What are the responsibilities and job description for the Restaurant Host position at Chicago Winery?
Restaurant Host
Chicago Winery is a people-first organization. We are a boutique urban winery that prides ourselves in providing high touch hospitality experiences both for our colleagues and our guests. We believe in seasonality, relevancy, authenticity, and soulful hospitality. We believe in the beauty of expertly crafted wines and how they pair with delicious food.
We are searching for team members who are committed to working as hospitality professionals. People who deeply care about creating a friendly, warm experience for our guests. People who live and breathe passion for food, wine and events. People that love to learn, share, and tell others about their stories and adventures.
Position Summary
Hosts are responsible for greeting guests, taking reservations, answering questions, managing wait times, and escorting guests to the dining and bar areas. Lead hosts also participate in the training and mentoring of new hires to the host position. At all times, hosts are expected to be attentive to guests’ needs, making them feel welcome, comfortable, important and relaxed. Hosts know their demeanor and actions represent the restaurant and are to provide a quality experience for guests. Hosts work in close collaboration with colleagues and must adhere to established health and safety standards. Hosts help maintain the cleanliness, presentation and ambiance of the restaurant and restrooms which is an integral part of the guests’ experience.
Responsibilities
- Greet customers as soon as they enter the restaurant
- Manage the flow of guests in the restaurant and bar area when seating guests to ensure even workloads for waitstaff
- Provide guests with accurate wait time estimates during busy periods
- Maintain a neat, organized front-of-house environment
- Assist with opening/closing tasks and side work as needed, including polishing glassware and silverware and folding napkins
- Have a high level understanding of the food and beverage menus
- Answer phones and schedule small party reservations
- Direct large party reservations to the Manager on duty
- Retrieve voicemails and respond or forward message to appropriate person for response
- Perform light housekeeping duties such as cleaning windows and restrooms
- Abide by sanitation, health and company guidelines concerning safety, cleanliness, safe food handling and alcoholic beverages
- Address guest concerns promptly, politely and positively
- Contribute to restaurant growth by creating goodwill with guests
- Attend meetings and trainings as requested, including pre-shift meetings
- Assist restaurant management team with Menu Edits
- Assist with training and mentoring of new staff
- Adhere to grooming, conduct and uniform standards
- Be comfortable with extreme weather during service of outside dining areas
- Other duties as required
Skill Requirements
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Prior customer service or server experience preferred
- Knowledge of Aloha POS preferred
- Food and wine knowledge preferred
- Adaptability and ability to think on your feet
- Ability to work quickly and with great accuracy and attention to detail
- Strong work ethic
- Collaboration and dedication to team goals required
- Strong troubleshooting skills
- Strong desire to interact with customers in a service setting
- Highly organized and systematic in work
- Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time
- Ability to bend, stoop and lift at least 25-50 pounds
- Proficient in English
Chicago Winery provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.