Sommelier (Full-time & Part-Time)

SAOLEA is an upcoming wine-forward modern Thai restaurant in New York. We are building a restaurant where wine is central to the guest experience: expressive Thai-inspired food, a thoughtful and highly curated wine list, and a dining room made for long dinners, conversation, and discovery.
We are seeking a Sommelier to join our opening team. This is a hands-on, guest-facing role for someone who enjoys wine service, thoughtful recommendations, and building trust with guests at the table.
The focus of this role is SAOLEA’s wine program and guests who are ordering wine. We are looking for someone who can make wine feel exciting, approachable, and naturally connected to the food and overall dining experience.
Guide wine-drinking guests through SAOLEA’s wine list based on their preferences, dishes, and budget.
Create a confident, natural, and guest-first wine experience at the table.
Drive wine sales through informed recommendations and strong hospitality.
Support the development and maintenance of SAOLEA’s wine list.
Contribute ideas for wine pairings, by-the-glass selections, seasonal features, and guest engagement.
Maintain high standards of wine service, opening, presentation, storage, and floor organization.
Support pre-shift wine education and staff tastings.
Work closely with ownership and the front-of-house team during service.
For full-time candidates, assist with supplier relationships, tastings, purchasing, inventory, pricing, and team education as needed.
Previous experience as a Sommelier, Wine Captain, Server, or in a wine-focused restaurant role.
Strong wine knowledge and genuine interest in wine service and sales.
Strong hospitality instincts and the ability to read guests naturally.
Comfortable recommending wines across different styles and price points.
Interest in Thai food and creative food-and-wine pairing.
Experience with wine-list development, inventory, purchasing, or supplier relationships is a plus.
WSET, CMS, or other wine education is welcome but not required.
Reliable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in an opening restaurant environment.
Schedule Full-Time
Five shifts per week.
Wednesday through Sunday.
Dinner-focused service, with occasional daytime hours for tastings, inventory, training, and program development.
Part-Time
Three dinner shifts per week.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.
Consistent availability for all three shifts is required.
Hourly rate: $19.00–$20.00, based on experience, plus tips.
Participation in the restaurant’s FOH tip pool for guest-facing dinner service shifts.
Staff meal during shifts.
Access to staff tastings and selected wine education opportunities.
Opportunities to attend relevant supplier tastings and wine-industry events.
Tell us: What is one wine you would be excited to pour at SAOLEA, and why do you think it would work with Thai-inspired food?