Sommelier at Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine

BAAN LAO FINE THAI CUISINE, awarded the Best Restaurant in Canada 2024 by the World Culinary Awards, the Best Destination Restaurant in Canada 2025 by Canada's 100 Best, and recently, #12 and Best in West Canada 2025 by the North America's 50 Best Restaurants, is led by Proprietor / Executive Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng. We feature a multi-course, exquisite Royal Thai cuisine inspired by local and seasonal ingredients from the Kingdom of Thailand. At the very heart of Baan Lao, is Chef Nutcha's 80 years old Organic Rice Farm in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Our team is committed to offer an impeccable service and gracious hospitality. We are seeking a talented, personable, and intelligent sommelier. If you have strong confidence, attention to detail and thrive in a fine dining environment, we would like to hear from you.

As a Sommelier, you will be responsible for presenting and serving a variety of wines and beverages to our guests. The ideal candidate will have an in-depth knowledge of wines and spirits, and passion for serving and providing excellent customer service. You will occasionally assist our servers. You will gain a solid understanding of our style of service and our company's culture. To gain the necessary hands-on experience in all areas of the dining room and become familiar with our company’s culture and values, the introductory period for this role will require rotation through the various service positions before assuming the day-to-day sommelier responsibilities.

Job Requirements:

o Serve as a brand ambassador for Baan Lao, committed to providing an exceptional customer experience and work with our Wine Director.
o Create a pleasant, welcoming, and respectful environment for all guests.
o Provide exceptional customer service by engaging with customers and ensuring their satisfaction.
o Properly manage the flow of each meal for an optimum guest experience.
o Be extremely knowledgeable about every menu item and able to convey a meaningful description for all guest inquiries.
o Be comfortable and confident making food and drink recommendations to guests.
o Work diligently with our Wine Director, maître d’ and/or management team to immediately address all guest concerns.
o Set tables, adhering to brand standards.
o Support the service team and floor manager while on shift.
o Ensure the highest quality standards are met for service, cleanliness and food presentation.
o Handle cash transactions accurately and efficiently.
o Coordinate with chefs and bartenders, providing clarification when needed.
o Collaborate with the kitchen staff to coordinate food and beverage orders.
o Must be able to tend bar and mix cocktails.
o Prepare and serve a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
o Maintain cleanliness and organization of the bar area.
o Create unique and innovative drink recipes that meet customer preferences.
o Adhere to all safety and health regulations.
o Comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws.
o Follow all safety and sanitation policies.

Qualifications:

o High school diploma is required and Serve It Right certificate
o 2+ years of wine experience in fine dining establishment.
o Minimum 2 years experience as a Sommelier in a restaurant or bar setting and certificate/diploma in Sommelier/Mixology with minimum of WSET 2
o Previous Thai food restaurant experience is preferred.
o Understanding of FoodSafe and liquor law regulations.
o Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
o Able to function within, and contribute to, a team environment. o Detail oriented. o Excellent communication skills.
o Excellent memory for names and faces.
o Exceptional customer service, good interpersonal skills and communication.
o Experience with a restaurant POS software platform. o Extensive knowledge of different types of alcoholic beverages, cocktail recipes, and mixology techniques.
o Familiarity with POS systems for order processing.
o Formal training in Hospitality is an asset.
o Keen interest and knowledge of wine and/or tea an asset
o Math skills for measuring ingredients and handling cash transactions.
o Must have legible handwriting.
o Outstanding interpersonal skills.
o Passionate about creating a positive environment for guests and staff.
o Strong customer service skills with the ability to interact with diverse clientele.
o Time management skills to ensure efficient service during peak hours.

Benefits and Transportation Subsidy will be discussed during interview.
Wage: Hourly to be discussed plus tips