80-90k Annually

Nightshade Noodle Bar is an acclaimed, Michelin Guide–Recommended French–Vietnamese tasting menu restaurant from Chef/Owner Rachel Miller, a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Chef and a 2024 & 2025 semifinalist for Best Chef: Northeast. We’re a small, tight-knit team looking for a full-time Server/Bartender to join us.

Located in downtown Lynn, Nightshade offers seven- to thirty-course blind tasting experiences featuring local and luxury seafood, noodle dishes, unique tropical cocktails, and a thoughtful wine program. The space is known for its lush, moody “jungle” atmosphere and creative, high-touch hospitality. Nightshade has earned a 5-star review in The Boston Globe and has been named to The New York Times Top 25 Restaurants in Boston list for two consecutive years.

Primary Responsibilities

- Deliver a warm, attentive, deeply personalized experience for every guest.

- Maintain a detailed understanding of our daily-changing menu and ingredients.

- Act as a liaison between guests and the chef, clearly communicating dietary restrictions, special occasions, and guest preferences.

- Demonstrate confidence with our beverage program: offering thoughtful pairings, describing selections, and selling premium wine and cocktail offerings.

- Execute both server and bartender duties as needed, including building cocktails to spec and managing bar guests.

- Maintain impeccable standards for glassware, linens, menus, and overall station cleanliness.

Qualifications & Key Competencies

- 3–5 years’ experience serving and/or bartending in a fine-dining or high-end restaurant.

- Experience with Tock and Toast is a plus.

- Prior experience with rotating wine and spirits lists and comfort selling high-value items.

- Confidence discussing and studying wine, with the ability to describe key attributes of major grape varieties and demonstrate a working understanding of classic regions.

- Unwavering dedication to hospitality that is warm, imaginative, and consistently excellent.

- Physical ability to stand for long periods, run food, and clear tables efficiently and gracefully.

- Strong situational awareness with the ability to anticipate guest and team needs.

- Self-motivated learner with pride in mastery, precision, and consistency.

- Positive, solutions-oriented approach to challenges and feedback.

- Desire to grow and refine your craft in a high-performing, supportive environment.

- Genuine appreciation for the hospitality industry and a strong commitment to professional growth.

Schedule & Compensation

This is a full-time position, Thursday through Sunday. Shifts typically begin at 3:00 p.m. and generally end by 1:00 a.m., with occasional shorter training or project-based shifts on Wednesdays. A typical work week is 34–37 hours. Nightshade is closed for two weeks each year for scheduled breaks.

This is an hourly, tipped-equivalent role within our service-fee model. Based on recent earnings, full-time team members in this position typically achieve total annual compensation in the range of $80,000–$90,000, depending on experience and performance. Nightshade operates on a shorter work week to allow our team time to rest and recharge between demanding services.

Please note: this role is intended as your primary, full-time employment. We are not currently considering applicants seeking part-time or secondary work.

To Apply

If this sounds like the right fit, please send:

- A short paragraph about why you’d be a great addition to our team

- Your current résumé to info@nightshadenoodlebar.com with the subject line “Server/Bartender – Nightshade”.

We look forward to hearing from you.

85-95k Annually

Nightshade Noodle Bar is an acclaimed, Michelin Guide–Recommended French–Vietnamese tasting menu restaurant from Chef/Owner Rachel Miller, a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Chef and a 2024 & 2025 semifinalist for Best Chef: Northeast. We’re a small, tight-knit team seeking a Maître d’ to lead our front-of-house operations and serve as the face of the restaurant during service.

Located in downtown Lynn, Nightshade Noodle Bar offers seven- to thirty-course blind tasting experiences featuring local and luxury seafood, noodle dishes, unique tropical cocktails, and a thoughtful wine program. The space is known for its lush, moody “jungle” atmosphere and creative, high-touch hospitality. Nightshade Noodle Bar has earned a 5-star review in The Boston Globe and has been named to The New York Times Top 25 Restaurants in Boston list for two consecutive years.

The Role

The Maître d’ will be on the floor each evening, leading by example, motivating and mentoring our service team, and ensuring our exacting standards of hospitality are consistently met.

This role combines hands-on floor leadership with operational oversight: guiding the team through each service, maintaining structure and standards, and partnering closely with Chef/Owner Rachel Miller and Director of Operations, Alexandra Caruso, to support both the guest experience and the business.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Experience

- Uphold and elevate our unique style of service — gracious, anticipatory, formal but not stuffy, and highly tailored.

- Manage VIPs, special occasions, and regulars with warmth and precision.

Floor Leadership

- Be present for every dinner service, setting the tone for the dining room.

- Lead pre-service meetings, motivate staff, and hold the team accountable to Nightshade Noodle Bar standards.

- Support servers and bartenders in pacing, communication with the kitchen, and problem-solving in real time.

Team Management

- Oversee a FOH team of ~6–7 servers and support staff.

- Hire, train, schedule, and mentor with clear expectations, structure, and follow-through.

- Conduct regular training focused on service standards, menu knowledge, and beverage basics.

Operational Efficiency

- Oversee reservations and guest communication (Tock, email, phone).

- Ensure compliance with Massachusetts labor laws and health codes in collaboration with Chef/Owner

Rachel Miller and Director of Operations, Alexandra Caruso.

- Maintain and refine FOH systems, checklists, and SOPs.

Administration- Manage FOH scheduling.

- Oversee POS configuration and maintenance, and FOH tech platforms (Toast, Tock).

Candidate Profile

Experience

- Minimum 4 years in a Maître d’, Service Manager, General Manager, AGM, or equivalent leadership

role in fine dining.

- Experience in a tasting-menu or high-touch, prix-fixe environment is strongly preferred.

- Michelin- or James Beard–recognized background strongly preferred.

Wine Knowledge

- Formal certification (CMS, WSET, or equivalent) strongly preferred.

- Confident discussing wine with guests, guiding staff on pairings and selections, and integrating wine into the overall experience.

Skills

- Strong financial acumen and comfort working with budgets, targets, and reporting.

- Highly organized and detail-oriented.

- Technically adept; experience with Toast and Tock is a plus.

Leadership Style

- Calm under pressure and thrives on intensity.

- Disciplined, direct, and fair — strict about standards while inspiring trust.

- Passionate about mentoring, dership Stylebuilding structure, and leading from the floor.

Schedule

- Wednesday: Admin, planning, and meetings.

- Thursday–Sunday: Daily preparation for and participation in dinner service.

Nightshade Noodle Bar is closed for two weeks each year for scheduled breaks.

Compensation & Benefits

- Salary: Competitive base of $85,000–$95,000, depending on experience, plus performance-based bonus potential.

- Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, dining perks, and professional development support, including wine/beverage education.

Growth & Future Opportunities

- Lead FOH operations at one of the Boston area’s most acclaimed restaurants.

- Broader leadership opportunities as Nightshade Noodle Bar evolves and grows.

- Increased community presence as a brand ambassador for Nightshade Noodle Bar.

To Apply

Please send your résumé and a short note on why Nightshade Noodle Bar’s philosophy inspires you to info@nightshadenoodlebar.com

Subject line: “Maître d’ – Nightshade Noodle Bar”.