Help organize the dining room before service
• Maintain strong communication between FOH and kitchen
• Monitor the flow of service and identify problems before they affect guests
• Assist other servers, bussers, runners, and team members when needed
• Help maintain opening and closing standards
• Support training and direction of less-experienced team members
• Take ownership of the floor when management or ownership is not immediately present

Restaurant Standards

In a small restaurant, everyone contributes.

That includes:

• Resetting and maintaining tables
• Restocking wine, beverages, silverware, and service stations
• Maintaining a clean dining room
• Keeping the entrance, bathrooms, patio, and guest areas presentable
• Completing opening, side-work, and closing responsibilities
• Helping teammates rather than saying, “That’s not my job”

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The right candidate will have:

• Strong previous restaurant serving experience
• Experience in Italian restaurants, wine-focused restaurants, or quality casual dining preferred
• Good understanding of restaurant service flow
• Knowledge of Italian food and wine, or a serious willingness to learn
• Experience with POS systems and cash handling
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Ability to remain calm during busy service
• Strong sense of urgency
• Reliable attendance and punctuality
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision
• A team-first, all-hands-on-deck mentality
• Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays as required

Leadership or shift-lead experience is highly valued.

WHO WILL DO WELL HERE

You will probably enjoy this position if you:

• Take pride in hospitality
• Like remembering guests and building regular clientele
• Notice when something needs attention and take care of it
• Enjoy learning about Italian food and wine
• Prefer working with a smaller team where your contribution matters
• Want more responsibility and the possibility of advancement

If you are looking only to take your section, collect your tips, and leave without contributing to the restaurant as a whole, this will probably not be the right fit.

If you want to become an important part of a small restaurant, earn the trust of ownership, take responsibility, and potentially grow into FOH management, we would like to meet you.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive hourly wage
• Tips
• Potential shift-lead/supervisor differential based on responsibilities
• Employee meal/restaurant benefits
• Training on our food, Pinsa Romana, and Italian wines
• Opportunity to grow into a Lead Server, FOH Supervisor, or Management position
• Direct access to ownership in an independently operated restaurant
• A restaurant focused on food quality, hospitality, and building a strong neighborhood following

Location: Passione Emporio – Berkeley, California

Position: Experienced Server / FOH Lead
Schedule: Part-time or full-time depending on experience and availability
Availability: Evenings and weekends required

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 30.0 per week

Experience:

• Restaurant: 3 years (Preferred)

Language:

• English (Required)
• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Food Handler Certification (Preferred)

Work Location: In person