Job Memo

Host

Being a host at a restaurant may seem like an easy job, but it takes a lot more skill than believed. One might think that all a host does is take the customers to their table and give them their menu, but that is far from true. The daily tasks and responsibilities of a host have a major impact on how the restaurant runs. Every restaurant depends on having a good host/hostess who is capable of following instructions from their managers.

There are a few major tasks and responsibilities every host has:

• ·      Preparation
• ·      Hospitality
• ·      Ability to Plan Ahead

The following are examples of each of the tasks and responsibilities hosts are given.

Preparation

A host has several jobs that require preparation.

• ·      Table preparation
• ·      Reservation preparation

The opening shift requires the most work, as they must prepare the whole restaurant for the days customers. This includes; setting the tables, making sure the host stands have the proper supplies needed, checking the bathrooms, and a variety of other tasks. They are expected to show up thirty minutes prior to opening to ensure these duties are completed. Although being the opening host requires a lot of preparation, the daily tasks also require a lot of attention.

Hospitality

Hospitality comes in multiple forms and is essential for a restaurant to succeed. Here are a few examples of the hospitality that is expected.

• ·      Greeting and thanking the customer
• ·      Accommodating the customer in anything they need, within reason

The host is the first and last person every customer sees. It is their responsibility to make sure each and every customer feels welcomed to the restaurant and receives a proper send off as well.  The restaurant I worked at had a rooftop, which was very popular. Customers would usually want to eat on the rooftop, so the host would have to direct them to the stairs as well.

Planning

There are multiple times throughout the day when a host must plan ahead.

• ·      Turning over tables
• ·      Reservations
• ·      Expecting unforeseen difficulties

During the day almost no one eats downstairs, but late at night more and more people pour into the restaurant, which requires close attention to which tables are available. There will be one host located on the rooftop that will greet new customer and bring them to their tables. The rooftop being very popular often has a long wait time, sometimes up to two hours. This is especially true during sunset because many people will sit and enjoy their drink while they watch it. As the restaurant becomes crowded hosts will also be asked to assist the bus boys with cleaning off tables to help ease the wait time and to refill waters as the waiters often become very overwhelmed.

Here is an example of planning ahead. A group of sixteen came in during the sunset and wanted to be seated on the roof.  There are no tables that seat sixteen people so the right tables had to be put together in order for it to work. The host needs to plan ahead and find a way to squeeze them in.