Host

Benihana - Santa Monica; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Benihana - Santa Monica is seeking a friendly Host/Hostess to greet guests on arrival, manage seating and assist guests with menus and server information. You will balance seating flow among stations and coordinate with servers to optimize turnaround.

Responsibilities include answering phones for reservations, relaying guest seating details to staff, maintaining a clean station, and performing routine side work.

Qualifications

• Previous host/hostess experience in restaurant or hospitality required.
• High School diploma or GED preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greets guests warmly and escorts them to a table, balancing flow among servers.
• Manages seating rotation and party size to match table availability.
• Answers phones promptly with a friendly greeting and handles reservations.
• Relays guest seating information to servers and bus staff.
• Maintains cleanliness and organization of seating area and menus.
• Provides customers with menus and answers questions about hours and directions.
• Follows procedures for backup coverage at the host stand.
• Completes side work and ensures restrooms are stocked.
• Performs other duties as assigned by a supervisor.

Skills

Guest service

Phone etiquette

Seating coordination

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary:

Greets and welcomes guests upon arrival. Answers telephone takes reservations and manages the efficient and timely seating of guests to a table providing menu and server information once seated. Manages special seating requests consistent with table seating guidelines and table availability. Relays guest seating and information to servers and bus persons. Oversees dining room activity to ensure guest seating efficiency.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

In accordance with service and cooking procedures:

• Greets all guests warmly and with a smile upon their arrival and escorts them to a table, balancing the flow among the server stations.
• Ensures table selection corresponds with proper rotation, customer seating preference and size of party.
• Utilizes customer paging system when business dictates and as applicable.
• Assists with seating requests when necessary and provides customers with clean menus.
• Relays information to service staff, requests feedback from customers as to their experience and gives a final salutation upon exit from the restaurant.
• Maintains a clean and organized station. Ensures the cleanliness of menus, and keeps necessary stock of pens, pencils, menus and other departmental supplies.
• Promptly answers the phones with appropriate greeting.
• Responds to guest inquiries related to operating hours, reservations, and directions to restaurant or other.
• Ensures backup coverage for host stand when necessary.
• Completes all side work requirements prior, during and after shift.
• Periodically checks restrooms for cleanliness and proper stocking of supplies.
• Maintains the cleanliness and organization of the t-shirt cabinet and t-shirt storage area.
• Performs other duties as assigned by a supervisor.

Experience and Education:

• Previous host/hostess experience in restaurant or hospitality required.
• High School diploma or GED preferred.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

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