Japanese Restaurant Server jobs in York Mills, ON

Front of House Server — Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto Restaurant

Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto is an intimate, appointment-only kaiseki restaurant in Toronto, built on more than 35 years of culinary tradition by Chef Masaki Hashimoto. With only three private dining rooms and a maximum of 10 guests per evening, every service is unhurried, personal, and deeply rooted in Japanese hospitality. Our mission is simple: to bring Japan closer to Toronto through the culinary experience — one guest, one story, one course at a time.

Job Overview

As a Front of House Server, you are the bridge between our kitchen and our guests. You'll guide each party through a multi-course kaiseki journey, translating the cultural and culinary meaning behind every dish into an experience English-speaking guests can fully understand and appreciate. This is not high-volume restaurant service — it's slow, intentional hospitality for guests who are often preparing for their own future trip to Japan and want to leave knowing more than when they arrived.

Key Responsibilities

• Warmly welcome and host guests across our three private dining rooms, maintaining an atmosphere that is peaceful, private, and unhurried
• Explain each course of the kaiseki menu — its ingredients, seasonality, and cultural significance — in clear, accessible English
• Provide informed recommendations on sake and Japanese tea pairings, and answer guest questions about Kaiseki, sake, or Japanese dining customs
• Manage table timing and pacing in close coordination with the kitchen, given our limited nightly seating
• Maintain the calm, detail-oriented service standard expected of a fine dining, appointment-only restaurant
• Work closely as part of a small, tight-knit team where every member's contribution is highly visible

Requirements

• Prior front-of-house experience in a fine dining or high-touch hospitality setting of 3 years or more.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain nuanced concepts clearly and warmly to guests unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine
• Genuine interest in Japanese culture, cuisine, and hospitality (omotenashi)
• Comfortable working in a small team with minimal supervision, high attention to detail, and a slower, story-driven service pace rather than high table turnover
• Reliable availability Thursday through Monday evenings (restaurant hours are 5:00 PM–11:00 PM, plus setup and close)
• Professional, polished presence suited to an intimate luxury dining environment

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a Japanese restaurant, kaiseki, or kappo-style establishment of at least 3 years.
• Sake knowledge or certification (e.g., Certified Sake Sommelier, Advanced Sake Professional, Kikisake-shi)
• Conversational or fluent Japanese language ability (JLPT N3-N1 level).
• Familiarity with Japanese tea ceremony or interest in learning
• Experience assisting international guests, including travel guidance for visitors planning a trip to Japan

Schedule & Compensation

• Schedule: Thursday–Monday, evening shifts aligned with our 5:00 PM–11:00 PM service hours.
• Hourly wage meets or exceeds Ontario's minimum wage, plus a share of our tip pool
• A rare opportunity to grow within a family-run restaurant carrying forward a 35+ year culinary legacy here in Toronto.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and a short note on why Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto appeals to you to info@kaiseki.ca or through the Indeed portal. Please include your English and Japanese resume with photo. (All applications without Japanese resumes will be turned down).

Pay: $17.60-$23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Experience:

• Restaurant: 3 years (required)
• Traditional Japanese restaurant: 3 years (preferred)

Language:

• Japanese (required)
• English (preferred)

Work Location: In person