Front of House Server

About Casa Palestina

Casa Palestina is the first permanent Palestinian cultural institution in Portugal, based in Alcântara, Lisbon. Women-led and rooted in bringing Palestinian culture to life through food, live music, art and film screenings. The house exists to protect memory, deepen public literacy, and sustain Palestinian presence.

Role summary

The Front of House Server is the first person a guest meets and the last one they speak to. You run a section on the floor: taking orders, serving food and drinks, and keeping the room moving on nights when the kitchen is full and there is a concert, a screening or a talk happening in the same building.

This is a hospitality job inside a cultural space, which means the standard is higher than service. People arrive for a meal and often stay for something else entirely. Your job is to make that easy for them.

You report to the Restaurant Manager and work alongside the kitchen team, the bar, and whoever is running the programme that night.

Key responsibilities

Service

• Welcome and seat guests, take orders, and serve food and drinks across your section.
• Know the menu properly: the Palestinian dishes, how they are made, where they come from, and every allergen.
• Run food and drinks promptly, clear tables, and reset for the next booking.
• Handle payments, split bills, and close your section accurately at the end of service.
• Communicate clearly with the kitchen on timing, modifications and allergies.

The room

• Set up the floor before service and pack down after: tables, linen, glassware, cutlery, candles, signage.
• Keep the room clean, stocked and presentable throughout service.
• Manage the pace of your section so the kitchen is not overwhelmed and guests are not left waiting.
• Support bar service where needed.

Event nights

• Work service around live music, screenings, workshops and talks, adjusting pace and volume to the programme.
• Support the door, check-in and guest lists when the Events Coordinator needs a hand.
• Reset the space between the seated meal and the programme.

Standards and compliance

• Complete mandatory food hygiene and safety training (formação em higiene e segurança alimentar) and keep your certificate current and on file at the establishment.
• Follow HACCP procedures, allergen handling and cleaning schedules as directed by the Restaurant Manager.
• Serve alcohol responsibly and in line with Portuguese law.
• Know where the Livro de Reclamações is kept and how to hand it over on request.

Who you are

Present. You read a room. You notice the table that needs water before they ask, and the guest who has been waiting too long.

Warm without performing. Casa Palestina is a home before it is a restaurant. Guests should feel hosted, not processed.

Quick on your feet. A full room, late walk-ins, a set running over. You adjust without visible panic.

Straight with people. You tell the kitchen the truth about timing, and you tell a guest honestly when something will take a while.

Culturally grounded. You understand what this space is, why it exists, and the political and emotional weight some guests carry through the door. You are comfortable holding that.

A team member first. You clear someone else's table. You restock without being asked. Nobody here works only their own section.

Requirements

• Previous experience serving in a restaurant, bar or cafe. High-volume or event-led venues are an advantage.
• Working Portuguese and English. Some Arabic is a plus.
• Valid food hygiene and safety certification, or willingness to complete it before you start.
• Right to work in Portugal.
• Availability across evenings and weekends, including event nights.
• Comfort working in a culturally and politically engaged space, and alignment with Casa Palestina's mission and values.

Working arrangement

• Operating week is Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays.
• Full-time and part-time positions available. Shift patterns agreed in advance.
• Staff meal on every shift.

How to apply

Send a short note about your experience and your CV to careers@casapalestina.pt, with the role in the subject line. We would rather read a few honest paragraphs about why this house than a formal cover letter.

Apply by email