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.
