Lead Host

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 3,031,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Free family meal daily

Discounts at Eataly

Job summary

Eataly West Palm Beach is seeking a Senior Host to warmly greet guests, seat them, and maintain smooth dining room flow. This role reports to the Restaurant Floor Manager and leads host team training on floor plans, reservations, and hospitality standards.

The Senior Host will manage voicemails, confirm reservations, assist with guest relations, and support event spaces while ensuring an inviting, well-organized dining environment.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a high-volume restaurant.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with reservations.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greet, seat and thank guests, manage flow during service.
• Train new hosts on floor plan, OpenTable features, and hospitality standards.
• Handle reservation confirmations and communicate VIP details to management.
• Maintain restaurant appearance and seating charts using a computerized system.
• Assist with events, guest relations correspondence, and station coverage.

Skills

Customer service

High-volume experience

Hospitality communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

OpenTable

Job description

Eataly is the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace! Eataly is not a chain; each Eataly is different, with its own character and own theme – but all with the same aim... for our guests to:

• SHOP a selection of high-quality Italian, local and homemade products
• LEARN through our classes and our team’s product knowledge

Job Description

A Senior Host is the first and last point of contact with guests at a restaurant and is responsible for greeting, seating and saying goodbye to guests as well as maintaining the flow of the restaurant during service. A Senior Host diligently and efficiently manages seating in Eataly’s restaurants. Reports to the Restaurant Floor Manager.

• Train all new host hires, including floor plan/table numbers, OpenTable features (timeline, booking reservations), guest interactions, and hospitality standards.
• Allocate time to check voicemails and return calls to confirm reservations; forward event inquiries to the Events Team and escalate guest recovery issues to management as needed.
• Assist with responding to Guest Relations emails.
• Maintain menu inventory to reduce paper waste; print menus as needed.
• Support the overall appearance of the restaurant by ensuring details are maintained (e.g., flowers on tables, candles lit, pillows fluffed and arranged, feminine hygiene baskets in restrooms stocked, etc.).
• Assist management with checking in private events and ensuring spaces are properly allocated and arranged.
• Share important reservation details with management each shift (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, VIPs) to ensure proper guest recognition.
• Prepare and organize Tanti Auguri cards for birthdays and anniversaries, placing them on the appropriate tables to add a personalized touch of hospitality.
• Act as liaison between management and the host team by communicating updates, expectations, and feedback both ways.
• Oversees the general functioning of the dining room during meal service, relaying information to managers and service personnel
• Maintains an accurate, fair and up-to-date waitlist and seating chart using a computerized system
• Takes and manages reservations in restaurants that allow reservations
• Balances the guest flow among the service stations, taking into account requests for a particular table or server depending on availability
• Informs guests when tables are ready, escorts them to table, provides menus and introduces the server
• Assists with the duties of servers and bus persons as needed to maintain service effectiveness and efficiency
• Performs other duties as required or assigned

Job Requirements

• Availability to work onsite with a flexible schedule
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours, including standing, walking, bending and squatting

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a high-volume restaurant
• Basic computer skills
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred

Additional Information

Benefits and Perks

• Paid Time Off
• 401K with match or RRSP
• Free family meal daily
• Discounts at Eataly
• Classes on products and Italian cuisine
• and more!