Any pointers 4 someone who is starting to hostess soon??

Question

im a little nervous...

Answer 1

be confident.

Answer 2

As long as you have your hair up and you're dressed modestly than you'll be fine. Are you going to be serving water....I know some hostess's that take the people to their table then serve water. With the water always remember two hands never one wear pants with pockets so you can put any things that would take a free hand. Good luck I hope you get used to it....always make the people laugh they will want to come back just to see what you can crack next time. =] also never be caught talking bad about a customer in front of another customer they will feel like you're going to say the same stuff about them they won't feel to happy in that case.

Answer 3

Don't be nervous. I worked in a restaurant as a server/host for 6 years and it's fun.  You just have to be overly friendly and make sure you are polite!  Remember, you are the first and last person the guest see when they come into and leave the restaurant.  But it's a pretty cool job to do for awhile. Just strike up a mini-conversation with the people you are seating on the way over to the table and make sure you tell them who thier server is and that they will be right over.  You'll do fine!  Good luck!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

I work as a bartender at an Italian restaurant.

Learn the tables, where they are, and what numbers they are

You personally won't  be crazy busy, so just remain collected.

Always greet with a smile "hello, welcome, for 2? for 3?"

Offer to sit inside or patio(if relevant)

Bring menus with you

and once they are seated, let them know a server will be with them shortly.

Just be polite and attentive.

you'll do fine! and good luck

Answer 5

Don't be. Let your personality take over. That's what you need to be a great hostess. Smile, be happy and have lots of energy. But don't go overboard...people like to walk into restaurants and get great service. So when you start just be prepared to deal with all types of people. Talk to them like you would talk to your parents with respect. Provide them with great customer service but don't get all in their faces. Don't worry as long as you act like yourself everything will be fine.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 6

dress nice, not S****y. dont wear open toe shoes.

alway have a smile on your face and a sweet tone of voice and treat each customer as if they were the most important person that walked in.

Answer 7

I work as a host and I have to say, build yourself an arsenal of excuses and reasons as to why...

They say:"Why is the restaurant empty, but I can't have a table"

You say: "Unfortunately I must accomodate my reservations and I want you to have optimal service. A majority of our guests do not choose to eat at early hours which is why the tables are empty. You're welcome to dine at our bar or I can reserve a table for you at a later time."

They say: "I'm friends with the owner."

You say: "Yes, they are quite popular." There's nothing for them to say after that.

They say: "I want a table for this many at this time"

(It's not available)

You say: "I have a table to accomodate your party at this other time or I can put you on a wait list. It would be unethical of me to delete someone's reservation, who made it in a timely manner. I usually recommend calling at least a 2 weeks in advance to reserve ideal times."

They say: "Why can't I have this table?"

You say: (this can go a few ways) 1) "Unfortunately I just sat this server multiple times and they are being run a bit ragged right now, you are welcome to have this table at a later time, but I do want to make sure you get optimal service."

2) "I would need this table back at this time to accomodate a reservation that was made before yours, but you're welcome to sit at this table (the one you want them at) at your leisure."

They say: "What's your favorite thing on the menu?"

You say the most expensive item to get the servers more money (especially if they to tip you out.)

They say: "Is our table ready yet?"

You say: "Unfortunately, the guests on your table are taking longer than normal. Most people don't realise we the popularity of our restaurant and that we try to utilize our tables more than once (if it's ok with management) I would like to get you some appetizers to tide you over until your table is ready. I do apologize for the wait." (saying this makes guests aware that ALL restaurants need to use their tables more than once and helps to cut down on the campers.)

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Know turn times on party sizes (how fast a table goes through dinner) and keep a list of 1st available tables for walk -ins and wait lists.

Never call a guest a customer.

If a guest asks where the bathroom is, escort them, don't just tell them where it is.

If a guest is waiting at the bar, and their table is ready, carry their drinks for them. It helps if yo have their menus on the table beforehand, that way you don't have to carry too much.

Pull out chairs for the guest to sit. Hand menus to women first. After handing out menus, place napkins in laps (this is only if you work fine dining or your restaurant provides cloth napkins.)

Learn a few napkin folds. When a guest leaves for restroom, it's appropriate for them to come back to a napkin folded into a wolverine or something else fanciful.

Learn position numbers so you can let your server know who's birthday or who's anniversary it is.

When someone makes a reservation and they say it's a birthday, ask for a short description of the person so the server knows who to bring the dessert with a candle to.

(Not necessary if it's only 2 in the reservation.)

Have a list of taxi numbers for guests. Open & close the doors of the cab when they get in. Hold doors open when they leave.

Answer 8

Well, the first thing you will learn is that there are rotations. You will know who to seat next. Each server will have so many tables, however if a guest requests a certain table w/ that happens to belong to a different server - go ahead and sit them where ever they want! All of the tables will have numbers. Even if they are not notated on the table, it will be one thing you will learn to memorize.

Be friendly, smile and welcoming. If the guests sit down before you give the menu's, give the menu's to the women first.

When in doubt, always ask questions. Have fun and good luck! :)

Answer 9

Yes...don't toss HUGE chef's salads on ALL of the customers; just on those who dancing skills are in question, because if you throw like 16 or 18 chef's salads on customers per shift, and management deducts the cost from your pay, you might end up having to pay to continue to work there! Tends to get just a bit pricey! I mean, then what's the point, if you're like having to pay $200 or so per shift to work there. It's much more profitable to just be an ordinary bum!