Lead Host

Mystic Lake; Prior Lake (MN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Life and disability insurance

Onsite medical clinics and pharmacy

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Discounts on childcare

Fuel

Bus passes and fitness membership

Free uniforms and free uniformCleaning

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Mystic Steakhouse in Prior Lake, MN is seeking a Lead Host (Maitre D') to create an exceptional first impression and manage the front-of-house experience from arrival to departure.

As the primary steward of guest flow, you’ll oversee the host stand, reservations, seating, and coordination with dining room leadership. This is a new role for the location requiring evenings, weekends and holidays availability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years front-of-house experience in upscale or fine-dining restaurant.
• Experience with reservations systems and table management best practices.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to remain calm, polished, and professional in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the host stand and guest arrival experience to set a welcoming tone.
• Manage reservations and walk-ins to optimize seating, pacing, and table turns.
• Coordinate seating assignments to balance server workload and guest needs.
• Lead the host stand and provide direction on seating priorities and special requests.
• Collaborate with Restaurant Manager and leadership to ensure smooth service and address issues.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Conflict resolution

Team collaboration

Guest focus

Reservation system knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Reservation software

Table management software

Job description

Mystic Steakhouse
Prior Lake, MN 55372, USA

• On-site
• F&B Front of House
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: MAITR022233

Description

Job Overview: The Lead Host serves as the primary steward of the guest experience from arrival through departure. This is a new role for this location and the working title for this role is the Maitre D'. This role is responsible for overseeing the host stand, managing reservations and walk-in’s, coordinating seating flow, setting the tone for hospitality standards, and ensuring a seamless front-of-house experience aligned with service standards and expectations. This position focuses on guest flow, first impressions and service orchestration.

Illuminate Your Future: What You’ll Do:

• Guest Experience & Service Excellence
• Serves as the first point of contact for guests, setting a polished, welcoming tone.
• Personally greets VIP, returning, and special-occasion guests.
• Monitors the dining room experience in real time and proactively escape guest concerns.
• Partners with management to execute service recovery when needed.

Reservations & Seating Management:

• Manages the reservations system and walk-in flow to optimize seating, pacing, and table turns.
• Coordinates seating assignments to balance server sections, fulfill server requests from guests, rotate large groups, avoid bottlenecks, and support kitchen flow.
• Anticipates high-volume periods and adjust seating strategies accordingly.
• Maintains accurate wait times and communicate clearly with guests.

Host Stand Coordination:

• Leads the host stand during service, ensuring hosts are aligned with standards and expectations.
• Provides in-the-moment work direction to hosts and servers regarding seating priorities, special requests, accessibility needs, and break times.
• Ensures the host stand and entry area remain organized, professional, and guest-ready always.

Collaboration with Restaurant Leadership:

• Partners with the Restaurant Manager and Assistant Restaurant Manager to support smooth service execution.
• Escalates staffing, performance, or operational concerns appropriately.
• Provides input on guest feedback trends and service opportunities.
• Supports pre-shift alignment and post-shift communication as requested.

Occasional Tasks:

• Assists in the cleaning of the front and back areas of restaurant.
• Assists in serving food to guests and bussing tables.
• Monitors guest satisfaction metrics or feedback.

Job Requirements:

• Reflects minimum education, training, certification and experience required in order to meet the expectation of this job.
• 3–5 years of front-of-house experience in an upscale or fine-dining restaurant, preferably a steakhouse.
• Strong knowledge of reservation systems and table management best practices.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to remain calm, polished, and demonstrate sound professional judgment in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence without formal authority.
• Demonstrated organization and detail-orientation in a service environment.
• This position is required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and requires flexibility to adjust hours based on reservations, events and operational needs.

Outstanding Benefits & Awesome Perks:

Enjoy competitive weekly pay, outstanding benefits, and advancement opportunities at the SMSC Gaming Enterprise.

• medical
• dental
• life and disability insurance
• onsite medical clinics and pharmacy
• 401(k) retirement plan
• paid time off
• wellness programs
• discounts on childcare
• fuel
• bus passes and fitness membership
• free uniformsand free uniform cleaning
• tuition reimbursement

Who We Are:

We're not just in the business of entertainment; we're in the business of crafting unforgettable experiences. We believe in the power of possibility, to unite and uplift, rallying around every triumph, big and small.At Mystic Lake and Little Six, every moment is a chance to be the experience.

Different backgrounds, different strengths, and different passions, we value the diversity that everyone brings to the table. Our values are a direct reflection of the diverse communities that we proudly serve, represent, and invest in. We invite you to the place to learn, grow, thrive and lead. Let's create moments that matter, celebrate diversity, and build a brighter future for all.

Be the Experience. Be Bold. Be Mystic.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.