As a Hostess, What system do you use to quote the wait time?

Question

I have a second interview as a head hostess, and they asked me to come up with a few systems to calculate or quote the wait time. I need an actual system to tell them. Any ideas? The restaurant is pretty big, and a semi-fast turn-over rate.

Answer 1

I work as a hostess as well.. but on our wait sheets it says on the sides by where you put the names how many what time they came in.. pager number etc. etc. theres a list where it says 1-10 names quote them a 5-10 minute wait and it goes so on and so on. Next time i work i can look up the times for you.

Answer 2

That's hilarious because I've worked at tons of restaurants and they all use the bullshit system.  Tell them that you would plan on about an hour and a half per table, so if someone comes in at 5 their table is ready at about 6:45 for the next group.  So you would count how many tables are sat at every 15 minute interval and estimate that that many tables will be available in 1 1/2 hours.  If the restaurant is full at six and you opened at five and a guest comes in you would tell them it will be a half hour to forty five minute wait.  If at six o'clock you already have 5 people on a waiting list and only 4 tables actually sat at five o'clock then you tell the 5th group that it will be forty five minutes to an hour (add 15 minutes since they have to wait until the people who sat at 5:15 leave).  If your wait list starts to get really unmanageable, like if the restaurant is super busy, you should bring in a chart to use.  I can email you one if you want.

Answer 3

there is a computer system called open table available through opentable.com that does everything for you.