Front of House - Host

Back of The House Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips

401 (k) Retirement Savings Plan

Supplemental phone allowance

shift meal benefits

100% employer-paid health insurance

Employee portal for paystubs, W-2, and

Job summary

Back of The House Inc. in Palo Alto seeks a friendly Host to welcome guests and manage the dining room flow, delivering a warm first impression from arrival through departure. The role emphasizes timeliness, respect, attention to detail, and composure in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include greeting guests, handling reservations with OpenTable, quoting wait times, seating guests, and maintaining clear communication with the service team to ensure a seamless guest experience.

Qualifications

• Previous customer service experience preferred.
• Strong people skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Genuine interest in hospitality and guest satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Greet and engage guests in a friendly, natural manner while managing wait times.
• Manage reservations and walk-ins using OpenTable and quote wait times.
• Understand dining room flow, pacing, and table management to ensure smooth service.
• Seat guests with menus, offer water, and provide children’s menus when needed.
• Communicate guest details (celebrations, allergies, preferences) to the team.

Skills

Customer service

Hospitality

Multitasking

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Tools

OpenTable

Job description

Position Objective

The Host sets the tone for the guest experience from arrival through departure. This role manages the flow of the dining room while delivering a warm, organized, and attentive first impression. Success in this role requires strong awareness, communication, and the ability to stay composed in a fast-paced environment. Hosts are expected to operate with T.R.A.Y. as the foundation of service, prioritizing timeliness, respect, attention to detail, and your responsibility in every guest interaction.

Core Values & Service Standards (Non-Negotiables)

• Immediate Engagement – Greet guests immediately with a warm welcome and maintain eye contact, smile, and presence. Acknowledge departure with a genuine thank you and goodbye
• Guest Recognition – Check guests in promptly, confirm reservations, and ask “Are we celebrating anything?” to identify key guest details
• Seating & First Touch – Seat guests efficiently with menus, including bar seating when applicable. Offer water (still or sparkling) and mark accordingly. Provide children’s menus and high chairs when needed
• Guest Experience – Engage guests while walking to the table, make conversation, and create a welcoming, attentive arrival. Pull out chairs and ensure a smooth transition to the table
• Flow & Urgency – Operate with a calm sense of urgency, walk guests to tables, and return promptly to the host stand to maintain flow
• Communication & Awareness – Communicate all relevant guest information to the team including celebrations, allergies, preferences, pacing, and table needs
• Takeout Accuracy – Treat delivery drivers as guests and ensure all takeout orders are accurate and complete before handoff

Key Responsibilities

• Greet and engage guests in a friendly, natural manner while managing wait times
• Manage reservations and walk-ins using OpenTable
• Accurately quote wait times and manage guest expectations
• Understand dining room flow, pacing, and table management
• Seat guests with menus, including bar seating when applicable
• Offer water (still or sparkling) and mark accordingly
• Offer children’s menus and high chairs when needed
• Engage guests while walking to tables; create a seamless arrival experience
• Identify and communicate guest details (celebrations, allergies, preferences, pacing needs)
• Maintain clear communication with management and service team
• Answer phones and handle guest inquiries with professionalism
• Support takeout operations, ensuring order accuracy and completeness
• Assist with bussing, running food, and supporting service as needed
• Complete opening, running, and closing side work
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of host stand, entrance, and bathrooms
• Monitor restaurant readiness (menus, supplies, cleanliness throughout shift)
• Participate in pre-shift meetings and ongoing team communication
• Demonstrate confidence, awareness, and composure during service

Physical Requirements

The ideal candidate must be able to perform all physical requirements of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation, including:

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and move throughout all areas of the restaurant
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and lift or move items up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work in indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to varying weather conditions
• Ability to work safely around hot surfaces, wet floors, glassware, walk-in refrigerators/freezers, and cleaning chemicals

Experience

• Previous customer service experience preferred (restaurants, hotels, hospitality, or sales)
• Strong people skills, outward energy, and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Genuine interest in hospitality and guest satisfaction

Certifications

• Food safety and RBS certification are required
• If not currently certified, employee must complete certifications within 30 days of hire
• Harassment Prevention Training

Compensation & Benefits

• Tips
• 401 (k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Supplemental phone allowance
• shift meal benefits
• 100% employer-paid health insurance for employees averaging 28+ hours/week
• Employee portal for paystubs, W-2, and benefit access
• Transportation and commuter benefits
• Group gym membership rates
• Career development opportunities
• On-Demand Pay