front-of-house
Front of House
Reservationist
Position: Reservationist
Reports to: Restaurant Director
Defined as elegant yet approachable dining through the passion and commitment of a team of award-winning chefs, renowned restaurant and wine directors, this new fine dining seafood restaurant, housed in a historic building in Union Square, is currently conducting a nationwide search for a hospitable, experienced Reservationist.
With a philosophy that the soul of the restaurant is found in its kitchen, this definitive seafood restaurant specializes in fresh, sustainable local fin and shellfish and celebrates the bounty of the sea. Sourced directly from highly respected suppliers, our dedication to our ocean’s habitat takes pride of place on the plate and is exemplified by the myriad of inspired dishes of the day. In this ongoing pursuit of excellence, the vision of this restaurant is to deliver an exceptional dining experience paired with an unparalleled level of hospitality.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Reservationist will set the tone for the entire dining experience through the initial guest contact. The incumbent will anchor the front desk team to ensure all guests are warmly welcomed and efficiently seated in a location that best suits their needs. The Reservationist and front desk team will work closely with management and service staff to ensure the restaurant maximizes each guest experience from beginning to end.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinates all guests’ needs, special requests, and inquiries to ensure an unparalleled guest experience and assists the team with guest recognition
- Handles incoming phone and email queries and reservation requests
- Key member of a team that will warmly and efficiently welcome and seat guests
- Assists with training new host staff to maintain high standards of service execution
- Acts to best resolve problems to the satisfaction of all parties involved
- Ensures all information provided to guests and team members is current and accurate
- Initiates conversations with guests to identify personal preferences and records notes in guest profiles
- Maintains exceptional cleanliness at the host station and in the guest waiting area, as well as in the management offices
- Promotes teamwork through daily communication and coordination with other departments
- Possesses knowledge of the local area and provides valid and relevant directions, recommendations, and resources to successfully fulfill guest requests
- Actively cultivates and nurtures relationships with NYC concierges and local businesses/organizations
- Maintains a constantly professional, friendly, and hospitable work space
- Attends all departmental meetings and training sessions
- Works closely with and supports the efforts of the Private Dining and Special Event sales team
- Works flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Under the direction of the Restaurant Director and/or Executive Chef, initiates and executes special projects as required
Qualifications:
- Minimum 2 years’ relevant hospitality experience in a fine dining or comparable environment
- Post-secondary level of education or relevant hospitality degree is an asset
- Strong verbal and written English communication skills; fluency in a second language is an asset
- Strong interpersonal skills and a positive can-do attitude
- Must have a passion for delivering outstanding customer service
- Must possess a strong understanding of and have a passion for food and wine
- Full understanding of and ability to operate, manage, and optimize Sevenrooms, OpenTable, and/or Tripleseat
- Experience with creating, updating, and navigating documents in MS Office
- Basic understanding of food and beverage point of sales (POS) system
- Demonstrates a pleasant phone etiquette with use of professional and clear language
- Able to think independently; possess good judgement and problem-solving skills
- Able to work harmoniously and professionally with all coworkers
- Must be able to stand for the duration of an entire shift
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