Sommelier

Welcome to ilili, the premier institution of Lebanese food culture and hospitality values in the US. Executive Chef and Owner Philippe Massoud has built ilili’s reputation as a culinary go-to destination for elevated Lebanese cuisine. ilili’s restaurants are a vibrant and bustling meeting place where the refinement of neighborhoods meets the generosity of Lebanese hospitality.

As a Sommelier at ilili, you are an ambassador of Lebanese hospitality who provides timely, accurate and friendly service while preparing and serving the highest quality beverages for our guests. You are also responsible for the product and place necessary to facilitate this as well as providing leadership by example to other members of the beverage and Front of House service teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining and upholding our company's vision and values
• Maintaining a safe, sanitary, organized, and respectful work environment
• Following all company guidelines, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and new policy notices, as well as additional verbal and written directives from management

Service

• Preparing and serving wine and other beverages according to company specifications and adherence to local, state, and federal guidelines for serving alcoholic beverages
• Maintaining bottles, glasses, tools, and garnishes in a clean, attractive, and functional manner, to support efficient wine service and promotion of beverage sales
• Taking drink and food orders accurately and immediately entering them into the point-of-sale system before preparing and/or serving the order
• Greeting guests promptly and anticipating their needs
• Assisting in clearing, cleaning, and resetting the bar and lounge for guest readiness as needed
• Presenting drink and food menus, making recommendations, and answering questions regarding food, beverages, and ilili in general
• Maintaining cleanliness in all areas of beverage storage and service, including counters, sinks, utensils, shelves and storage areas, compliant with DOH and ilili standards
• Generating wine bottle sales by maintaining an active presence on the floor during service and engaging with guests as needed
• Staging private event wines in advance of parties to ensure sufficient quantities of wines are in stock, at the appropriate temperature, and/or decanted as needed to be ready for service
• Communicating lows and 86s of wines, glassware, and other needs to both the Manager on Duty and Beverage Director
• Cultivating regular patrons by learning their names, drink preferences, and developing a rapport with them to make them feel comfortable
• Accepting guest payment, processing credit card charges and make correct change as needed
• Washing, sterilizing, and polishing glassware completely and efficiently
• Taking part in both pre-service and closing duties, including actively participating in, and at times, leading beverage updates and education at line-up/pre-shift
• Being available to fill in as needed to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the restaurant, as directed by the Beverage Director or another restaurant manager

Training, Coaching, & Leadership

• Participating in and leading service/beverage/other educational sessions for our staff and peers
• Advising the Beverage Director on service, beverage, and staffing needs
• Consulting on regular educational programming with the Beverage Director
• Providing new and ongoing coaching and training for both new and existing teammates, to foster a culture of leadership by example
• Reinforcing communications from the Beverage Director and upholding those directives
• Upholding the restauranTt’s standards for beverage service at every touchpoint of receiving, storing, preparation, service, and disposal
• Maintaining ongoing self-education of beverage brands/releases, as well as sharing these learnings with members of the beverage team

Position Requirements:

• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
• Must practice humility and demonstrate respect for one’s self, work environment, tools, techniques, and co-workers, management, and guests
• Must be aware of industry trends in the restaurant and bar industry

• Must be a team-player and work well with others
• Strong time management and organization skills
• Must be a proactive communicator and fluent in English
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time
• Must have flexibility in availability
• Have working knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits and classic cocktail recipes
• Possess basic math and technological skills; Proficiency in MS Office
• Proven track record of dependability and a passion for delivering hospitality in a high-volume environment
• Be able to reach, bend, stoop and frequently lift up to 40 pounds
• Demonstrating a passion for details and a willingness to learn and be coached
• A positive attitude along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ideal Experience & Qualifications:

• A minimum of two (2) years of sommelier experience in a high volume, upscale New York City restaurant
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a related discipline
• A longstanding and ongoing passion for self-study of food, beverage, service, hospitality and drawing on this to lead our team and best serve our guests
• A polyglot, particularly with the languages of Spanish, Bengali, Creole, and/or Arabic

As a member of our team, you can expect:

1. Competitive base hourly rate, plus inclusion in the tip pool when performing guest-facing work during service, pursuant to all applicable labor laws
2. Medical, dental and vision benefits
3. Paid time off (PTO)
4. Commuter benefits
5. Dining benefits
6. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
7. Job training and continuous professional development

ilili Restaurants is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, and local laws.