15 Things Your Restaurant Host Wants You To Know
Start writing a post
Adulting

15 Things Your Restaurant Host Wants You To Know

The restaurant industry is brutal.

125
15 Things Your Restaurant Host Wants You To Know
tumblr

For long time, many people believe that being a host at a restaurant is a simple job because we just greet customers, take them to tables, carry menus, and tell them to enjoy themselves. No, it is not just that. We do more than that. We answer phone calls, organize reservations, tell the servers what tables they're taking, and break the bad new to customers that they have to wait for a table. Here are 15 things your restaurant host wants you to know:

1. We are not mind readers

You have to be able to tell us if you're running late, can't make it, or want to add more people in your party. We try to accommodate as much as we can, but it does not help if we don't get further notice.

2. We understand after-work traffic is horrendous, but you have a phone

Traffic is not under everyone's control, especially ours. If you call to tell us you're running late, we are happy to hold your reservation as long as we can. If we hear nothing in ten minutes, we have to click 'no show.'

3. Please do not exclude your children out of your party

We need to know if you have babies or toddlers in your party. It is beneficial that we know in order to accommodate space and have high chairs ready for the little guys. Do not tell us that you have three people in your party when you really have five people, including two children.

4. Do not blame us for the prices

Prices exist for a reason because these are how restaurants make their money. We are not responsible for how much the food costs.

5. Understand that we cannot schedule a party of 10 people in an hour

That's absolutely fine if I schedule a party of 10 a few days (a week or more would be better) ahead of time. When it comes to weekends and scheduling a big party at the last minute, it might not happen.

6. Our job is not as simple as you think

We do way more than smile, greet, and take customers to tables. We answer phones, schedule reservations, communicate with our servers about their assigned tables, and tell customers how much of a wait the next availability is.

7. We cannot spend 10 minutes on the phone when I have customers waiting

We try to treat my customers as fair as I can and make sure they are taken care of, but I cannot spend so much time on the phone with an upset customer when others are waiting.

8. Bribing us to get you seated isn't going to work

Bribery never works in the restaurant system. We cannot just go up to customers in booths and tell them to leave in 5 minutes because you want a booth. Money may be nice, but it will not buy you space.

9. Please do not expect to get seated right away because you're a regular

We appreciate your dedication and are happy to hear that you love this restaurant, but we still have other customers and reservations to take of. Of course we will have you taken care of, but expecting to be seated right away will not work.

10. We have limits

Our job is to accommodate efficiently and effectively as much as possible with a smile and friendly greeting. When we bring you to a certain table, it's because it's available for you. Most of the time, we can't switch tables because the reservation is arriving in 5 minutes or it will confuse the server.

11. Do not seat yourself

Hosts are here to greet you at the front of the restaurant. We get it that you only see us for 60 seconds, but you can't just ignore us and find a seat to sit in. Please allow us to take care of you by carrying your menus and making sure you're settled in your table.

12. We don't make the rules

Another part of our job is to follow and tell you the rules. If we break the rules for customers, then we are not respecting our boss or the company.

13. Do not ask us to plug your phones in

Technology is wonderful, addictive, and fun. We cannot plug your phones in by our host tables because we are getting paid to greet customers and smile, not to be cellphone babysitters. We will not be responsible if you forget your phones.

14. Be considerate of others

The world does not revolve around you. You are not the only one who is hangry. Other customers are dealing with it too.

15. If you're going to be rude to us, please don't be rude to our manager

Our managers are here to help us when there are problems. Being a manager isn't much of an easier job since they work hard to enforce policies, coach employees, and make sure that customers are happy.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

85993
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

51878
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments