At PJ Lobster House, our bartenders are an essential part of the guest experience. While you'll provide outstanding service to guests seated at our 8-seat bar, your primary responsibility is operating our high-volume service bar, preparing cocktails quickly, accurately, and consistently for our busy dining room.
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, communicates well with both guests and coworkers, and takes pride in delivering exceptional hospitality. Attention to detail, efficiency, and consistency are essential to success in this role.
Beyond mixing drinks, our bartenders become knowledgeable about our extensive seafood menu, confidently recommend food and beverage pairings, support takeout operations, answer telephones, and assist guests with menu questions to ensure every customer receives outstanding service.
At PJ Lobster House, teamwork is one of our core values. During quieter months, everyone contributes to the success of the restaurant. Bartenders assist with answering telephones, processing takeout orders, seating guests when needed, cleaning and sanitizing menus, and supporting the front-of-house team wherever necessary to deliver an exceptional guest experience.
If you enjoy creating quality cocktails, working efficiently under pressure, and being part of a professional team that values hospitality, consistency, and teamwork, you'll thrive at PJ Lobster House.
This is a bartending-first position, with additional serving opportunities available based on business needs, experience, and performance.
Responsibilities
Operate a high-volume service bar while maintaining speed, accuracy, and consistency.
Prepare specialty cocktails, classic cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Provide exceptional service to guests seated at our 8-seat bar.
Learn our extensive seafood menu and confidently answer guest questions.
Recommend beverages, appetizers, entrées, and desserts.
Answer telephones professionally.
Process takeout orders accurately.
Greet and assist guests as needed.
Maintain a clean, organized, and fully stocked bar throughout every shift.
Restock beer, liquor, mixers, garnishes, glassware, and supplies.
Clean and sanitize the bar, menus, workstations, and equipment.
Assist with opening, closing, and side work.
Support the front-of-house team wherever needed to ensure an outstanding guest experience.
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Sundays and Mondays (11:00 AM–Close) required.
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Previous bartending experience preferred.
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Basic knowledge of beer, wine, spirits, and classic cocktails required.
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Friendly, outgoing, and professional personality.
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Excellent communication and guest service skills.
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Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
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Ability to multitask while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
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Comfortable answering telephones and processing takeout orders.
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Willing to assist with seating guests and supporting the front-of-house team when needed.
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Responsible for maintaining a clean, organized, and fully stocked bar.
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Dependable with excellent attendance and punctuality.
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Available to work full day shifts, weekends, and holidays.
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Able to stand for extended periods and lift up to 30 pounds.
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Authorized to work in the United States.
For more than 30 years, PJ Lobster House has proudly served the Port Jefferson and Long Island community as a family-owned seafood restaurant and fish market. Our reputation has been built on fresh, high-quality food, exceptional hospitality, and, most importantly, the outstanding people who make it all possible every day.
We believe great businesses are built by great teams—not constant hiring. That's why we're looking for dependable, hardworking individuals who want more than just another restaurant job. We invest in people who take pride in their work, enjoy being part of a team, and are looking for a place where they can build a long-term career.
Unlike many restaurants that significantly reduce staff or cut hours during the off-season, our goal is to retain great employees year-round. While business levels naturally fluctuate throughout the year, we work hard to provide consistent hours and stable employment because we know our employees depend on their jobs just as much as we depend on them.
We also believe that a career should help build your future. That's why we offer a 401(k) retirement plan, giving eligible employees the opportunity to invest in their future while building a long-term career with our company.
One of the things our employees value most is consistency. Whenever possible, we provide set schedules so you know when you're working and can better plan your life outside of work. We believe predictable schedules create a healthier work-life balance and help our team succeed both professionally and personally.
Whether you work in our dining room, kitchen, or seafood market, you'll become part of a team that values professionalism, respect, accountability, reliability, and helping one another succeed. Every position plays an important role, and every team member contributes to the experience our guests have come to expect for more than three decades.
If you're looking for a fast-paced workplace where your work is appreciated, your teammates support one another, opportunities are earned through hard work and dependability, and you're encouraged to build a long-term career, we'd love to meet you.
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Family-owned and operated for more than 30 years
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Year-round employment with a commitment to providing steady hours whenever possible
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Consistent set schedules to help you balance work and personal life
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401(k) retirement plan because we believe in helping our employees invest in their future
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Opportunities for advancement and cross-training
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Professional, respectful, team-oriented culture
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Employee dining discounts
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Managers who work alongside their teams
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High standards with supportive leadership
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Fast-paced environment where no two days are the same
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Build a career—not just another restaurant job
At PJ Lobster House, every member of our team is expected to uphold the values that have guided our business for more than 30 years:
Dependability
We do what we say we're going to do. Our teammates and our guests rely on us every day.
Teamwork
We support one another, communicate openly, and understand that great restaurants succeed when everyone works together.
Hospitality
Every guest deserves a welcoming, friendly, and memorable experience from the moment they walk through our doors.
Professionalism
We take pride in our work, our appearance, our attitude, and our commitment to maintaining the high standards our guests expect.
