Saute Cook

Saute Cook

JT's Buffalo is a busy, contemporary Italian restaurant located in Buffalo's Elmwood Village. We are part of a locally owned restaurant group that has been operating in Western New York for more than 30 years.

We offer the stability, benefits, and advancement opportunities of an established restaurant group while maintaining the standards, energy, and attention to detail of an independently operated restaurant.

We are currently looking for an experienced Sauté Cook who can independently run a demanding, high-volume station while maintaining consistency, organization, and fine-dining standards.

This is a key position in our kitchen and is not an entry-level role. We are looking for someone who understands timing, heat control, sauce work, pasta execution, protein cookery, and how to communicate effectively with the rest of the line during a busy service.

For the right cook, we are willing to pay aggressively.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

• Independently setting up, stocking, and operating the sauté station
• Executing pasta, sauces, proteins, vegetables, and composed entrées during service
• Managing multiple pans and pickups simultaneously while maintaining proper timing
• Coordinating closely with expo, grill, pantry, and other stations
• Executing every dish according to established recipes, portions, temperatures, and presentation standards
• Completing daily station prep accurately and on schedule
• Maintaining organized, labeled, dated, and properly rotated mise en place
• Monitoring station pars and communicating product needs before shortages occur
• Maintaining a clean and organized station throughout service
• Working with speed and urgency without sacrificing quality
• Following all food-safety, sanitation, opening, and closing procedures
• Supporting the rest of the kitchen team when needed

What We're Looking For:

• At least 2–3 years of professional restaurant-kitchen experience
• Previous experience independently operating a sauté, pasta, hot-line, or comparable high-volume station
• Fine-dining, upscale-casual, or high-volume full-service experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of sauté technique, heat management, and timing
• Experience working with pasta, sauces, proteins, and composed dishes
• Strong knife skills and preparation fundamentals
• Excellent organization and time-management skills
• The ability to manage multiple pickups simultaneously
• Consistency and attention to detail
• Strong communication during service
• A sense of urgency without losing composure
• The ability to follow recipes and reproduce dishes accurately every time
• A professional, dependable, team-first attitude
• Reliable attendance and transportation
• Evening and weekend availability

Schedule:

• Full-time position
• Approximately 35–40 hours per week
• Five shifts per week
• Primarily evening shifts
• Weekend availability required

Compensation & Benefits:

$24–$32+ per hour, based on experience and ability. Candidates with strong sauté experience who can independently operate the station at a high level will be considered at the top of the range.

We also offer:

• Paid time off
• 401(k) eligibility
• Performance-based bonuses
• Dining discounts across all four of our restaurants
• Consistent full-time hours
• Opportunities to cross-train on additional stations
• Opportunities for advancement into lead-line, sous chef, and other culinary positions
• Experienced culinary leadership
• Clearly defined recipes, systems, and standards
• A professional, organized kitchen environment
• A stable position within an established locally owned restaurant group
• Opportunities across four Buffalo-area restaurants
• More than 30 years of stability within our restaurant group
• Closed on major holidays

To Apply:

Please submit a current résumé outlining your recent restaurant experience and the stations you have independently worked.

Qualified candidates will be contacted directly to schedule an interview.