Line / Prep Cook

Cocktail Bar and Scratch Kitchen Cook

Forgotten Tonic is a cocktail bar and scratch kitchen located on historic Aviles Street in downtown St. Augustine. Since opening in 2019, we've worked to create a restaurant where thoughtful hospitality, quality ingredients, and attention to detail come together to create memorable experiences for our guests. We believe a great restaurant is built by people who care. People who take pride in their work, notice the little things, help their teammates without being asked, and want to keep getting better. Our mission is to provide our team members and guests with unparalleled hospitality, quality ingredients, and to foster the professional growth of our team. We're looking for people who want to be part of that.

About the Position

We're looking for line and prep cooks who take pride in their craft and understand that great food starts long before a plate reaches the guest. Our kitchen prepares food from scratch, with an emphasis on quality ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and consistent execution. Whether you're preparing ingredients before service or cooking during a busy dinner rush, every detail matters. A great cook understands that following recipes, maintaining an organized station, respecting ingredients, and working efficiently are all part of delivering an excellent guest experience. They recognize when something isn't right, take ownership of correcting it, and understand that the success of the kitchen depends on everyone working together. We're looking for people who enjoy working with food, want to develop their culinary skills, and can maintain high standards even when things get busy. We take our work seriously, but we also believe kitchens should be places where people enjoy working, learning, and improving together. We believe the best hospitality professionals understand how the entire restaurant works, not just their own position. We encourage our team members to learn from other departments, develop new skills, and take on new challenges. We love promoting from within and want to help our team members build the knowledge and experience to take the next step when they're ready. You don't need to know every technique or recipe when you arrive. You do need to care about learning, doing things well, and the people around you.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Preparing and cooking food according to established recipes, portion sizes, and presentation standards.
• Completing daily food preparation, including washing, cutting, chopping, portioning, mixing, and preparing ingredients, sauces, and other house-made components.
• Setting up and maintaining a clean, organized, and properly stocked workstation.
• Executing dishes accurately and efficiently using appropriate cooking techniques, including sautéing, grilling, frying, roasting, and other methods.
• Maintaining consistency in flavor, temperature, texture, portioning, and presentation.
• Following recipes and preparation procedures while developing an understanding of the techniques and ingredients behind them.
• Managing preparation and cooking priorities to ensure the kitchen is ready for service and food is delivered in a timely manner.
• Communicating clearly with chefs, cooks, and front-of-house team members to support the flow of service.
• Recognizing when teammates need support and taking initiative to help.
• Following food safety and sanitation procedures, including proper storage, labeling, dating, temperature control, and prevention of cross-contamination.
• Maintaining awareness of food allergies and dietary restrictions and following established procedures to protect guest safety.
• Properly receiving, storing, rotating, and handling ingredients to maintain quality and minimize waste.
• Using kitchen equipment, knives, and tools safely and responsibly.
• Maintaining cleanliness and organization throughout the shift, including equipment, work surfaces, storage areas, and shared spaces.
• Recognizing problems with ingredients, preparation, or finished dishes and taking ownership of correcting them before they reach the guest.
• Assisting with inventory, prep lists, product rotation, and maintaining appropriate pars.
• Completing opening, closing, and cleaning responsibilities with attention to detail.
• Participating in training, tastings, and opportunities to develop culinary knowledge and technical skills.
• Taking feedback professionally and continually working to improve your speed, accuracy, consistency, and craftsmanship.

What We're Looking For

We care about experience, but we care just as much about how you approach your work.

The People Who Thrive At Forgotten Tonic Are Those Who:

• Take pride in doing things well, even when nobody is watching.
• Pay attention to details and notice when something needs to be done.
• Recognize when teammates need support and take initiative to help.
• Stay composed and communicate clearly when things get busy.
• Take responsibility for mistakes and learn from them.
• Ask questions and remain open to feedback.
• Show genuine curiosity about food, ingredients, cooking techniques, and developing their skills.
• Value consistency and understand that following established recipes and standards is just as important as creativity.
• Treat teammates with respect and contribute to a positive, professional kitchen environment.
• Understand that the success of the restaurant matters more than any one person's station or responsibilities.

Previous professional kitchen experience is preferred, particularly in a scratch kitchen or full-service restaurant. However, we recognize that experience isn't the only indicator of potential. We're also interested in candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, and a genuine interest in cooking and hospitality.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with teammates and managers.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be available for a schedule that may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be willing to learn and follow our established recipes, preparation procedures, food safety standards, and sanitation requirements.
• Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented kitchen.
• Previous professional cooking experience is preferred but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly base pay of $17–$25, depending on experience, skills, and responsibilities.
• Full-time and part-time opportunities.
• Employee meal program.
• Employee dining discount.
• Employee referral program.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees.
• Structured training, opportunities to learn different restaurant positions, and potential for advancement from within.

How to Apply

We're interested in learning more about you than what's on your résumé. As part of our hiring process, we ask every candidate to complete a short online application that helps us understand their experience, how they approach their work, and what they're looking for in their next opportunity. To be considered for a position at Forgotten Tonic, please complete our online application at ForgottenTonic.com/careers. We review each application individually and will contact candidates we'd like to invite for an interview.