About Us:
El Lopo is a 50-seat neighborhood bar with a major emphasis on sherry, vermouth, and Spanish-inspired bar snacks using local ingredients. We opened in March of 2019 with a very small team, and have grown steadily over the years with a very low turnover rate. Most of our beverage sales are wines by the glass, but we do take a lot of pride in both our food and our low-proof cocktail program as well. While we do get the occasional pub crawl or spillover crowds from rowdier bars nearby, our everyday clientele appreciate a more thoughtful and curated (but never pretentious) atmosphere, and we work hard to earn loyal regulars and make them feel appreciated.
About You:
Above all, you have superb people skills. You understand that when you're on the floor, it's like you're on stage - and a core function of your job is to keep your audience engaged. That doesn't have to mean juggling lemons, but you need to be able to make a human connection with customers and not let them feel like you're reading from a script. That also should apply to your interactions with other staff. Your coworkers respect you and enjoy working with you, and you understand that you can go farther as a team than alone.
You are genuinely passionate about good food and beverages. You don't need to be a sommelier or a mixologist - we can teach you about the drinks we serve - but you'll only be able to learn if you can get excited about tasting and describing them. That being said, coming in with some solid wine knowledge as well as cocktail experience would be a major plus. You also appreciate slow food, and see the value in using local and seasonal ingredients. To this end, prior experience working in a respectable Bay Area restaurant would be a plus as well.
You have internalized the work ethic that is necessary for the service industry. You can hurry without rushing, you anticipate others' needs (both customers and coworkers), and you always finish what you start. While you're working on one task, you know what your next task is going to be, and can re-prioritize effectively when circumstances change and something new falls on your plate. If you see something needs to be done and you know how to do it, you don't wait for someone to ask you to do it. You're not above getting your hands dirty, and always strive for a clean workspace.
The Job:
Our front of house staff fill both bartender and server roles, often within the same shift. On slower days you might be the only person scheduled for service, and will cover both the bar and tables. Busier nights typically involve one server and one bartender, and you may be assigned to either role. Initially, expect to be scheduled for two shifts of 5-6 hours per week. There is definitely a possibility of going up to 3 or 4 days per week as things get busier and when we have special events. We are somewhat flexible on which days you would work, but as of now Saturday nights are the one hard requirement.
Since this is mostly a tipped position, your paycheck can vary depending on sales, but the base pay is San Francisco minimum wage. We’ve found that with tips, the typical range is $27-$40 per hour, with the overall average around $31. You’ll get a shift meal and a shift drink each day that you work, and half off our menu when you aren’t working.
Responsibilities include:
- Setting up the bar and dining room for opening / breaking down for closing (entails lifting some furniture)
- Stocking wines, replenishing syrups and juices as needed
- Counting and reporting cash
- Keeping track of frequent menu updates and learning in depth about products offered
- Greeting and seating guests (entails some table/reservation management)
- Taking and entering orders (entails use of a point of sale)
- Mixing cocktails according to a recipe; pouring beers and wines accurately
- Running food and beverages to tables
- Washing dishes and glassware (entails operating a dishwasher)
- Closing out guest tabs and settling receipts
- General cleaning duties as assigned through side work
Physical requirements:
regularly required to stand up for 8 hours at a time
occasionally required to bend, climb, or reach
occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds
Interested?
Click the "reply" button at the top of this post to send us an email. In the body of your email, please write a few sentences (one paragraph max) on why you're interested in working at El Lopo and why you'd be a good fit for our team. Then attach your resume as a PDF. Applicants who show up without a scheduled interview will not be considered for the position.