What essential skills should I include in a Line cook job description?

Date modified: 29th September 2025 | This FAQ page has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email.

Waiter Job Description Template

This job description template provides a full working exmaple using our six step approach. Open the template in the Pilla app and customise each section to make it specific to your role and business.

We operate a contemporary casual dining restaurant serving 140 covers daily with emphasis on fresh, seasonal cuisine and exceptional guest experiences. Our waiters are the heart of our service delivery, creating memorable dining moments through professional hospitality, detailed menu knowledge, and seamless coordination with our kitchen brigade. The atmosphere balances relaxed comfort with attentive service, welcoming diverse guests from intimate date nights to family celebrations and business meetings. Our service philosophy centers on genuine warmth, efficiency, and anticipating guest needs while maintaining the energy and precision required during busy service periods.
• Welcome guests warmly and guide them to tables, ensuring comfortable seating and immediate attention to their needs • Take comprehensive food and beverage orders with attention to dietary requirements, allergies, and special requests • Provide expert menu recommendations based on guest preferences, including wine pairings and chef specialties • Deliver food and beverages promptly while verifying order accuracy and presentation standards • Maintain ongoing guest satisfaction through table visits, refills, and proactive service throughout the meal • Process payments efficiently using our POS system, handling cash, cards, and split bills with accuracy • Coordinate with kitchen and bar teams on timing, special preparations, and service flow optimization • Maintain immaculate table setup, cleanliness, and proper mise en place between services • Handle guest feedback professionally, resolving concerns and escalating complex issues to management • Support team efficiency during peak periods through section coordination and mutual assistance • Complete opening duties including dining room setup, equipment checks, and service preparation • Execute closing responsibilities including cleaning, cash reconciliation, and preparation for following service
Essential Skills: Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities with natural hospitality instincts; exceptional multitasking capability in fast-paced service environments; strong attention to detail for order accuracy and guest preferences; professional presentation and grooming standards; physical stamina for extended periods of standing, walking, and carrying service items; basic mathematics skills for payment processing and bill calculations; team collaboration skills for coordinating with kitchen, bar, and management. Preferred Qualifications: Previous restaurant or hospitality service experience demonstrating guest relations expertise; familiarity with POS systems and payment processing technology; wine and beverage knowledge including basic pairing principles; food safety and hygiene certification; additional language skills for diverse guest demographics; experience with dietary restrictions and allergen protocols; knowledge of fine dining service techniques and etiquette.
We're looking for both experienced hospitality professionals and enthusiastic newcomers who are excited to build their service careers. While previous restaurant experience is great to have, we care more about your attitude, work ethic, and genuine passion for hospitality than years on your CV. We'll provide comprehensive training covering our service standards, menu knowledge, wine program, POS systems, and how to create amazing guest experiences. New team members will work alongside experienced waiters during their first week, gradually taking on full responsibilities with plenty of support. We believe in helping people grow and offer real opportunities for career progression within our restaurant group.
We're looking for someone who genuinely loves creating great experiences for guests and enjoys working as part of a close-knit team. You should be naturally warm and authentic, able to stay calm and positive even when things get busy or challenging. We value people who take pride in what they do, are reliable and punctual, and want to contribute to our supportive workplace culture. The right person will be flexible and adaptable, pay attention to the little details that matter to guests, and be keen to keep learning and improving. Being able to think on your feet and handle pressure with a smile is really important in our fast-paced restaurant environment.
Competitive hourly rate of £11.00-£13.50 based on experience, plus share of service charges and gratuities (typically £40-70 per shift depending on service period). Comprehensive benefits package includes: nutritious staff meals during all shifts; 25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays; flexible scheduling accommodating work-life balance where operationally feasible. Ongoing professional development including wine education and service technique training; clear progression pathways to senior waiter, section leader, and supervisory roles; supportive team environment with regular social events and recognition programs. Health and wellness initiatives including employee assistance programs; staff discounts at our restaurant group properties.

Include fundamental line cook skills covering knife skills and precision cutting techniques for consistent food preparation, cooking method mastery including grilling, sautéing, and roasting for diverse menu execution, food safety knowledge and HACCP compliance ensuring kitchen hygiene standards, kitchen efficiency and time management during service periods, ingredient preparation and mise en place organisation for smooth operations, and teamwork coordination for seamless kitchen operations and service delivery.

Common misunderstanding: Line cook skills are basic culinary abilities rather than professional competencies requiring precision, consistency, and efficiency under pressure in commercial kitchen environments.

Line cook skills encompass technical precision, cooking consistency, speed efficiency, and professional standards that distinguish commercial kitchen operations. Professional competencies often determine service quality whilst ensuring food safety and operational effectiveness in demanding restaurant environments.

Common misunderstanding: Kitchen work is individual tasks rather than coordinated team effort requiring communication, timing, and collaboration for successful service delivery.

Kitchen operations require coordinated teamwork, precise timing, clear communication, and collaborative execution that ensure service success. Team coordination often determines service quality whilst maintaining efficiency and consistency throughout busy service periods.

How should I describe cooking techniques for Line cook job description skills?

Describe heat control and temperature management for consistent cooking results and food safety compliance, sauce preparation and reduction techniques for flavour development and consistency, protein cooking methods and doneness levels ensuring proper preparation and guest satisfaction, vegetable preparation and cookery methods maintaining texture and nutritional value, garnish creation and plate finishing for presentation standards, and cooking timing coordination for simultaneous dish completion during service periods.

Common misunderstanding: Cooking techniques are recipes rather than fundamental skills requiring understanding of heat, timing, and ingredient behaviour for consistent professional results.

Cooking techniques involve scientific understanding of heat transfer, ingredient chemistry, timing precision, and quality control that ensure consistent professional results. Technical mastery often improves efficiency whilst ensuring food quality and service consistency in commercial environments.

Common misunderstanding: Timing coordination is speed rather than strategic planning and execution that ensures all components finish simultaneously for optimal service delivery.

Timing coordination requires strategic planning, preparation sequencing, and execution precision that ensure simultaneous completion and optimal service delivery. Professional timing often improves service efficiency whilst maintaining food quality and temperature control.

What food safety should I emphasise for Line cook job description essential skills?

Emphasise temperature control and monitoring procedures for food safety compliance and quality maintenance, cross-contamination prevention and hygiene protocols protecting customer health, food storage and rotation systems ensuring freshness and compliance, allergen awareness and management preventing adverse reactions, sanitation standards and equipment cleaning maintaining kitchen hygiene, and food safety compliance and documentation requirements ensuring regulatory adherence and operational legitimacy.

Common misunderstanding: Food safety is regulatory compliance rather than professional responsibility that protects customers whilst ensuring establishment reputation and operational continuity.

Food safety encompasses customer protection, establishment reputation, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity through professional responsibility. Safety adherence often prevents incidents whilst ensuring business sustainability and professional credibility in food service operations.

Common misunderstanding: Hygiene procedures slow operations rather than professional standards that improve efficiency whilst ensuring safety and quality in commercial kitchen environments.

Hygiene procedures enhance operational efficiency through organised systems, contamination prevention, and quality maintenance that improve overall performance. Professional standards often accelerate service whilst ensuring safety compliance and food quality consistency.