Also called: grill chef, broiler cook
What a grill cook does
A grill cook controls fire. You manage the grill or broiler, place proteins at the right spots, and pull them at the exact temperature the guest ordered. The job rewards a good eye, quick hands, and a steady sense of timing, since a rare steak and a well-done chicken breast can hit the pass together. You also season, rest, and plate your food, and you prep your station before service. A good grill cook protects quality and speed for the whole kitchen.
Pay snapshot: the BLS reports a national median of $17.98/hr for restaurant cooks, and $22.03/hr in the Boston metro. See the full salary breakdown.
Responsibilities
- Light, preheat, and maintain the grill or broiler and clean grates between uses
- Cook steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood, and vegetables to guest-ordered temperatures
- Use thermometers or touch tests to check doneness reliably
- Season, mark, rest, and plate items to spec
- Prep proteins by trimming, portioning, marinating, and labeling them
- Time your cooking so grill items arrive with sides and other components
- Manage hot and cool zones on the grill to handle flare-ups and different thicknesses
- Keep the station stocked with proteins, oils, seasonings, and tools
- Follow safe handling for raw meat, including separate tools and surfaces
- Scrape, clean, and oil the grill and station at the end of service
Requirements
- Experience cooking proteins on a grill or flat top in a restaurant is preferred
- Knowledge of steak temperatures and safe internal cooking temperatures
- Ability to work close to high heat for long periods
- Food handler card or ServSafe Food Handler certification is often required
- Stamina to stand, lift, and move quickly during rushes
- Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays
Skills
- Reading doneness by touch and temperature
- Fire and heat zone control
- Protein trimming and portioning
- Seasoning judgment
- Timing with other stations
- Raw meat safety and cross contamination control
- Working calmly in high heat
Schedule
Grill cooks usually work dinner shifts, often five days a week, with weekends and holidays being the busiest.
Grill Cook job posting template
Copy this, replace the bracketed parts, and post it.
Grill Cook - [Restaurant Name], [City] [Restaurant Name] in [City] is looking for a Grill Cook to run our grill station. We serve [steaks/burgers/seafood/other] and we take temperatures seriously. What you will do: - Cook proteins on the grill or broiler to the guest's order - Prep, trim, and portion meat and seafood for the station - Time your food to hit the pass with the rest of the order - Keep the grill clean and safe - Work with the line and expo during busy service What we are looking for: - [X] or more years of grill or line experience - Good knowledge of cooking temperatures and timing - Comfort in a hot, fast kitchen - Food handler certification (or willingness to get it) - Availability for [Shift], including weekends What we offer: - [$XX-$XX/hr] depending on experience - Staff meal and [benefits] - Training and growth toward sous chef - A team that values consistency over chaos Send your resume to [email] or stop by [Address].
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