Many people write hostesses off as having the easy job in a restaurant, and while it is not particularly difficult, there is still a lot hostesses have to deal with that can equal that of a server. Having been a hostess for quite some time, I now understand the major difficulties surrounding this work. While we don’t have as much to handle as servers and bartenders, and don’t get as dirty as bussers or dishwashers, we have our own set of annoyances and hardships that can make working unbearable at times.
Hostesses are the face of the restaurant, the first person patrons see when they enter the building is a hostess. We always have to adorn a smile and act immeasurably friendly. While that in itself is not a great feat, it can be a drag to fake sometimes if you’re having a bad day. However, good hostesses will never break character no matter what — even if they have no reason to smile at all.
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Our main job is to seat customers so that they can enjoy their meals at a nice table or booth. This job does seem pretty straightforward and simple, but it can actually be quite difficult on busy nights or when the restaurant is short staffed. While seating the customer is our first priority, we also have to make sure each server is getting a relatively equal amount of people to wait on, while trying not to double seat anyone or give them anything they can’t handle. At the end of the day, the hostess is always seating you where they choose for a reason and there is a method to our choices. We’re always trying to be fair to the waitresses, and customers make that increasingly difficult if they deny the table they are given and ask to be seated somewhere else. Of course your hostess will always oblige that request if possible, but sometimes we just want to say, “Sorry you can’t sit over there because I’ve just given Debbie two tables in a row and Cindy over here hasn’t gotten any tables yet."
Aside from seating people, we also have the pleasure of answering the phones — every single time they ring. While most phone calls end with us saying “Let me get my manager for you, one moment please," sometimes we’ll have to take down a reservation or even do a take-out order. I’ve personally never worked at a restaurant with call-ahead seating besides regular reservations, but you can imagine the stress that ensues when someone calls saying they have a party of 15 coming in within 20 minutes. Even so, hostesses will almost always pull it off. The same goes for take-out orders. While those seem like an easy process, they can be difficult when the customer doesn’t know the menu. A lot of work goes into perfecting take-out orders. While it’s not a necessity to tip hostesses for doing those, it is always appreciated. The rare patron who leaves behind a one or two-dollar tip definitely makes our day.
On top of those jobs, hostesses have to deal with a lot of complaining. It is not rare for an angry customer to take out their displeasure and frustration on a hostess. However, most of the time we have to hear about things that are out of our control. Once a patron is seated at their table, hostesses don’t have any power over their service or food. Yet, they still have to deal with the burden of an unhappy customer. They aren’t the only ones that give hostesses a hard time; even disgruntled waitresses can let out their frustrations of a slow night on the hostess.
While being a hostess does have its perks, there are many daunting parts about the job as well. So next time you venture out for lunch or dinner, make sure to smile and be friendly to your hostess, because we will always do the same for you.
