A breakfast cook prepares morning and brunch menu items like eggs, pancakes, omelets, hash, and benedicts. The role works the morning shift in cafes, diners, hotels, and brunch-focused restaurants. Here is what the job looks like across a shift, in the order it happens.
Opening duties
- Arrive early to turn on the griddle, ovens, and burners
- Prep batters, sauces, and breakfast potatoes for the morning rush
- Cut and portion fruit, vegetables, and meats for omelets and sides
- Set up the line with eggs, butter, oil, and seasoning within reach
- Taste hollandaise and other sauces and set them to a safe holding temperature
During service
- Crack and cook eggs to order, from sunny side up to poached
- Fire pancakes, French toast, and waffles on the griddle
- Assemble benedicts and omelets with consistent plating
- Call out timing to the other cooks and expo so tables come out complete
- Restock bacon, sausage, and potatoes during service
- Wipe down the station and flat top between busy periods
- Handle special requests and allergies with careful communication
Closing duties
- Scrape and clean the griddle, grill, and ovens
- Wrap, label, and store unused ingredients and sauces
- Wash pans, ladles, and kitchen tools and put them away
- Sweep and mop the cook line and prep area
- Leave a prep note for the next morning or the dinner shift
Weekly duties
- Deep clean the griddle and range hoods with the manager
- Count dairy, eggs, bread, and breakfast meats and update the order
- Test or update brunch specials with the chef
- Sanitize and organize the walk-in shelves for the next weekend rush
Writing a posting? The breakfast cook job description turns these duties into a ready-to-paste template. For shift planning, try the free restaurant schedule template.