Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Career

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


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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Career

What Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shops do:

  • Provide guests with menus.
  • Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
  • Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.
  • Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
  • Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.
  • Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
  • Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.
  • Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.
  • Take and prepare to-go orders.
  • Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
  • Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas, such as lounges.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
  • Prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.
  • Plan parties or other special events and services.
  • Hire, train, and supervise food and beverage service staff.
  • Confer with other staff to help plan establishments' menus.
  • Order or requisition supplies and equipment for tables and serving stations.
  • Perform marketing and advertising services.
  • Prepare staff work schedules.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Holland Code Chart for a Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop