Host/Hostess

Potomac Family Dining Group•Ashland, VA

About The Position

The Host/Hostess is primarily responsible for greeting and welcoming guests, seating them, and thanking them at the restaurant in accordance with Potomac Family Dining Group and Applebee’s guest-service standards. The role supports guest flow and service rotation, remains visible in the front of house, and may occasionally assist with delivering food and drinks or serving guests in Carside To-Go or Server roles. The position also includes opening and closing side work, clearing and resetting dining-room tables, managing the waitlist, completing feature sheets, helping maintain the front of house and restaurant curb appeal, and explaining tabletop electronic devices to guests. The role has no supervisory responsibility.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old.
Friendly and engaging demeanor.
Reading, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Reliable transportation.
Ability to build relationships and work as part of a team.
Ability to follow managers’ instructions and guidance.
Ability to communicate and behave professionally at all times.
Ability to wipe tables and booth seats, pick up floor debris, and transport plates, glasses, and baskets between the service bar and kitchen more than 30 times per shift.
Mobility throughout the shift and ability to stand and move at a fast pace for periods of up to four hours.
Good sense of balance and ability to reach, bend, stoop, and kneel.
Ability to frequently lift and bus pans and trays weighing 25 pounds.
Ability to speak clearly and listen attentively to guests and other team members.
Ability to carry objects such as high chairs weighing up to 15 pounds, up to 15 times per shift.

Nice To Haves

Prior work experience preferred.
Bilingual experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Greet, welcome, and seat guests in a friendly manner, and thank them as they leave.
Help maintain the overall guest flow and rotate seating among server area assignments whenever possible.
Open doors for arriving and departing guests and remain visible in the front of house, facing the main entrance.
Occasionally deliver food and drinks to guests when additional assistance is needed.
Interact verbally with guests in a friendly and upbeat manner; observe guests, respond to requests, and anticipate their needs.
Complete assigned opening and closing side work.
Clear and reset dining-room tables using Applebee’s team delivery standards.
Keep the work area clean and organized.
Explain and demonstrate the use of tabletop electronic devices to guests.
Use suggestive selling to help drive sales.
Accommodate guests’ special needs, including providing booster chairs and high chairs.
Manage the waitlist when the restaurant is busy.
May occasionally serve guests in a Carside To-Go or Server role.
Complete feature sheets.
Assist with front-of-house maintenance, including restroom upkeep, light cleaning, window washing or wiping, sani-bucket rotation, expo-line setup, trash removal, silverware rolling, and maintaining restaurant curb appeal.