Founding Team Host

Haven • Blowing Rock, NC

13d • Onsite

About The Position

Haven is a new chef-driven restaurant in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, opening soon and backed by Chetola Resort. We are assembling our founding front-of-house team to help shape the guest experience, service standards, systems, culture, and identity of the restaurant from the ground up. This role is more than a typical host position; it's an opportunity to join before opening day and play an important role in bringing the concept to life. Haven's menu is rooted in Appalachian cuisine, showcasing hyper-seasonal ingredients with global influences and modern techniques. The host position is crucial for creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere, managing the guest experience from arrival to departure, and ensuring every guest feels valued and excited to return.

Requirements

• Previous host, restaurant, hotel, guest service, retail, or hospitality experience preferred.
• Genuine warmth and a natural desire to make people feel welcome.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A polished, professional, and approachable presence.
• The ability to remain calm, gracious, and solutions-oriented under pressure.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities without losing sight of the guest experience.
• Comfort communicating with guests in person and by phone.
• Good judgment and the ability to handle sensitive guest situations with discretion.
• Curiosity about food, beverage, hospitality, and the story behind the restaurant.
• The ability to learn and confidently communicate detailed information about the restaurant experience.
• A collaborative mindset and respect for both front- and back-of-house teammates.
• Reliability, accountability, and a strong work ethic.
• Comfort receiving feedback and a genuine desire to improve.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in fine dining, tasting menu, farm-to-table, luxury hospitality, or other chef-driven restaurants.
• Candidates from hotels, resorts, guest services, retail, events, and other hospitality-focused environments who have a natural ability to connect with people and stay composed in a fast-moving setting.

Responsibilities

• Create a warm, genuine, and memorable first and final impression for every guest.
• Welcome guests with confidence, professionalism, and authentic hospitality.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, and special requests with accuracy and care.
• Thoughtfully coordinate seating to support guest preferences, reservation timing, server sections, and the overall flow of the dining room.
• Maintain awareness of table status, pacing, turn times, and service progression throughout the restaurant.
• Communicate accurate wait times and proactively keep waiting guests informed.
• Review reservations and guest notes in advance to anticipate special occasions and needs.
• Answer phone calls and respond to guest questions with warmth, confidence, and accurate information.
• Develop strong knowledge of the restaurant concept, menu, beverage program, ingredients, sourcing, and overall guest experience.
• Explain the restaurant and dining experience in an engaging and approachable manner.
• Recognize returning guests and help build meaningful guest relationships.
• Coordinate closely with servers, bartenders, support staff, culinary teams, and restaurant leadership.
• Communicate guest preferences, special requests, and service opportunities clearly to the appropriate team members.
• Help manage the arrival experience during peak periods with calm, organization, and professionalism.
• Maintain a clean, organized, polished, and welcoming entrance and host area.
• Assist with menus, reservation notes, guest communications, and other front-of-house details.
• Participate in pre-opening training, menu tastings, mock services, and ongoing hospitality education.
• Provide thoughtful feedback as reservation systems, seating strategies, service standards, and guest experience procedures are developed and refined.
• Uphold the highest standards of hospitality, professionalism, discretion, and guest care.

Benefits

• Opportunities for advancement as the restaurant grows
• In-depth menu, ingredient, beverage, and hospitality education
• Access to exceptional local and regional products and producers
• A professional restaurant environment focused on hospitality, learning, excellence, and teamwork
• Meaningful input into the systems, standards, and culture we build together
• Ongoing opportunities to deepen your knowledge of restaurant operations and hospitality
• The opportunity to develop valuable skills in reservations, guest relations, dining room pacing, and service coordination
• Scheduling practices designed to support work-life balance whenever operationally possible
• The opportunity to be part of a new restaurant from the very beginning

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed