Front of House Support -- Host / Busser / Food Runner / Expeditor

Job Description

Job Description

About Abhi Eatery + Bar

Abhi Eatery + Bar operates one of the widest-ranging kitchens in Birmingham. A single menu carries hand-folded Nepalese momos, sekuwa skewers, Tibetan thukpa, a Balinese beef rendang, Northern Thai khao soi, a slow-cooked Nepalese lamb curry, four distinct ramen broths, and a full sushi program.

Chef and owner Abhishek Sainju is self-taught. He began cooking at twenty-one out of a longing for the food of Nepal, built a sushi pop-up into an executive chef position at Bamboo, and opened this restaurant in 2017. It was named Best of 2024 for Ethnic Dining. The kitchen is expanding across all positions.

Schedule

Dinner service only — 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Prep shifts begin in the afternoon; service concludes at a reasonable hour. No breakfast service, no lunch service, no double shifts. Evening and weekend availability required.

Position Summary

The Front of House Support team is a single cross-trained position covering four functions — host, busser, food runner, and expeditor — with staff rotating across all four. This structure gives each team member a complete working understanding of floor operations rather than proficiency in a single task, and it is the position from which the majority of the restaurant's servers and bartenders have been promoted.

The position is responsible for the flow of the dining room: how guests enter it, how quickly tables turn, how accurately food reaches the table, and how consistently the room is maintained throughout service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Host

• Greet every guest and every phone call promptly, warmly, and professionally
• Manage the seating of the dining room and patio in a manner that distributes work evenly and avoids overwhelming any single server or station
• Administer the reservation policy accurately: tables are held for parties of six or more; all other seating is first-come, first-served
• Maintain an accurate wait list and provide honest, realistic wait quotes, updating waiting guests proactively
• Manage the flow of guests at the door during peak periods, keeping the entry area orderly and welcoming
• Answer the telephone, provide accurate information regarding hours, location, menu, and policies, and take to-go orders accurately
• Coordinate to-go and third-party delivery pickups, verifying order completeness before handoff
• Maintain menus in clean, current, and undamaged condition
• Maintain the cleanliness and presentation of the entry, host stand, and restroom areas
• Communicate continuously with management and servers regarding table status, large parties, special occasions, and guest needs
• Handle guest concerns at the door with professionalism and escalate promptly to a manager

Food runner

• Deliver all food from the kitchen and sushi bar promptly, at proper temperature, and to the correct seat position
• Verify each plate against the ticket for accuracy, presentation, and completeness before leaving the window
• Describe each dish accurately when placing it, including identification of raw seafood items and gluten-free items
• Deliver all necessary accompaniments, sauces, and service ware with the course
• Communicate any guest need observed during delivery to the responsible server
• Return to the window promptly and keep the pass clear

Busser

• Clear, clean, sanitize, and reset tables completely and quickly to maximize turns
• Maintain water service and refill beverages as directed throughout the dining room
• Reset the dining room and patio to standard, including table alignment, settings, and condiments
• Maintain the cleanliness of floors, booths, chairs, high chairs, and service stations throughout service
• Transport bus tubs and dish ware to the dish area and assist the dish station as needed
• Keep service stations stocked with silverware, glassware, napkins, and supplies
• Assist with pre-shift setup and post-shift breakdown of the dining room and patio

Expeditor

• Read and manage the ticket rail, sequencing tickets so that courses fire correctly across the kitchen and sushi bar
• Inspect every plate for accuracy, temperature, portion, and presentation before it leaves the window
• Serve as the communication point between kitchen, sushi bar, servers, and management during service
• Track modifications, allergies, and special requests through the window and verify they were executed
• Communicate ticket times and delays to servers proactively so guests can be updated
• Maintain the pass in clean, organized, and stocked condition, including sauces, garnishes, and service ware

Sanitation, safety, and compliance

• Maintain personal hygiene, uniform, and grooming standards at all times
• Follow all food safety, temperature, cross-contamination, and allergen protocols
• Obtain and maintain a current Jefferson County Food Handler Card within twenty-one days of hire
• Comply with the Foodservice Illness Reporting Agreement and refrain from working while ill as required
• Handle glassware, china, and cleaning chemicals safely and in accordance with established procedures
• Clean or report spills immediately and keep all walkways clear of hazards
• Report all accidents, injuries, guest incidents, and equipment malfunctions to management without delay

Teamwork and professional conduct

• Rotate willingly across all four support functions as scheduled and as service demands
• Assist servers, bartenders, kitchen, and sushi bar wherever needed
• Learn the menu, including correct pronunciation, ingredients, and preparation
• Attend all scheduled pre-shift meetings and training sessions
• Follow the established call-out and attendance procedures and communicate schedule needs in advance
• Comply with all policies in the Employee Handbook
• Perform other duties as assigned by management

Qualifications

Required

• Ability to obtain a Jefferson County Food Handler Card within twenty-one days of hire
• Evening and weekend availability
• A strong work ethic and the ability to sustain pace throughout a compressed dinner service
• Attention to detail, particularly with seat positions, ticket accuracy, and cleanliness standards
• Courteous, professional demeanor and comfort interacting directly with guests
• Reliable attendance and punctuality
• Reliable transportation to Mountain Brook

Preferred

• Prior restaurant experience in any front of house capacity — not required; the restaurant trains for this position
• Familiarity with Toast point-of-sale or reservation and waitlist systems
• Interest in advancing to a server or bartender position

Physical Requirements

• Remain standing and walking for the duration of a shift, typically four to six hours
• Lift and carry up to fifty pounds, including full bus tubs, trays, and stacked dish ware
• Reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and twist repeatedly throughout a shift
• Carry multiple plates simultaneously across crowded floor space
• Work in an environment with variable temperature, background noise, and close quarters
• Maintain sufficient visual and auditory acuity to read tickets and communicate in a loud room

Compensation and Benefits

• Hourly rate plus tip-out
• Evening-only schedule — well suited to students and to those seeking evening hours
• Flexible scheduling
• Complete cross-training across all four front of house support functions
• A defined advancement path — server and bartender openings are filled from this team first
• Structured onboarding with a documented training checklist and assigned trainer

Abhi Eatery + Bar is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.