Prep Cook

Prep Cook — Buddy & Son

Location: Lower East Side, New York, NY
Employment Type: Full-Time
Restaurant: Buddy & Son at PUBLIC Hotel
Position: Prep Cook

Buddy & Son is a seasonal brasserie located inside PUBLIC Hotel on the Lower East Side. The restaurant features approximately 95 seats in the dining room, 35 at the bar, and a 60+ seat garden.

Our cooking is ingredient-driven and unfussy—sophisticated in sensibility, simple in execution, and built around great sourcing, seasonality, and classic technique. The menu takes inspiration from the great New York and European brasseries while remaining distinctly our own.

We are building a kitchen culture based on professionalism, consistency, organization, and respect. We want cooks who take pride in their work, care about the details, and understand that great service starts with great preparation.

We are seeking experienced Prep Cooks to join our opening culinary team. Prep Cooks will be responsible for executing daily production and ensuring the kitchen is properly prepared for service.

This is an important role within our kitchen. We are looking for cooks who are organized, efficient, consistent, and capable of maintaining high standards while working through a substantial daily prep list.

Responsibilities include:

• Execute daily prep lists according to recipes and chef direction
• Prepare vegetables, proteins, stocks, sauces, dressings, garnishes, and other components
• Follow recipes, yields, and portion specifications accurately
• Maintain consistent quality across all production
• Properly receive, store, label, date, and rotate ingredients
• Maintain excellent organization and cleanliness throughout the workday
• Minimize waste and communicate product needs to the culinary team
• Assist with receiving and organizing deliveries as needed
• Maintain proper food handling and storage procedures
• Follow all NYC DOH food-safety and sanitation requirements
• Support the line and broader culinary team when necessary
• Complete assigned production efficiently and on schedule

• 1+ years of professional kitchen experience preferred
• Strong basic knife and cooking skills
• Ability to follow recipes accurately and consistently
• Comfortable with high-volume production
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Clean and efficient working habits
• Reliable, punctual, and professional
• Ability to lift and move typical kitchen products and equipment
• Comfortable receiving direction and feedback
• Positive attitude and team-first mentality
• Genuine interest in ingredients, cooking, and developing professionally

Experience in French, New American, brasserie, or similarly technique-driven kitchens is a plus, but not required.

• Competitive hourly pay
• Full-time schedule
• Opportunity for growth within the kitchen
• Employee dining benefits
• A professional kitchen focused on teaching and developing cooks
• The opportunity to join an opening team and help establish the standards and culture of Buddy & Son

Expected Opening: October 2026

We are looking for Prep Cooks who understand that consistency and preparation are the foundation of a great kitchen. If you work cleanly, stay organized, care about the quality of your work, and want to continue developing as a cook, we'd like to meet you.