Server - Blackbird

Job Type


Part-time

Description

Thank you for your interest in joining Hotel Californian, part of Foley Entertainment Group. We are passionate about creating extraordinary experiences. Hotel Californian is Santa Barbara's iconic and friendly luxury destination, where coastal elegance meets modern California style. Located at the crossroads of beautiful State Street and the vibrant Funk Zone, our Forbes-rated hotel offers exceptional accommodations, delectable dining venues & wine tasting room, luxury spa, distinctive indoor and patio event spaces, and breathtaking views of the Santa Barbara coastline, harbor and the Channel Islands.

Our culture is creative, collaborative, and indulgent. We value team members who are passionate about hospitality, embrace new challenges, and strive to make memorable guest experiences guided by our core values: • Have Integrity - We seek people who are humble and demonstrate high character. • Be Entrepreneurial - We value innovation and resilience in our team members. • Be a Team Player - We appreciate people who are inclusive and ready to support others when needed. • Be Engaged - We want people who are actively invested.

• Always Be Advancing, Never Retreating - We want people committed to constant growth and excellence.

Position Overview

Blackbird is not simply a restaurant-it is a fully realized experience.

At Blackbird, guests don't remember restaurants, they remember worlds.


Our service team are not order takers-they are storytellers, guides, and curators of an unfolding dining experience. Like a great film, each guest interaction should deliver an opening moment, a developing narrative, and a satisfying conclusion.


The Server is responsible for delivering a highly personalized, intuitive, and emotionally engaging dining experience that reflects Blackbird's identity: familiar, yet slightly unexpected refined, yet deeply human.

About Blackbird

Blackbird is a coastal gastropub with an upscale bar sensibility, rooted in California's land and sea. The menu celebrates seasonal ingredients, elevated technique, and shared experiences, layered with subtle tension and discovery.


The environment is calm, observant, and slightly off-center, designed to invite guests to linger, connect, and uncover something unexpected over time.


Core Responsibilities

Guest Experience & Service Execution

• Deliver anticipatory, highly personalized service aligned with Blackbird's immersive hospitality philosophy
• Guide guests through a paced dining journey-not just a meal, but a curated experience
• Read guest cues and adjust tone, energy, and engagement style accordingly
• Create moments that feel intentional, effortless, and memorable

Storytelling & Menu Mastery

• Present menu items with confidence, clarity, and narrative depth
• Communicate culinary nuances such as:
  • Ingredient contrast hot/cold, crisp/silky, rich/acidic)
  • Elevated techniques behind familiar dishes
• Educate guests on wine pairings and beverage selections with an emphasis on:
  • Coastal California wines
  • Old World restraint and intentionality
• Position dishes as shareable experiences, encouraging connection at the table

Service Style & Presence

• Maintain a demeanor that is:
  • Polished, composed, and observant
  • Never rushed, never inattentive
• Move with purpose and quiet confidence throughout the dining room
• Deliver service that feels seamless, not transactional

Operational Excellence

• Execute all steps of service with precision:
  • Order accuracy
  • Timing and pacing
  • Table maintenance and cleanliness
• Collaborate with culinary and bar teams to ensure synchronized service flow
• Uphold all food safety, alcohol service, and sanitation standards

Brand & Culture Alignment

• Embody Blackbird's guiding question:
  "Will our muse love this?"
• Represent the brand through:
  • Elevated service standards
  • Attention to detail
  • Commitment to guest connection and authenticity
• Contribute to a culture of refinement, curiosity, and continuous improvement

Experience & Qualifications

• 2+ years of serving experience in upscale, fine dining, or elevated casual environments
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Food, wine, and beverage pairing principles
  • Steps of service and hospitality standards
• Ability to multitask in a high-touch, high-expectation environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A natural inclination toward hospitality, storytelling, and guest engagement

Service Philosophy Expectations

At Blackbird, service is defined by:

• Control and misdirection - guiding the guest experience with subtlety
• Intentional pacing - never frantic, never slow
• Emotional connection - creating a sense of place, not just a meal

Servers are expected to:

• Think beyond transactions and focus on memory creation
• Deliver experiences that feel familiar-but never predictable

Why Blackbird

This is an opportunity to be part of a concept that blends:

• Culinary artistry
• Atmospheric storytelling
• Elevated hospitality

Blackbird is designed for guests who value food, wine, culture, and meaningful experiences -and for team members who take pride in delivering them.

Benefits offered to eligible employees include paid time off, employer match 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance plans, basic and supplemental life insurance, voluntary short & long term disability plans, HSA, FSA, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity, pet insurance, employee assistance and discount programs.

To perform this role successfully, candidates must be able to carry out the essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation. Job duties and responsibilities may be modified as business needs evolve to support our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experience.

Salary Description


$16.90