Maître D' — Front-of-House Lead for Elevated Japanese Dining

SUZU ATH LLC; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Suzu in Cincinnati, led by Chef Makoto Okuwa, is seeking a Maître D' to own the guest experience from first contact to farewell. You will set the pace of service, seat guests, and coordinate flow across dining room, bar, patio and counter.

You will lead the host team, work with kitchen and bar timing, handle reservations, VIPs, and guest notes, and ensure memorable hospitality through a full shift.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in front-of-house leadership at a high-volume or upscale restaurant.
• Hands-on experience with OpenTable or a similar reservation system.
• Polished communication in person, by phone and in writing.
• Availability for evenings, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Greet and seat every guest with warmth, and remember names, preferences, allergies and occasions.
• Recognize regulars and VIPs, and make sure the team knows who is in the house.
• Resolve complaints and service recoveries on the spot, with grace and good judgment.
• Check in with tables throughout service and bid guests farewell at the door.
• Manage the OpenTable book: covers, pacing, table turns, waitlist and walk-ins.
• Build nightly floor plans and server sections across the dining room, bar, patio and private tea room.
• Coordinate seatings for the ten-seat Suzuné omakase counter once it launches, including confirmations, deposits and cancellations.
• Keep guest notes and profiles accurate in the reservation system.
• Handle group and private dining inquiries, from booking to day-of execution.
• Keep the entrance, host stand and dining room guest-ready all night.
• Respond to reservation emails, calls and online reviews in Suzu's voice.
• Track covers, no-shows and guest feedback, and share insights with management.

Skills

FOH leadership

OpenTable experience

Guest service excellence

Communication skills

Evenings/weekends availability

Tools

OpenTable

Job description

Suzu in Cincinnati, led by Chef Makoto Okuwa, is seeking a Maître D' to own the guest experience from first contact to farewell. You will set the pace of service, seat guests, and coordinate flow across dining room, bar, patio and counter.

You will lead the host team, work with kitchen and bar timing, handle reservations, VIPs, and guest notes, and ensure memorable hospitality through a full shift.