Job Description: Short Order Cook
Elmer’s Garden Cafe
July 2026
Elmer’s Garden Café is in one of Cardiff’s busiest areas. Popular with students, trades, families and visitors to the city, we are proud to offer good quality meals at affordable prices. Our Short Order Cooks are central to our success, delivering orders quickly and to a consistently high standard.
The Short-Order Cook needs to set up the kitchen for the day ahead, in line with formal hygiene standards and our own policies and procedures. This includes accurately completing checklist and paperwork for the kitchen, the equipment and the food. They will reset the kitchen at the end of the day, completing necessary cleaning and restocking duties. Food orders will come from Front of House and are to be delivered as quickly as possible, to safe food standards and to Elmer’s presentation standards.
What you’ll do
- Accurately measure foods and adjust recipes
- Complete daily and weekly inventory of all food items, rotating stock in line with expiry dates
- Monitor food quality to ensure it stays within safe standards
- Follow all service standards and operating procedures, at all times
- Maintain a clean, sanitary environment within the kitchen, the freezers and the fridges
- Maintain clean fryers, including all visible surfaces
- Maintain a properly organised environment within the kitchen, freezers and fridges
- Prepare menu Specials, as per ingredients available and direction from the Café Manager
- Speak to customers and staff in a friendly and welcoming manner
- Inform the Café Manager of items that need to be restocked, before they run out
- Provide the Café Manager with feedback, ideas and suggestions for improvement
- Deliver full set up and preparation of hot and cold food items
- Minimise food waste
- Assist in training other cooks and café staff, where required
- Assist in various paperwork tasks, as assigned by the Café Manager
- Maintain the improvements as set out by the Inspectors
- Complete opening and closing duties, as assigned by the Café Manager
- Any other duties, as directed by the Café Manager or Proprietor
What you’ll bring
- The ability to perform all duties, as outlined here
- At least two years successful placement in a similar role
- Positive attitude and helpful approach
- Willingness to work according to the published rota
Ideal Qualifications
- Food Hygiene Certification to at least Level 2 - we are happy to provide training if required
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
