Host

City-Winer; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 19,286 - 24,796; Full time

Job summary

City Winery in Chicago is seeking a Restaurant Host to greet guests, escort to seats, and set up dining experiences according to floor plans. You will handle inquiries, reservations, and support in other areas of operations to ensure smooth service.

The role requires a friendly, professional demeanor, strong English communication, and the ability to work evenings and weekends, with a willingness to learn menu details and allergen information to assist guests at the table.

Qualifications

• 1+ years’ experience as a Host in a fast-paced, high-volume service environment or equivalent experience.
• Strong work ethic, team player, and exceptional guest service skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality guest experiences and memorable City Winery visits.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for positive relationships.
• Aptitude to resolve problems.
• Ability to execute professional guest service experience.
• Ability to handle all guests with composure and hospitality.
• Polished presentation.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Fluency in English, including reading, writing, basic math, and POS usage.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to perform physical tasks including standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Provide positive guest experiences by greeting, conversing with, and thanking departing guests.
• Escort guests to seats and set them up for a pleasant dining experience based on floor plan.
• Accommodate guest requests with management approval when appropriate.
• Manage all call-ins and walk-in inquiries; direct to departments or take messages.
• Ensure dining areas are tidy, presentable, and safe; set up/rearrange for service.
• Manage day-to-day communications including voicemails, emails, deliveries, and reservation calls; communicate reservations and inquiries.
• Maintain all reservations/seating through the designated system.
• Provide guests with accurate wait time estimates during busy periods.
• Perform opening/closing tasks.
• Rotate seating between stations to balance workloads for staff.
• Maintain knowledge of City Winery brand, history, culture, and programming; communicate menus and allergen info.
• Attend training, tastings, meetings, as needed; follow policies and schedules; presentable appearance.

Skills

Guest service

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Professionalism

Composure

Presentation

English literacy

Flexibility

Stamina

Job description

A rare opportunity to join the City Winery team as we reimagine the future of live music and hospitality. City Winery to deliver the highest end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts. We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons - bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city.

Position Summary

Restaurant Hosts are responsible for delivering consistently exceptional guest experiences to guests of City Winery. The Host serves as the first and last point of contact throughout the guest experience and is responsible for greeting guests while entering and departing the location, handling inquiries and reservations, and supporting in other areas of the operation as needed.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Provide positive guest experience including greeting, conversing with, and thanking departing guests
• Escort guests to seats and set them up for a pleasurable dining experience based on appropriate floor plan
• Accommodate guest requests while seeking management approval when appropriate
• Manage all call-ins and walk-in inquiries, directing to appropriate departmental contacts or taking and messages and communicating to such departments as necessary
• Ensure all dining areas are tidy, presentable, and in safe condition and set up/rearrange/breakdown dining room for service accordingly
• Manage miscellaneous day-to-day communications, including but not limited to, voicemails, emails, deliveries, and reservation calls and communicate any important reservations/guest inquiries
• Maintain all reservations/seating through designated system
• Provide guests with accurate wait time estimates during busy periods
• Perform necessary opening/closing tasks
• Rotate seating between different stations to ensure even workloads for waitstaff
• Maintain a knowledge of City Winery brand, history, culture, and programming, both in venue and restaurant
• Maintain menu knowledge, including ingredients, preparation methods, and allergen information and communicate this information tableside to guests
• Maintain organized, clean, and safe work areas always
• Attend training, tastings, meetings, as needed
• Follow all company policies, procedures, and guidelines including being ready to work at scheduled shift time, in uniform, with neat and presentable appearance.
• Perform all other reasonably assigned duties

Minimum Qualifications

• 1+ years’ experience as a Host in a fast-paced, high-volume service environment and/or equivalent relevant experience
• Strong work ethic, team player, and exceptional guest service skills
• Ability to consistently deliver high-quality guest experiences, exceed guest expectations, and strive to create a memorable experience at every City Winery visit
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build positive relationships with people in the scope of employment
• Aptitude to resolve problems
• Ability to execute professional guest service experience
• Ability to handle all guests with composure and hospitality
• Polished presentation
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Must be fluently literate in English including ability to read, write, communicate, conduct basic business-related mathematics, and able to accurately function a POS
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including days, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to perform physical requirements of the role including standing/walking for the entirety of shift, bending, pulling, pushing, using stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs.

About Us

Wine, food, and live entertainment collide at City Winery to create a dynamic and incredibly unique workplace. Since 2008, City Winery has been turning heads across the nation with amazing live performances, delectable cuisine, and award winning, locally produced wines. But there's more to us than that we're a haven for community and creativity, a place where the philosophy of hospitality is more than just a buzzword, but a way of life. City Winery, founded by music industry veteran & visionary Michael Dorf, has established itself as a one-of-a-kind brand providing unforgettable experiences for guests. From world class music venues to sustainably produced wines with ratings of 90+ points, City Winery offers a range of topnotch events & experiences.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at City Winery. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Additionally, City Winery participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

We use eVerify to confirm U.S. Employment eligibility.