Lead Host

Ramen-San- River North; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Restaurant Discounts

Employee Assistance Program - Focusing

Paid Vacation for Qualifying Employees

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical

Dental & Vision Insurance

Life, Accident Protection & CriticalIl

Domestic Partner Benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Ramen-San- River North is hiring a Lead Host to coordinate guest seating and reservations in Chicago. The Lead Host serves as the first and last contact with guests, ensuring a warm, professional welcome and smooth flow for the dining room.

Join a lively, high-volume setting with opportunities for growth. Responsibilities include training the host team, maintaining wait times, collaborating with management, and delivering exceptional guest service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of Lead Host experience in a high-volume restaurant.
• Strong guest service and communication skills.
• Ability to manage wait lists and reservations.

Responsibilities

• Direct and train the host team with a professional demeanor.
• Warmly greet and seat guests, manage reservations and messages.
• Monitor guest counts and wait times; ensure smooth seating and transitions.
• Collaborate with management to uphold service standards.
• Assist with maintaining the dining room and welcoming guests.

Skills

Lead Host experience

Customer service

Team coordination

Job description

We’re hiring people to join our team as LEAD HOST STAFF! The Lead Host coordinates the flow of the restaurant and is the first and last point of contact with our guests.

Responsibilities include:

• coordinating guest seating and reservations for the host team
• effectively managing wait lists and providing accurate wait times
• coordinating with management to ensure smooth table turnover
• maintaining a professional, warm demeanor throughout each shift

At least 2 years of Host experience in a high-volume restaurant is required.

A Few of Our Lead Host Benefits:

• Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program - Focusing on a Commitment to Mental Health & Wellness
• Paid Vacation for Qualifying Employees
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life, Accident Protection & Critical Illness Insurance
• Domestic Partner Benefits
• 401(k)

Located in Chicago’s bustling River North, Fulton Market and Streeterville neighborhoods, Ramen-san is a lively neighborhood noodle den and bar reminiscent of traditional ramen shops in Japan and features a half-dozen different bowls of ramen, blast-chilled beer and rare expressions of Japanese whisky. Open for lunch, dinner and late night, the menu also incorporates Asian-inspired offerings like traditional okonomiyaki on the weekends and Late Night Fried Rice daily after 10 PM.

Caring. Creative. Careers.

Join the Lettuce Entertain You team! Our 100+ restaurants are nationally recognized for great food and service and as great places to work. We hire and care deeply for people with creativity, passion and the drive to be the best. And we reward our teams with top notch benefits, career-long training and development and opportunities for growth. If you want a career at a progressive company with a long-standing commitment to people, join our caring and creative team.

EOE. We participate in E-Verify / Participamos en E-Verify

LEAD HOST JOB DESCRIPTION

Lead Hostsare responsible for host training, the maintenance of training manuals and upholding standards of guest service. Responsible for the initial warm greeting and seating of guests, answering of telephones, taking reservations and messages, maintaining accurate guest counts and wait times and saying goodbye to all guests. Assist with Coat Check duties as directed.

Essential Functions

• Interact with, direct, train and develop host employees in a fair and dignified manner
• Warmly greet and seat guests in the restaurant
• Answer telephones, and take orders, messages and reservations
• Available to work a variety of hours, days and shifts, including weekends
• Safely and effectively move chairs, tables, highchairs and booster seats
• Safely and effectively use and operate all necessary tools and equipment
• Ability to effectively communicate in order to perform and follow job requirements in written and spoken direction
• Multitask calmly and effectivelyunder pressure
• Work in a confined, crowded space of variable noise and temperature levels
• Able to move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 pounds, and occasionally move and/or lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand and walk for an entire shift and move safely through all areas of the restaurant, which may include stairs, uneven or slick surfaces

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure the overall guest experience exceeds expectations and anticipate guests’ needs
• Greet guests with a warm, sincere smile
• Use tact and good judgement when dealing with guest challenges and respond to guest needs with patience and courtesy
• Assist with processing hosts’ new-hire paperwork
• Schedule, conduct and/or oversee all aspects new-hire and on-going host training
• Review and maintain host manuals and training materials
• Observe host employees’ service standards and communicate observations to Management, Partners and Trainers; Assist in developing and implementing necessary plans of action
• Assist with maintaining and updating restaurant’s “zoning” procedures
• Use proper phone and voicemail etiquette and guidelines
• Assist with clearing, cleaning and resetting tables and maintaining restrooms