Restaurant Service Assistant

Property Name: The Station Inn

Website:

Position: Restaurant Service Assistant

Position Classification: Hourly, $12/hour, plus participation in tip pool

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 3:30pm-11:30pm 3-6 hours of flex prep, see below

The Property - Open since 1993, The Station Inn B&B has provided comfortable lodging and tasty breakfasts to rail enthusiasts from all over the world. Situated 150 feet from the busy Norfolk Southern main line, guests relax on our front porch to take in the rail action. History buffs and railfans alike visit this area to explore the famous Horseshoe Curve, the Gallitzin Tunnels, and the Altoona area. We aim to provide a homestyle, comfortable experience for all of our guests. The inn has 12 rooms that sleep up to about 35 people in total.

Opening to the public after a 20-year hiatus, the beloved Yard Office Lounge is located in the basement of the Inn. There, we offer classic cocktails, small plates, and sweets in a laid-back relaxing atmosphere in our 1905 speakeasy-style bar & lounge area that complements the "feel" and decor of The Inn. Yard Office's original Men's Bar looks today much as it did in 1904 when it opened. Its ornate ceiling, tile floor and mirrored cherry backbar are a delight to the eye.

Our vision is to create a destination that seamlessly complements the Inn's existing ambiance, offering both our overnight guests and the local community a unique, quirky, and slightly elevated experience focused on crafted cocktails and a menu of shareable plates and desserts. We are intentionally aiming to be a destination for early evening enjoyment and nightcaps, rather than a late-night bar or full-service restaurant.

Planned public operating hours are planned to be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Over time, we will re-evaluate our opening hours, and consider additional hours such as Sunday Brunch or Wednesday nights.

Service Philosophy

Our Inn is somewhat of a hybrid of a train station, a hunting cabin, and your grandparents' house when you were a kid. We are a quirky, eccentric, and thoroughly comfortable haven where the charm is in the details—and the simplicity of our service. We stick with our menus, schedules, and routines. We incorporate new ideas thoughtfully and slowly. This consistent approach allows our team to avoid the complexity of bespoke requests* and instead dedicate their full energy to creating a warm, convivial, unpretentious atmosphere that feels like coming home. We handle essential food allergies with care but stay true to our menu and schedule, ensuring every guest enjoys the signature Station Inn experience.

*Except cocktails. Those can be bespoke

Position Objective - We are seeking a self-motivated, friendly, and personable candidate to serve as our Restaurant Service Assistant.

Positivity, honesty, and integrity are essential attributes of our team and set examples for all staff and their behavior. Professional appearance and behavior is always required when guests are on the property.

Position Summary - The Service Assistant reports to the Bar Manager. The Service Assistant is the essential front-of-house to back-of-house floater responsible for maintaining the smooth flow of service and the cleanliness of the entire operation. This role bridges the gap between the bar and the kitchen, ensuring prompt delivery of food and drinks and rapid table turnover.

Time Commitment - The Lounge's regular hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 5pm to 10pm. The typical work schedule is Thursday-Saturday 3:30pm-11:30pm with 3-6 hours of additional prep time required weekly. This prep time will be scheduled weekly at the Bar Manager's discretion.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Food and Drink Prep

• Assist Bartender with cutting garnishes, making syrups, juicing citrus, obtaining bar supplies from storage, etc.
• Assist Kitchen Manager with performing simple, low-skill kitchen prep tasks (e.g., portioning dressings, dish portioning, sauce batching, etc.)
• Assist Kitchen Manager with preparing, plating, and expediting all food menu items to established specifications and quality standards during service; maintaining portion control and waste tracking to ensure each plate uses exact, predetermined amounts of ingredients, calling plates as they are ready and organizing tickets.

Guest Relations, Service, and Sales

• Welcome guests and let them know they can order at the bar, receive a table number, and have a seat wherever they'd like.
• Assist Bar Manager with bringing guests water, small snack, silverware, and napkins; managing drink and food orders; handling payments
• Assist Bar Manager with setting ambiance (e.g., ensure lighting and music are set to standards, lounge area has available games, chairs and tables are in order and inviting, etc.), running food and drinks to tables and ensure guests have everything they need, ensuring all food and drink orders meet standards, bussing tables immediately after guests depart, etc.

Maintenance and Administration

• Assist Bartender with break down and deep clean of the bar station nightly, quick-turnaround washing of essential barware (coupes, rocks glasses), restock all FOH service supplies (napkins, silverware, glassware) and replenish basic bar supplies.
• Assist Kitchen Manager with dishwashing during peak rushes to clear plates rapidly, final cleanup of the dishwashing station and kitchen equipment at closing, ensuring all kitchen equipment is clean and properly maintained, weekly kitchen deep cleaning, etc.
• Assist Bar Manager with ensuring bar and lounge areas are kept clean and well maintained, including spot-cleaning FOH areas (e.g., windows, menus, bathrooms, etc.).
• Assist Bartender with FOH deep cleaning (polishing glassware, dusting) during scheduled prep days, maintain and clean all bar equipment (such as ice machine, draft lines), submitting requests for cleaning and bar equipment/supply needs to Bar Manager.
• Assist Kitchen Manager with submitting requests for cleaning and kitchen equipment and supplies to Bar Manager.
• Assist Bar Manager with ensuring all restaurant interior and exterior spaces are in good working order (e.g., property's facilities, porches, parking areas, and sidewalks are kept clean, neat, and free of debris, and that garbage/trash is regularly and properly disposed of). Report facility needs to Bar Manager.
• Assist General Manager with cleaning before and after private events.

Qualifications:

• High level of energy and ability to move quickly and efficiently between the lounge area, bar area, kitchen, and dishwashing station.
• Professional and friendly demeanor for interacting with guests of The Station Inn & Yard Office Lounge
• Willingness to perform both guest-facing duties and heavy physical cleaning/dishwashing tasks.
• Reliable and punctual attendance for all shifts.
• Ability to prioritize tasks during peak service.
• Exceptional customer service and communication skills.
• Food safety certifications preferred, but training will be provided as needed.

Compensation and Incentives - The Restaurant Service Assistant will be paid an hourly wage of $12/hour for up to 31 hours/week. Pay periods are weekly, with checks distributed on or as close to each Monday as possible. This position also participates in a tip pool.

Time Off - The Service Assistant will coordinate scheduling needs with the Bar Manager. Both the Inn and the Lounge are closed for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years during which times staff will enjoy unpaid time off.

Pay: $12.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 31.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• On-the-job training
• Paid training

Work Location: In person

Salary : $12