The specific responsibilities of a restaurant hostess vary depending on the restaurant where she works, but in most cases, the hostess is the restaurant’s public face, greeting guests as they enter. Though men can do this job as well, the term “hostess” refers to a female member of a restaurant team; when a man takes the position, he is referred to as the host. However, the job is the same regardless of the gender of the employee. A restaurant hostess may be in charge of managing the restaurant’s seating arrangements as well as responding to questions about the menu or other concerns that guests may have.
Other responsibilities of a restaurant hostess include taking reservations over the phone or in person, accommodating large groups, making special arrangements for children or the disabled, and, in some cases, operating a cash register. Some restaurants will hire a hostess to handle all of the money from the evening’s business, and the restaurant hostess will be in charge of basic to moderate bookkeeping. The hostess may also be responsible for other clerical tasks, though her primary responsibilities are usually to accommodate guests.
When guests walk into a restaurant, the hostess is usually the first person they see. This requires the hostess to be warm, professional, well-dressed, and ready to greet guests right away. The hostess will frequently dress differently than the rest of the wait staff in order to stand out and ensure that she is easily identifiable should a guest require her assistance. The level of formality required of a restaurant hostess varies depending on the type of establishment. In very formal settings, the hostess may be required to dress a certain way and act in a certain way to match the overall decor of the restaurant.
Before an employee can work as a restaurant hostess, she will most likely need some training to prepare for the responsibilities of the job. Most restaurants do not require a specific level of education, but the hostess must have excellent manners, be able to perform basic to moderate math, and have excellent communication skills. Use of a cash register, ledger management, table and wait staff management, and other duties specific to a restaurant setting may be covered in training. The best hostesses will be ready to talk about the menu and make wine or other drink recommendations.