Restaurant Sous Chef

About VITA Italian Bar & Grill

VITA Italian Bar & Grill is an upscale Italian restaurant located in Pomona, California, offering quality Italian-inspired cuisine and an elevated dining experience.

In addition to daily restaurant operations, VITA provides culinary services for hotel banquets, weddings, corporate events, private dining, and special occasions.

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Sous Chef to support the Executive Chef in overseeing daily kitchen operations, maintaining food quality, managing costs, and ensuring successful restaurant and banquet service.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef in managing daily restaurant and hotel banquet kitchen operations.
• Supervise food preparation, cooking, and presentation to ensure consistent quality and timely service.
• Coordinate banquet food production for weddings, corporate events, private dining, and special functions.
• Support menu development, seasonal specials, and recipe standardization.
• Train, supervise, and develop kitchen staff to maintain operational standards and productivity.
• Monitor inventory, purchasing, portion control, and food waste to manage food costs.
• Assist with kitchen scheduling, labor cost control, and staffing efficiency.
• Coordinate with front-of-house, banquet, and hotel management to ensure smooth service.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Lead kitchen operations in the Executive Chef's absence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional kitchen experience, including at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• Experience in Italian cuisine, upscale dining, or full-service restaurants preferred.
• Hotel banquet, catering, or large-scale event experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, kitchen operations, and culinary standards.
• Experience in food cost control, inventory management, and labor scheduling.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage high-volume restaurant service and banquet events simultaneously.
• Knowledge of California food safety and sanitation standards.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Professional growth and career development opportunities.
• Experience in both upscale restaurant dining and hotel banquet operations.
• A collaborative and professional culinary environment.