What You Don't Know About Your Restaurant Host or Hostess | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

What You Don't Know About Your Restaurant Host or Hostess

They aren't just standing around at a podium all night.

4.6k
What You Don't Know About Your Restaurant Host or Hostess
Taken from Tumblr.

We all know the infamous saying "Don't shoot the messenger." Yet for some reason, we always shoot the messenger. And in my lifetime I've never seen this phrase apply so much as in hostessing.

Hostessing is the most underrated job at restaurants; even the bussers are said to do more. Well, news flash: we don't just stand at a podium all night trying to make your life a living hell by telling you it's a 30-minute wait. Here's what hosts put up with and why you should respect them.

1. They are literally standing all night. Hosts/hostesses really never sit down, and if you work at a restaurant like mine, you signed an agreement that you don't get a break unless you absolutely need to take one because you're on an eight-hour shift. The managers and servers and even the cooks will go sit outside and take a smoke behind the restaurant when business is slow. However, your host is never able to leave that stand, because he/she always needs to be there in case someone comes in.

2. They aren't trying to make you miserable by telling you it's a 30-minute wait. I honestly don't know why customers rant when you tell them how long the wait is. Don't shoot the messenger,people! Wouldn't you rather the host tell you the truth than tell you it's a five minute wait and have you get mad when you're actually waiting for 20 minutes? They want you seated as fast as possible too, so you can stop annoying them.

3. They also are not lying to you about the wait even though you see empty tables. Probably the most frequent complaint I get when hostessing is, "How is there a wait when I see plenty of tables right there?" Um, hello! It's called servers! I'd rather you wait for a table than place you at an empty one when a server is currently busy and not going to even offer you drinks until you've been sitting there for 20 minutes waiting. Just because you see an empty table does not mean it's available. There is also a thing called reservations.

4. The host/hostess is not trying to purposefully upset you by saying there are no booths available. Once again, just because you see a booth does not mean it's available. There is a lovely thing called rotation in which hosts are required to seat you in a specific section for a specific server. Do not ask, "Oh can we have that table instead?" unless you're handicapped and really do need a specific seating assignment. Your food will taste exactly the same no matter where you sit.

5. Your host/hostess is already putting up with a lot of complaints from the servers; we don't need your complaints too. Customers aren't the only ones shooting the messengers. When you say, "Oh, can we sit there instead?" and the host actually takes you to the table you want, they are most likely going to be yelled at all night from a grumpy server because you just made them skip who was next on the server rotation.

6. The servers are constantly blaming hosts for crappy tables. Dear servers, it is not the host's fault that your table did not tip well or that your table was rude. If you want us to follow rotation, do not get mad when we seat you with people you do not like.

7. Hosts are also busy dealing with people who seat themselves and then complain that a server hasn't greeted them yet. There are customers that increase the wait list time because they had the audacity to seat themselves. Please just be patient and bear with them. The host is probably just as miserable as you are.

8. Lastly, respect your host/hostess because they have a hard job too. The host/hostess does not just stand at a podium for hours telling people what the wait time is. They're dealing with angry servers and the annoying customers before you that try to order food or pay their bill at the host stand.

They're helping bus tables to seat you faster, set up tables for large party reservations, trying to make seating plans ahead of time and making sure tables will be available for reservations. Having to stand on their feet with no break for hours is not easy. So cut them some slack and sit patiently when they tell you how long the wait is. If you're really nice, they will be a lot more willing to seat you as fast as possible.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

70172
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

3816
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

7895
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments