posted January 21, 2025

Sushi Cook

Compensation: NA

Job Description

Join Our Culinary Team: Sushi Cook at Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Cheeca Lodge & Spa

Location: Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada, Florida Keys


Located in the heart of Islamorada at the luxurious Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience that melds the art of sushi and Japanese cuisine with the tropical flavors of the Florida Keys. Featuring locally and internationally sourced fish, bold spices, and fresh vegetables, Nikai’s chefs craft a tantalizing menu of nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and Japanese-inspired dishes. Our creative bar program, offering sake, beers, and craft cocktails, elevates the experience even further.


As a Sushi Cook, you will play a vital role in delivering the exceptional cuisine that makes Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant a dining destination in the Florida Keys. You will be responsible for preparing sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese-inspired dishes with precision and creativity, ensuring every plate delights our guests.

Key Responsibilities

  • Prepare high-quality sushi, sashimi, specialty rolls, and other Japanese-inspired dishes using fresh, locally, and internationally sourced ingredients.
  • Maintain consistency in food preparation and presentation, adhering to traditional Japanese techniques.
  • Ensure food quality and freshness by conducting regular inspections of ingredients and raw materials.
  • Collaborate with the culinary team to create a seamless dining experience.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work environment in compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Interact professionally with guests when needed, embodying the warm hospitality of Cheeca Lodge & Spa.

Experience & Skills:

  • Minimum of 6 months of experience in sushi preparation, with expertise in traditional Japanese sushi and sashimi techniques.
  • A keen eye for detail and presentation.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Personal Attributes:

  • Passionate about Japanese cuisine and creative culinary expression.
  • Professional, team-focused attitude with a commitment to excellence.
  • Strong communication and organizational skills.

Why Join Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant?
Be part of a culinary team that crafts memorable dining experiences in a serene, oceanfront setting. At Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your skills and creativity while working with the finest ingredients and a team dedicated to excellence.

Benefits Include:

  • 401(k) with employer matching with immediate vesting after 90 days.
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
  • Paid Time Off (up to 10 days vacation and 8 paid holidays)
  • Employer Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance.
  • AD&D insurance.
  • Employee discounts at Northwood Hospitality properties.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance.

Apply today to bring your sushi-making talents to Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, where the flavors of Japan meet the beauty of the Florida Keys!

Cheeca Lodge and Spa

214 Room Hotel

WELCOME TO CHEECA

A Legendary Tropical Hideaway

Since 1946 the historic Cheeca Lodge & Spa has enchanted guests with world-class fishing, exceptional accommodations, and gracious hospitality. Come experience this lush oceanfront retreat, considered the premier luxury resort in the Florida Keys.

The Legend of Our Grand Florida Keys Hotel Resort

You've found it...the crown jewel of Islamorada Florida Keys hotels. 

Hardy Keys pioneers called Conchs chose this very beach to carve out a tenacious living in the isolated beauty of the undiscovered Florida Keys. Here, they formed a Methodist congregation and built a two-room school house and a cemetery. Cheeca has preserved this Pioneer Cemetery, where members of the founding families of Islamorada are buried. You can explore it today; it is a designated historical site. The Angel with the Broken Wing watches over the grave of Etta Pinder, who died in 1914. Here lies the first footprint of Islamorada – "Purple Isle" in Spanish.

The early 1940's brought electricity and fresh water. Mrs. Clara Mae Downey from Olney, Maryland, opened the Olney Inn in 1946. She described this early bellwether of Cheeca as "different – rather comparable to the tropical estate of a gifted host." Clara's first guest was President Harry Truman, who cherished his time loafing around the pool and wondering amidst the resort's 22 quaint bungalows. 

Fast horses, high society and a healthy dose of Keys vivacity marked the reign of the Twitchell Family in the 1960's. Cynthia, better known as "Chee," was an heiress to the A&P grocery chain and owner of a top thoroughbred racing farm. "We took my nickname, combined it with my husband Carl's, and came up with "Cheeca," she recalled. The Twitchells completely refurbished the property, adding the main lodge, the oceanfront villas, tennis courts, golf course and Cheeca's trademark wooden fishing pier. Chee raised miniature tarpon and her beloved seahorses in the aquariums throughout the resort. "Suzy the Seahorse" became Cheeca's mascot and logo, gracing the resort's menus, brochures, towels and linens.

Avid outdoorsman and Coca Cola magnate Carl Navarre purchased Cheeca Lodge in 1976, hosting his Fortune 500 friends in for sunny days of sportfishing and golf. Celebrities flocked to the hotel and famous guests were reeling in giant bonefish right off the resort's pier. The "Sportfishing Capital of the World" was born, seducing wealthy adventurers from around the world.

In 2005, Cheeca Lodge underwent over $30 million dollars in renovations, restoring the property and its surrounding grounds to their original grandeur, ensuring that we will be a cherished destination for generations to come. Following a fire on New Year's Eve 2008, the Main Lodge was completely rebuilt once again, with a fabulous open-air lobby, a spectacular oceanfront banquet room with panoramic views, and an exclusive indoor / outdoor lounge area for club members.