Cook

California Fish Grill is a well-established restaurant chain known for its commitment to fresh and flavorful seafood dishes, exceptional customer service, and a welcoming dining atmosphere. As a leader in the fast-casual dining sector, California Fish Grill focuses on quality food preparation, safety standards, and sustainability to provide guests with a memorable dining experience. The company operates multiple locations across various regions, each staffed with passionate employees dedicated to upholding the brand's mission, values, and vision of excellence and community engagement.

The Food Service Cook role at California Fish Grill is an hourly, non-exempt position responsible for preparing and directing the preparation of food that meets all sanitation, health, and personal hygiene standards. This position reports to the Restaurant General Manager or Training General Manager and involves adhering to established food production procedures and systems to ensure that every meal served is of high quality, safe, and visually appealing. The cook plays a vital part in managing food supplies and equipment effectively to minimize waste, loss, and fraud, contributing to both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

This role requires a hands-on approach in preparing food items, setting steam tables, and maintaining proper food storage with appropriate labeling and dating procedures. Additionally, the cook must perform regular food temperature checks before service and handle cleaning and maintenance of all kitchen equipment used in food preparation. Working collaboratively with the management and team, the cook ensures that meal productions are timely and aligned with serving hours while preserving the excellence of food quality and appearance.

California Fish Grill values safety and quality assurance, so the cook is expected to comply with all regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and company policies. The position involves supporting a positive work environment free from harassment and discrimination and actively participating in team efforts by communicating effectively, promoting constructive public relations, and cooperating in common teamwork to accomplish tasks efficiently with minimal supervision.

Candidates for this role should have a strong working knowledge of restaurant operations, food safety and sanitation, quality guest service, and safe work habits such as knife handling and lifting techniques. Essential skills include moderate reading and writing capabilities, interpersonal communication, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as standing, lifting, and bending. The cook must demonstrate initiative, adaptability, strong teamwork, sound decision-making, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a guest-focused mindset.

The minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or GED, 2-3 years of related work experience in food service, a valid ServSafe or other approved Food Handler Certification, and a high level of integrity and honesty. The working conditions encompass a typical restaurant environment where employees must be prepared to work beyond normal hours if needed. Physical requirements include frequent standing, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and the ability to maintain composure under pressure while safely operating kitchen equipment such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers, slicers, coffee machines, steamers, mixers, and chef's knives.

This role provides an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about food preparation and restaurant operations to contribute to a reputable brand known for its excellence and community values. California Fish Grill is committed to supporting its employees through comprehensive training, clear operational standards, and a team-oriented culture that fosters growth and satisfaction in the workplace.