Restaurant Hostessing Etiquette
Being hostess at a restaurant carries a number of responsibilities. As hostess, you're the first person the restaurant patrons encounter, and the interaction they share with you will form their first impressions of the restaurant and influence the entire dining experience. For this reason, it's important that a restaurant hostess follow some basic rules of etiquette. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
First Impressions
-
A restaurant's hostess is usually the first face a customer will see, so it's important to greet guests with a smile. A great host, notes chef Rodelio Aglibot of the BLT Restaurant Group, "always has a smile on his or her face, and never thinks twice about putting the customer first." Courtesy and manners are also important, he notes: "Please and thank you go a long way, especially in the restaurant industry." Michael White, chef/partner of New York City's Altamarea Group, adds that a good hostess is "quick witted, cordial with a photographic memory. And presentable. There is never a second chance to make a first impression."
Taking Reservations
-
While greeting and seating customers, a hostess is likely to receive calls from customers needing to make, change or cancel a reservation. Regardless of how busy you may be or how difficult the customer is acting, it's important that the hostess remain patient and understanding. If customers are late arriving at the restaurant, a good hostess will make every effort to ensure they get a table at the restaurant; you should never treat a customer rudely if they arrive late. This also holds true if someone calls to cancel reservations, even if it's at the last minute. Politeness is always a priority, no matter how difficult the situation.
-
Throughout the Meal
-
A hostess should check in with customers throughout the meal to ensure everything about the dining experience has been to their satisfaction. According to Steve Scott, director of operations for Starr Restaurants, it's appropriate for a hostess to greet a return customer or recognizable personality by name, but the chat should be kept to a minimum. "No additional conversation that details any personal information should be allowed," he says. Throughout the evening, adds chef David Myers of Comme Ca in West Hollywood, a hostess needs to control the flow of the restaurant and remain "gracious and confident" under pressure.
Maintaining Composure
-
On any given night, problems will occur in even the best-run restaurants, and the hostess must try to keep a cool head. Quinn Hatfield of Hatfield's restaurant in Los Angeles points out that "maintaining composure at all times is very important." A hostess needs to be adaptable to ever-changing circumstances and go above and beyond to accommodate every request, while remaining warm and welcoming to guests. The ability to stay calm in trying circumstances is a must, adds chef Andrea Cavaliere of Cecconi's in West Hollywood, noting that a hostess should always remain professional no matter who she's dealing with.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
