FOH Host / Hostess
Position Type: Part-Time / Full-Time
Location: Northfield, NJ (On-site)
Compensation: $16.00 per hour
Job Summary
As the first point of contact, the Host/Hostess sets the tone for the entire guest experience at Ventura’s Offshore Cafe. We are looking for an experienced, organized, and charismatic individual who can manage our front door with ease, coordinate seating arrangements in our high-volume dining room, and ensure our guests feel genuinely welcomed from the moment they walk in.
Key Responsibilities
- First Impressions: Warmly greet arriving guests, open doors, and manage the waitlist efficiently using our Toast POS waitlist system.
- Seating Management: Map out and distribute seating fairly among server stations to ensure balanced workloads and a smooth dining room flow.
- Cash & Transactions: Confidently handle front-of-house cash transactions, process payments accurately, and maintain balanced cash drawers.
- Phone & TakeOut Orders: Answer incoming calls professionally, assist with phone-in takeout orders, and answer general questions about our menu, hours, and daily features.
- Front-of-House Tidiness: Keep the host stand, entryway, and menus clean, organized, and presentable at all times.
- Fond Farewell: Thank departing guests, invite them to return, and gather brief feedback on their dining experience.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Minimum of 3 years of host/hostess experience in a high-volume, fast-paced restaurant environment (Required).
- Proficiency in cash handling and basic math, with high accuracy in processing transactions (Required).
- A strong desire and willingness to learn and grow with our team, adapting quickly to new restaurant procedures.
- Friendly, outgoing, and highly professional demeanor with strong communication skills.
- Highly organized with the ability to remain calm, multi-task, and focus under pressure during busy weekend rushes.
- Comfort using digital reservation and waitlist platforms (Toast POS experience is a major plus).
- Physical stamina to stand for extended periods and open availability for evening and weekend shifts.
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