Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Restaurant Host
What restaurant hosts actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a restaurant host?
Review reservations. From there, the day usually includes greet guests, manage reservations, and run the waitlist. Evenings, weekends and holidays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a restaurant host working full time.
- Review reservations.
- Plan the seating chart.
- Greet early diners.
- Manage a 30-minute wait.
- Handle a takeout rush.
- Seat late reservations.
- Close the host stand.
Where restaurant hosts work
Hosts work at restaurant entrances.
Hours and schedule
Evenings, weekends and holidays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Greet guests
- Manage reservations
- Run the waitlist
- Seat tables
- Balance server sections
- Answer phones
- Handle takeout
Tools you’ll use every day
- OpenTable or Resy
- Waitlist apps
- Phones
- Menus
- Pagers
- Seating charts
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Friendly work
- Short training
- Entry to hospitality
- Flexible schedules
What’s hard
- Low pay
- Upset waiting guests
- Standing
- Busy weekends
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m friendly
- I stay calm when it’s busy
- I’m organized
- I like people
- I want flexible hours
- I want to start in hospitality
Not sure? Take the free Restaurant Host fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Keep the entrance clear
- Know emergency exits
- Watch for allergies on notes
- Handle cash safely