Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

What the job really is

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

At a glance

• Sector: Food Preparation & Serving
• O*NET-SOC code: 35-9031
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Provide guests with menus.
• Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
• Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
• Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
• Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
• Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
• Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
• Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.
• Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.
• Take and prepare to-go orders.
• Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.

Tools and technology

Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows, Avenista Table Reservations, Carbonated beverage dispensers, Cash registers, Commercial coffeemakers, Desktop computers, GuestBridge Reserve, Handheld calculators, Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Waiters and Waitresses
• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
• Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
• Fast Food and Counter Workers
• Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
• Bartenders
• Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
• Passenger Attendants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.