Frida American Brasserie Is Hiring at La Encantada: Line Cook, Sushi Chef and Server Jobs in the Foothills
TUCSON, AZ — The old Living Room space at La Encantada is about to get a lot fizzier. Frida American Brasserie, a Champagne-forward restaurant from the family behind Villa Peru, is targeting a late-October opening at Skyline and Campbell, and it's hiring now. Line cooks and a sushi chef are posted at $17 to $21 an hour, with part-time server shifts listed too.
A new upscale kitchen in the Catalina Foothills, three roles open, and applications going through the restaurant's own hiring page.
In a hurry? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →
📍 Frida American Brasserie at a Glance
| Business | Frida American Brasserie |
|---|---|
| Owners | Charles and Frida Hunt (also co-owners of Villa Peru on River Road) |
| Address | 2905 E. Skyline Dr., Suite 168, Tucson, AZ 85718 (La Encantada, Catalina Foothills) |
| Opening | Targeting late October 2026 |
| Listed hours | Mon–Thu 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Fri–Sat 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Concept | Champagne-forward American brasserie with European influence |
| Jobs posted | Line Cook ($17–$21/hr), Sushi Chef ($17–$21/hr), Server (part-time, $12–$14/hr) |
| How to apply | Frida's online hiring page |
| Industry | Restaurant and hospitality |
A Champagne Brasserie Moves Into La Encantada
Frida takes over the former Living Room space at La Encantada, the open-air shopping center at Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue. It was first announced in March with an August target. That slipped, and in late September co-owner Frida Hunt told Tucson Foodie the team hoped to open October 22, while calling the end of October the safer bet. The restaurant's website now lists daily hours and takes reservations, but it hasn't posted an official opening day. If you plan to drop by, call (520) 268-8458 first.
The owners already know Tucson's restaurant scene. Charles and Frida Hunt co-own Villa Peru, the Peruvian spot on East River Road, with their family. Frida is a very different room: a two-story Champagne display, a private wine-cellar-style space upstairs and a climate-controlled patio. Early plans also called for a 30-foot indoor-outdoor bar, DJs at Sunday brunch and on weekend evenings, and booths with a button to call the Champagne cart.
What's on the Menu, and Why It Matters for the Kitchen
The menu preview tells you a lot about the jobs. Expect crab cakes and mini lobster rolls, French onion soup, a 32-ounce tomahawk and 12-ounce rib-eye, Chardonnay-poached lobster tail, a Wagyu burger and roasted half chicken, plus a handful of sushi rolls. Lunch adds panini, steak frites and a French dip. The team has said the menu is still a work in progress.
That range is why the kitchen postings ask for skill. A line that's grilling steaks, poaching lobster and plating brunch on the same day needs cooks who can hold a station under pressure, and a sushi program needs someone who already knows the knife work. The bottle list runs from Veuve Clicquot to Krug, so front-of-house staff who are comfortable talking wine will have an edge.
💼 The Jobs and the Posted Pay
Three openings are live on Frida's hiring page, all at the La Encantada address:
- Line Cook: $17.00 to $21.00 an hour. The listing calls for a highly skilled cook.
- Sushi Chef: $17.00 to $21.00 an hour, billed as an immediate opening.
- Server: part-time, with a posted rate of $12.00 to $14.00 an hour.
The listings don't spell out schedules, benefits or experience minimums, so ask about those when you apply. No headcount has been announced. Hosts, bartenders and dishwashers aren't posted yet, but a room this size usually needs them, so keep an eye on the hiring page.
💰 The Foothills Wage Line: Which Minimum Applies
Here's a detail a lot of job seekers miss. La Encantada has a Tucson mailing address, but it sits in the Catalina Foothills, which is unincorporated Pima County, not inside Tucson city limits. That means the Arizona state minimum wage applies there, not the City of Tucson's higher rate.
In 2026 the state minimum is $15.15 an hour. Employers can pay tipped workers up to $3 less ($12.15 an hour) only if tips bring the total to at least the full minimum. Both numbers go up January 1, when the statewide minimum rises to $15.65. Our 2027 minimum wage breakdown covers the city and state rates side by side.
Frida's posted cook pay sits well above either floor. For the server role, ask how the hourly base and tips work before you accept, the same as you would at any full-service restaurant.
What It Means for Tucson Job Seekers
This is a good fit if you've already got a few years on a busy line, you've rolled sushi professionally, or you're a server who wants upscale Foothills shifts close to home.
- Line cooks: posted now. See our line cook career guide and line cook jobs in Tucson.
- Sushi chef: posted now, and an immediate opening. There's no sushi-specific guide yet, so start with the line cook career guide and search sushi jobs in Tucson.
- Servers: posted now, part-time. Read the server career guide and browse server jobs in Tucson.
- Bartenders, hosts and dishwashers: not posted, but worth watching. See the bartender, host and dishwasher career guides.
More Tucson Restaurant Hiring
Frida is one of several new kitchens staffing up this fall. Casa Vera brought 200 seats to La Cholla, as we covered in Casa Vera Opens on La Cholla. For the bigger picture, read Tucson's Fall Restaurant Hiring Window Is Open and who's hiring seasonal workers right now. Working outside city limits elsewhere? Our Marana and Oro Valley guide explains the same wage-line rules.
🔎 Search Jobs Now
- Frida American Brasserie jobs
- Line cook jobs in Tucson
- Sushi chef jobs in Tucson
- Server jobs in Tucson
- Bartender jobs in Tucson
- Restaurant host jobs in Tucson
- Dishwasher jobs in Tucson
- All restaurant jobs in Tucson
Explore more roles in our restaurant and food service careers hub and the hospitality careers hub.
Want the next posting in your inbox? Create a free TucsonHIRED account and set a job alert for cook, server and bartender roles near you.
📢 Employers: Opening a Restaurant in the Foothills?
Staffing a new kitchen or dining room before opening day? Post your jobs on TucsonHIRED and reach local cooks, servers and bartenders who want to work close to home.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Frida American Brasserie?
Frida American Brasserie is at 2905 E. Skyline Dr., Suite 168, at La Encantada in the Catalina Foothills, in the space that used to be the Living Room. The restaurant's phone number is (520) 268-8458.
When does Frida American Brasserie open?
The owners have targeted late October 2026. The restaurant's website lists hours and takes reservations, but no official opening day has been announced, so call ahead before visiting.
What jobs is Frida American Brasserie hiring for?
Three roles are posted: Line Cook at $17 to $21 an hour, Sushi Chef at $17 to $21 an hour, and a part-time Server position listed at $12 to $14 an hour. Apply through the restaurant's online hiring page.
Does the Tucson city minimum wage apply at La Encantada?
No. La Encantada is in the Catalina Foothills, which is unincorporated Pima County, so the Arizona state minimum wage applies. It is $15.15 an hour in 2026 and rises to $15.65 on January 1, 2027.
Who owns Frida American Brasserie?
Charles and Frida Hunt own Frida American Brasserie. They also co-own Villa Peru, a Peruvian restaurant on East River Road in Tucson, with their family.
Skyline Drive is about to get a new spot for Champagne and steak. If you can work a line or carry a tray, the Foothills just added three more reasons to update your resume.
