Host

Host Staff Opportunity

Il Porcellino, located in the heart of River North in downtown Chicago, is a neighborhood restaurant offering classic Italian-American comfort food in a casual setting. Our seasonal menu focuses on housemade pastas, vegetable antipasti and daily specials, all crafted with ingredients sourced from quality artisans, purveyors and local farmers. Offering a bespoke cocktail program changing with the season, the fun and approachable wine program encourages sharing, with selections from southern and central Italy.

Caring. Creative. Careers. Join the Lettuce Entertain You team! Our 100+ restaurants are nationally recognized for great food and service and as great places to work. We hire and care deeply for people with creativity, passion and the drive to be the best. And we reward our teams with top notch benefits, career-long training and development and opportunities for growth. If you want a career at a progressive company with a long-standing commitment to people, join our caring and creative team. EOE. We participate in E-Verify / Participamos en E-Verify

Hosts are responsible for the initial, warm greeting and seating of guests, answering telephones, taking reservations and messages, maintaining accurate guest counts and wait times and saying goodbye to all guests. Assist with Coat Check duties as directed.

Essential Functions

• Warmly greet and seat guests in the restaurant
• Answer telephones, and take orders, messages and reservations
• Available to work a variety of hours, days and shifts, including weekends
• Safely and effectively move chairs, tables, highchairs and booster seats
• Safely and effectively use and operate all necessary tools and equipment
• Ability to communicate in English in order to perform and follow job requirements in written and spoken direction
• Multitask calmly and effectively
• Work in a confined, crowded space of variable noise and temperature levels
• Able to move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 pounds, and occasionally move and/or lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand and walk for an entire shift and move safely through all areas of the restaurant, which may include stairs, uneven or slick surfaces

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure the overall guest experience exceeds expectations and anticipate guests' needs
• Greet guests with a warm, sincere smile
• Use tact and good judgement when dealing with guest challenges and respond to guest needs with patience and courtesy
• Assist with clearing, cleaning and resetting tables and maintain restrooms
• Sell and accurately account for gift cards
• Answer telephones, and take orders, messages and reservations
• Use proper phone and voicemail etiquette and guidelines
• Understand and respond knowledgeably to questions about the restaurant and menu
• Follow all steps of service
• Understand and follow the food allergy procedure and special orders/restrictions
• Proficiency in the use and operation of all necessary tools and equipment, including the reservation, telephone, paging and voicemail systems
• Comply with all safety and sanitation guidelines and procedures
• Successfully complete alcohol awareness training
• Follow all rules, policies, procedures and conditions of employment, including those outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Get along well with others and be a team player
• Other duties will be assigned as needed