Craft Cocktail Bartender / Mixologist

PJ Lobster House | Port Jefferson, NY Experienced Cocktail Professionals Only — Immediate Opening PJ Lobster House is seeking an experienced, personable, and talented Craft Cocktail Bartender / Mixologist who genuinely enjoys creating exceptional cocktails and delivering outstanding hospitality. We're looking for someone who takes pride in the craft of bartending — someone who understands spirits, ingredients, flavor combinations, proper techniques, and beautiful cocktail presentation.

This is not an entry-level bartending position. We are looking for an established cocktail professional with proven, hands-on experience. About the Position Our intimate eight-seat bar offers the opportunity to develop relationships with regular customers, provide personalized service, and serve guests enjoying our full restaurant menu.

In addition to serving bar guests, our bartender is responsible for preparing cocktails for our full-service dining rooms. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable creating an exceptional espresso martini, engaging guests in conversation, taking a complete dinner order, and efficiently managing multiple service-bar tickets.

We value personality, professionalism, creativity, consistency, and genuine hospitality.

What We're Looking For

Minimum 3 years of hands-on bartending experience in a full-service restaurant, upscale bar, or craft cocktail establishment. Excellent knowledge of classic and contemporary cocktails, spirits, ingredients, mixing techniques, and garnishes. Genuine enthusiasm for cocktail creativity, flavor profiles, and presentation.

Ability to follow established cocktail recipes accurately and consistently. Proven ability to independently manage restaurant service-bar tickets while providing attentive service to seated bar guests. Strong restaurant experience, including food service, menu knowledge, POS systems, and handling guest payments. Excellent multitasking skills, organization, efficiency, and a strong sense of urgency.

Outgoing, confident, and engaging personality with the ability to connect with guests and build relationships with regular customers. Professional, polished presentation and a positive, hospitality-focused attitude. Ability to anticipate guest needs, maintain an organized bar, and provide exceptional service without constant supervision.

Schedule Saturday, Sunday & Monday — Approximately 11 AM to 9 PM Consistent three-day schedule with four days off each week.

Compensation

& Benefits $11.35/hour plus tips. Additional bartender tip-out equal to 10% of servers' alcohol sales. Bartenders retain their direct tips with no required tip-out to barbacks or other support staff. Established, year-round restaurant with an intimate eight-seat bar and full dining-menu service. 401(k) eligibility. Employee dining discounts.

Paid training. Application Requirements We're looking for candidates with real, verifiable cocktail bartending experience, not simply general food and beverage experience. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their previous cocktail programs, restaurant service-bar responsibilities, and experience handling both seated guests and dining-room drink orders.

Selected candidates will participate in a practical cocktail knowledge and bartending skills assessment as part of the interview process. If you love the art of creating great cocktails, enjoy engaging with guests, and have the experience to operate a professional restaurant bar confidently and efficiently, we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

Must be available to work Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, approximately 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every week.; Minimum 3 years of hands-on bartending experience in a full-service restaurant, upscale bar, or craft cocktail establishment required.; Strong knowledge of classic and contemporary cocktails, spirits, ingredients, mixing techniques, garnishes, and presentation required.

; Friendly, outgoing, confident, and professional personality with the ability to engage guests and build relationships with regular customers.; Excellent communication and hospitality skills, including the ability to take food orders, serve meals, and provide attentive service to seated bar guests.; Ability to independently manage multiple dining-room cocktail orders while simultaneously serving guests seated at the bar.

; Strong multitasking, organizational, and time-management skills with the ability to prepare cocktails accurately and consistently during busy service.; Comfortable answering telephones, processing takeout orders, and assisting the front-of-house team when needed.; Dependable, punctual, and capable of maintaining a clean, organized, properly stocked bar while following established cocktail recipes and service standards.

Build Your Career at PJ Lobster House 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.

Why Work at PJ Lobster House? Family-owned and operated for more than 30 years Year-round employment with a commitment to providing steady hours whenever possible Consistent set schedules to help you balance work and personal life 401(k) retirement plan because we believe in helping our employees invest in their future Opportunities for advancement and cross-training Professional, respectful, team-oriented culture Employee dining discounts Managers who work alongside their teams High standards with supportive leadership Fast-paced environment where no two days are the same Build a career—not just another restaurant job Our Core Values 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.