Chef
| Company | CAVE -Japanese Sake & Tapas- |
| Location | Queenstown-Lakes, Otago |
| Listed | Sat 18 Jul, 3:49 pm |
| Type | Full time, Permanent |
CAVE is a small, family-run restaurant in the heart of Arrowtown, known for a relaxed Japanese lunch menu (ramen, sushi, donburi) by day and a refined Japanese tapas dinner service by night — paired with an extensive sake, Japanese whiskey, and Central Otago wine list. We're a small team that cares about doing things properly. If you're after a kitchen where you'll actually be part of the team rather than a cog in a big machine, this is worth a look.
We're looking for an experienced Chef to join our close-knit kitchen team long-term, working alongside our owner-chef and head chef. This isn't a short-term or stopgap role — we want someone who wants to build something with us over years, not months.
About the role:
Full-time position, based at our Arrowtown restaurant
Preparing and cooking across our lunch and dinner menus, working across multiple kitchen sections
Fast-paced service, particularly through the Queenstown Lakes tourist season
Minimum 30 guaranteed hours per week, with typical hours ranging up to 60 depending on business needs
Pay rate: $30.00/hour to start, with progression based on performance
What you'll need:
At least 3 years' relevant commercial kitchen experience
Genuine, demonstrable whole-fish butchery skill — you can break down and fillet a whole salmon cleanly and efficiently, not just portion pre-cut fillets
Precise knife skills across the board — we will ask you to demonstrate this at trial
Experience working across multiple kitchen sections in a fast-paced environment
Confident with raw food preparation — sushi/nigiri and sashimi
No formal culinary qualification required; we care about what you can actually do with a knife, not what's on paper
Genuinely looking to settle into a role and stay — not using this as a stepping stone to move on within a year
Trial process:
A hands-on skills demonstration is a non-negotiable part of our process.
You'll need to be available to attend an in-person skills demonstration (knife skills/fish butchery) at our Arrowtown restaurant within 1–2 weeks of applying.
We're unable to progress applications from candidates who can't meet the above.
AEWV sponsorship:
If you would need AEWV visa sponsorship: we hold an approved job check and can support the right candidate through that process. You'll need to provide solid documented evidence of your past experience — a signed employment contract together with payslips or IRD/tax records covering that employment. A contract alone, or a verbal reference alone, won't be sufficient for the visa application.
To apply, send your CV to info@cavearrowtown.co.nz
We're looking for an experienced Chef to join our close-knit kitchen team long-term, working alongside our owner-chef and head chef. This isn't a short-term or stopgap role — we want someone who wants to build something with us over years, not months.
About the role:
Full-time position, based at our Arrowtown restaurant
Preparing and cooking across our lunch and dinner menus, working across multiple kitchen sections
Fast-paced service, particularly through the Queenstown Lakes tourist season
Minimum 30 guaranteed hours per week, with typical hours ranging up to 60 depending on business needs
Pay rate: $30.00/hour to start, with progression based on performance
What you'll need:
At least 3 years' relevant commercial kitchen experience
Genuine, demonstrable whole-fish butchery skill — you can break down and fillet a whole salmon cleanly and efficiently, not just portion pre-cut fillets
Precise knife skills across the board — we will ask you to demonstrate this at trial
Experience working across multiple kitchen sections in a fast-paced environment
Confident with raw food preparation — sushi/nigiri and sashimi
No formal culinary qualification required; we care about what you can actually do with a knife, not what's on paper
Genuinely looking to settle into a role and stay — not using this as a stepping stone to move on within a year
Trial process:
A hands-on skills demonstration is a non-negotiable part of our process.
You'll need to be available to attend an in-person skills demonstration (knife skills/fish butchery) at our Arrowtown restaurant within 1–2 weeks of applying.
We're unable to progress applications from candidates who can't meet the above.
AEWV sponsorship:
If you would need AEWV visa sponsorship: we hold an approved job check and can support the right candidate through that process. You'll need to provide solid documented evidence of your past experience — a signed employment contract together with payslips or IRD/tax records covering that employment. A contract alone, or a verbal reference alone, won't be sufficient for the visa application.
To apply, send your CV to info@cavearrowtown.co.nz
