Barback / Polisher

Casa Felix — ** NEW** Modern Mexican Restaurant
Location: Chelsea, New York City
Position Type: Full-time and part-time available
Compensation: Hourly tipped position
Schedule: Must have availability for night shifts starting at 3:00 PM daily and weekend brunch shifts starting at 10:00 AM.

Casa Felix is a NEW modern Mexican restaurant opening in Chelsea, NYC — a warm, high-energy restaurant and bar inspired by Mexico City, tequila & mezcal culture, and the spirit of celebration.

We are building a restaurant where dinner becomes the night. Food supports the experience, the bar drives the business, music drives the mood, and hospitality brings it all together.

We are looking for hardworking, organized, and reliable Barbacks to support the bar team, maintain bar cleanliness, keep stations fully stocked, and help ensure fast, polished, high-quality beverage service.

Barbacks at Casa Felix play a key role in keeping the bar running smoothly during busy brunch, dinner, late-night, weekend, and private event service.

This role is ideal for someone who is fast, detail-oriented, team-focused, and interested in learning more about craft cocktails, tequila, mezcal, and high-volume bar operations.

The right candidate should bring urgency, cleanliness, organization, and a positive attitude to every shift.

• Support bartenders during service to ensure fast, smooth, and consistent beverage execution.
• Keep the bar fully stocked with liquor, tequila, mezcal, wine, beer, mixers, juices, syrups, garnishes, ice, glassware, and service tools.
• Restock wells, back bar, beer coolers, wine storage, reach-ins, garnish trays, and service stations throughout the shift.
• Refill ice bins and maintain ice wells during service.
• Replace empty bottles, kegs, juices, syrups, mixers, and bar supplies as needed.
• Assist with clearing and resetting the bar top for guests.
• Help maintain proper bar flow during high-volume service periods.

• Assist with cocktail prep, garnish preparation, juicing, syrups, batching, and bar mise en place as directed.
• Label, date, rotate, and store bar prep items properly.
• Follow pars for garnishes, juices, syrups, batches, mixers, and supplies.
• Maintain organized storage areas, walk-ins, reach-ins, liquor rooms, and service areas.
• Communicate low-stock items, 86’d items, product issues, or prep needs to bartenders or managers.
• Support the setup of the bar before service and breakdown at the end of the shift.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and guest-ready bar throughout service.
• Wash, polish, and restock glassware as needed.
• Clean bar tools, shakers, strainers, jiggers, mats, sinks, drains, surfaces, and service areas.
• Remove trash, recycling, boxes, broken glass, and empty bottles throughout the shift.
• Keep floors dry, safe, and free of hazards.
• Follow cleaning schedules and closing checklists.
• Maintain all bar areas according to NYC Department of Health and Casa Felix standards.

• Support a polished and welcoming bar experience through cleanliness, organization, and urgency.
• Greet and acknowledge guests warmly when appropriate.
• Assist with water service, clearing glassware, and maintaining the bar top.
• Communicate guest requests or concerns to bartenders or managers.
• Help protect the energy, atmosphere, and hospitality style of Casa Felix.

• Work closely with bartenders, servers, bussers, runners, hosts, managers, and kitchen staff.
• Respond quickly to bartender requests during service.
• Communicate clearly about stock levels, spills, breakage, safety concerns, and service needs.
• Support teammates during busy periods and help wherever needed.
• Participate in pre-shift meetings, trainings, tastings, and service updates.
• Maintain a positive, respectful, team-first attitude.

• Follow all NYC Department of Health, sanitation, food safety, and workplace safety standards.
• Handle glassware, bottles, kegs, cleaning supplies, knives, and bar tools safely.
• Clean spills immediately and report hazards to management.
• Follow proper lifting, carrying, and moving procedures.
• Comply with company policies, uniform standards, grooming standards, and workplace expectations.
• Support responsible alcohol service by communicating concerns to bartenders or managers.

• Previous barback, busser, runner, porter, or restaurant support experience preferred but not required.
• Experience in a high-volume NYC restaurant, cocktail bar, hotel bar, or nightlife environment is a plus.
• Strong work ethic and ability to move quickly with urgency.
• Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, and organization.
• Ability to take direction and support bartenders in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable lifting, carrying, stocking, cleaning, and working on your feet for long periods.
• Must be available for night shifts starting at 3:00 PM daily.
• Must be available for weekend brunch shifts starting at 10:00 AM.
• Must be available to work weekends, holidays, and peak business periods.
• Must be reliable, punctual, professional, respectful, and team-oriented.

• Experience in cocktail-driven, tequila/mezcal-focused, Mexican, Latin, nightlife-inspired, or high-energy restaurant concepts.
• Interest in learning craft cocktails, tequila, mezcal, wine, beer, and bar operations.
• Familiarity with bar prep, garnishes, batching, juicing, stocking, glassware, and keg changes.
• Basic knowledge of NYC sanitation standards.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

The ideal candidate is dependable, fast, organized, and excited to support a high-energy craft cocktail bar.

You should enjoy:

• Working behind the scenes to keep the bar running smoothly.
• Supporting bartenders during busy service.
• Keeping everything clean, stocked, polished, and ready.
• Learning about cocktails, tequila, mezcal, and hospitality.
• Moving with urgency while staying calm and professional.
• Being part of a team that takes pride in great service.

Full-time and part-time positions are available.

Candidates must have availability for:

• Night shifts starting at 3:00 PM daily
• Weekend brunch shifts starting at 10:00 AM
• Weekends, holidays, and high-volume service periods

This is an hourly tipped position.

Casa Felix is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity, professionalism, respect, and hospitality. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.