A line cook runs one station on the hot or cold line and turns raw product into plated dishes during service. The role sits between prep cooks and the sous chef, and it is the backbone of almost every restaurant kitchen. Here is what the job looks like across a shift, in the order it happens.
Opening duties
- Check the prep list and the walk-in to see what needs to be made or pulled for your station
- Pull, portion, and label proteins and garnishes for the day's expected volume
- Set up the station with pans, utensils, squeeze bottles, towels, and sanitizer
- Light the grill, preheat ovens and fryers, and confirm the equipment is at temperature
- Taste sauces and soups and read the 86 board and specials with the sous chef
During service
- Read each ticket as it prints and start the longest-cooking items first
- Cook every dish to temperature and spec, tasting and adjusting seasoning as you go
- Call out fire times and communicate with expo so a table's plates hit the pass together
- Plate neatly and wipe the rims before anything leaves your station
- Flag allergy notes and modifications out loud so nothing gets missed
- Restock your station from the walk-in between tickets so you never run dry mid-rush
- Wipe down your surface and swap towels so the station stays safe and organized
Closing duties
- Wrap, label, and date every leftover item and put it in its proper place in the walk-in
- Break down the station and wash or pass off all pans and small equipment
- Scrape and clean the grill, flat top, and fryer surfaces according to the closing checklist
- Sweep and mop your area and empty the station trash
- Write the prep list for the opening cook and tell the sous chef what is running short
Weekly duties
- Help with the weekly inventory count of your station's products
- Deep clean the reach-ins, shelves, and equipment around your station
- Rotate stock using first in, first out and pull anything near its date
- Review recipe or menu changes with the sous chef and practice any new dish before it goes live
Writing a posting? The line cook job description turns these duties into a ready-to-paste template. For shift planning, try the free restaurant schedule template.