That's weird for a kitchen to even have applications. I guess a nursing home probably runs a bit differently but most kitchens you drop off or email a resume and they get back to you for an interview or not. Best way to get in is to drop it off in person at like 3pm on a Thursday, that's your best odds the chef will be there and have time to talk, if that's the case you just got yourself an interview, this also signals to the chef you're probably pretty familiar with restaurants having picked a good time and here you are already taking initiative, if you've got solid experience and already know your way around food, just ask about the menu and kinda work your knowledge into your questions and you're pretty much guaranteed a hire. If you don't have a pre existing kitchen background or a less extensive one be honest about it and see about a trial shift, there's a pretty good chance the chef was once where you stand figuratively and every chef is egotistical and is a bit stoked to mold a new cook in their image.