About the Role
Tapestry, the cafe at the Ismaili Center, is hiring back of house team members across prep, line,
and dish. This is a quick service kitchen running fifteen to twenty items a la carte, and the
standard is high. Every plate goes out hot, correct, and looking the way it should. We are
looking for people who take pride in their station, work clean, and push to get orders out fast
without cutting corners. The guest never sees you, but they feel your work in every plate.
About the Ismaili Center
Tapestry is the cafe inside the Ismaili Center, Houston, the first Ismaili Center in the United
States and the seventh in the world. Set on eleven acres along Montrose Boulevard, the Center
is a cultural and civic landmark built to advance pluralism, public understanding, and civic
outreach. It is a place of dialogue, learning, and connection that welcomes people of every
background and faith, celebrates the arts, and builds bridges across cultures.
That mission shapes how we operate. The setting is calm, gracious, and deliberately unhurried.
Guests come here for a performance, an exhibition, a lecture, a meal, or a quiet moment, and
our team is expected to meet them with the same warmth and composure the Center is known
for. In keeping with the Center, alcohol is not served. We are looking for people who take pride
in gracious hospitality and who will represent this environment with the care and respect it
deserves.
Hours of Operation
This is a daytime and early evening operation. There are no overnight closes and no shifts
running into the early morning.
Monday: closed- Tuesday through Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
For anyone who has spent years in restaurants working until two in the morning, this schedule is
a rare opportunity to do excellent hospitality work and still have your life outside of it.
Compensation
$12.00 to $15.00 per hour, depending on experience and role.
Key Responsibilities
THE GUEST COMES FIRST. Greet every guest warmly, learn the regulars, and make people feel taken care of from the moment they walk in.- MOVE WITH PURPOSE. This is a quick service cafe. Work with urgency during a rush and use slow moments to get ahead, not to stand still.
- SEE THE WORK. Notice what needs doing and do it. Restock before it runs out, wipe down before it is dirty, clear before you are asked.
- KNOW THE MENU. Answer questions confidently, make recommendations, and help guests find what they will love.
- ACCURACY. Take and enter orders correctly the first time. A wrong order costs the guest their time and the kitchen its rhythm.
- OWN THE SPACE. Keep the counter, dining area, and service stations clean, stocked, and presentable at all times.
- SUPPORT THE TEAM. Jump in where you are needed. Everyone here works the whole floor, not just their station.
- HANDLE IT WELL. When something goes wrong, address it with the guest calmly and get a manager when you need one.
- FOOD SAFETY. Follow all food safety and sanitation practices without being reminded.
Qualifications
A genuine, high energy, guest focused attitude. This matters more to us than a resume.- Self motivation. We are looking for people who find the work rather than wait for it.
- The ability to stay composed and efficient during a rush.
- Reliability. You show up, on time, when you are scheduled.
- Prior cafe, restaurant, or customer service experience preferred, but we will train the right person.
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 25 pounds.
- Availability that fits the cafe's operating hours, including weekends as needed
How to Apply
Please submit your application to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
