Ruth's Chris Lead Bartender

AHC Hospitality•Grand Rapids, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Bartender coordinates bar staff and helps management maintain beverage inventory, order supplies, develop recipes, resolve guest concerns, manage cash drawers, and organize parties and private dining events. The role leads the bartending team, ensures Darden brand standards, and creates a teamwork-focused environment while delivering quality service in accordance with AHC guest service standards. The Lead Bartender works bar shifts across service wells, bar rails, table service, food running, and bar areas including the main bar, patio bar, and private dining mobile bar. The position oversees bar storage, setup, stocking, cleanliness, ordering, and inventory. It also communicates drink specials and stock issues, contributes to beverage menu development, and trains staff on cocktails, beer, and wine. Weekend availability, including Friday and Saturday, is essential.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Previous bartending experience in a fine dining or comparable restaurant.
TIPS certification and the ability to properly card guests ordering alcoholic beverages.
Availability to work weekends, including Friday and Saturday.
Ability to work effectively with different staff and guest personalities and communicate with coworkers and management.
Ability to perform daily cleaning and side work, maintain a neat work area, and follow safety, health, attendance, and appearance standards.
Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects; frequently reach with hands and arms; regularly talk, hear, taste, or smell; and occasionally sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Close, distance, and peripheral vision.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a mixologist.
TIPS certification.

Responsibilities

Coordinate bar staff and lead the bartending team, ensuring team members follow Darden brand standards.
Maintain full knowledge of beverages, cocktails, garnishes, beer, spirits, and wine, and memorize menu items, builds, and recipes.
Use standard bar and cocktail techniques and research new cocktail trends and techniques.
Work bar shifts in the service well, at the bar rail, providing table service, and running food.
Recommend local events and activities to guests.
Suggestively sell to guests and offer management ideas for generating additional revenue.
Resolve guest concerns and department issues independently, and strive to exceed guest satisfaction using AHC guest service standards.
Oversee bar service and storage areas, including the main bar, patio bar, private dining mobile bar, liquor cage, walk-in cooler, and bar cart.
Ensure bar areas are stocked and set up for service; complete daily setup and breakdown, cleaning, deep cleaning, and side work.
Participate in nightly ordering of bar food, beer, spirits, and wine.
Oversee and complete quarterly inventories with bar staff and management.
Rotate products using first-in, first-out practices and properly record and dispose of expired products.
Monitor beverage and food waste, report it to management, and help control expenses.
Communicate with restaurant staff and department and hotel leaders, including sharing drink specials and stock issues during pre-shift meetings.
Work with management on beer, wine, and cocktail menu ideation, creation, and engineering.
Lead and train staff on new cocktails and other beverages, including beer and wine.
Follow hotel safety standards, Health Department specifications, and recycling and green policies.
Properly card guests ordering alcoholic beverages.