Energetic Host | Fast-Paced Dining & Guest Care

Wooden Paddle; La Grange (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO medical, dental, & vision

401K retirement savings with company 3

Flexible days off

Dining allowance $25 daily

50% employee discount on food while on

20% employee discount on food & drinks

State of the Company events

Company-paid coaching & resources

EOS-driven collaborative team

Holidays off

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Wooden Paddle is seeking a part-time Host in La Grange, IL. The role focuses on warm welcomes, thoughtful seating, and proactive guest care in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

You will maintain a guest-ready front-of-house, handle peak shifts, and contribute to a fun, high-energy dining experience. Experience in hospitality and ServSafe certification are preferred, with opportunities for growth and a strong team culture.

Qualifications

• Guest-facing role experience of at least 1 year.
• Must hold ServSafe Food Handler Certification.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Physically able to stand, walk, and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Part-time availability during busy shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Familiarity with Toast and SevenRooms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Warm welcomes and farewells to guests.
• Strategic, well-balanced seating to optimize guest flow.
• Proactive and personalized guest care.
• Maintain guest-ready front-of-house spaces.

Skills

Guest-facing experience

ServSafe Food Handler Certification

18+ years old

Physical stamina

Part-time availability during peak ShD

Open availability for full-time

Toast & SevenRooms familiarity

Tools

Toast POS

SevenRooms

Job description

IS THIS JOB FOR YOU?

• Do you love working in a fast-paced, high-energy environment?
• Are you the kind of person who can’t stand sitting still when there’s work to be done?
• Do you thrive on figuring out a way to make things happen, no matter what?
• Are you the type of person who holds yourself to high standards, because you believe how you do one thing is how you do everything?
• Do you believe that working hard and having fun can (and should!) go hand-in-hand?

Yes?! Then YOU should join our team!

WHY WORK HERE?:

Here are some of the perks!

• PPO medical, dental, & vision insurance with 50% company contribution
• 401K retirement savings plan w/ 3% company match
• Flexible days off, typically back-to-back
• A free, $25 dining allowance every day you work
• A 50% employee discount on food while you're working
• A 20% employee discount on food & drinks anytime you're not working, for you & your whole table
• Attendance at fun, "State of the Company" company events twice a year
• Access to lots of company-paid business coaching & resources
• As a company, we run on EOS; so we're a collaborative, strategic, and winning team (i.e. no more meetings that just waste your time - promise!)
• Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & your birthday off, automatically
• The opportunity to grow quickly with a forward-thinking company that regularly reinvests in itself and its people

*Select benefits are available exclusively to full-time team members

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?:

RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Host, these are the results you'll be hired to accomplish:

» ① Warm Welcomes & Farewells

» ② Strategic, Well-Balanced Seating

» ③ Proactive & Personalized Guest Care

» ④ Guest-Ready Front-of-House Spaces

PAY

The total compensation for this position will be between $17.00 - $20.00 per hour. We pay a base wage of $15 - $17 / hour plus tips. Base wage is based on relevant experience. Tips are based on your level of hospitality, shifts worked, and how busy we are - the busier, the better!

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is part-time, with a flexible schedule designed around the demands of the restaurant. This position will regularly work the busiest shifts of the week, based on daily forecasted sales and special events; typically weekends. Evening shifts are most common, with occasional morning and midday shifts available.

WILL YOU FIT IN HERE?

Our team has been built - brick by brick - on shared core values. And no, they’re not just bullsh*t words slapped on a wall - they’re who we are at our core - and they’re non-negotiables for working here. You’ll feel super *comfy* and right at home if these words describe you:

» You Come With Batteries Included

You’re a high-energy self-starter who jumps into action, and doesn’t need hand-holding to get things done.

» You’re Scrappy

You’re a resourceful problem-solver who makes things happen; if there’s no door, you get in through a window.

» You Take Your Work Seriously

You take pride in your work, big and small, and you have a natural reflex to do things the *right* way.

» But, You Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

You’re a positive team player who owns up to your mistakes, is open to feedback, and is humble about your wins.

And if these words *don’t* describe you? You’ll be decidedly *uncomfy* here. So, fair warning - If you’re a cranky a** problem-bringer who’s cool being super-mid at your job and needs constant hand holding… may we suggest… working literally anywhere else?

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Here are some of our must-haves & would-like-to-haves:

• At least 1 year of experience in a guest-facing role, preferably in a high-volume, fast paced restaurant
• Must have current ServSafe Food Handler Certification
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Physically able to stand, walk, and move for long periods and lift up to 25 pounds
• For part-time positions, must have consistent availability during peak shifts - including nights, weekends, and holidays
• For full-time positions, must have open availability
• Familiarity with Toast & SevenRooms a plus!

Wooden Paddle is 13-years-young restaurant & catering company, started in 2013.
Our purpose, and the reason we exist, is to be 'The Place You Want to Be'. 📍
Our niche, and the thing we work really freaking hard to do better than anyone else, is creating ✨ Super Fun Dining Experiences✨.
Our focus is shareable, wood-fired comfort foods 🍕, artsy cocktails 🍸, & good-time energy 💁♀️.
As a team, we're scrappy go-getters who don't take ourselves too seriously - but we take our food, drinks, and hospitality *extremely* seriously.
And we're all on a mission to hit 10 Million Good-Time Guest Experiences by 2033! Come for the pizza, stay for the party bb! 🎉