Career summary

Details for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop


Description

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

Tasks

  • Provide guests with menus.
  • Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
  • Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.
  • Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
  • Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.
  • Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas such as lounges.
  • Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
  • Prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
  • Prepare staff work schedules.
  • Order or requisition supplies and equipment for tables and serving stations.
  • Hire, train, and supervise food and beverage service staff.
  • Plan parties or other special events and services.
  • Confer with other staff to help plan establishments' menus.
  • Perform marketing and advertising services.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
  • Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
  • Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies and clean restrooms when necessary.
  • Take and prepare to-go orders.
  • Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.

Interests

  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal Service -Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

None found.

Related careers