Barbounia is an all-day dining destination located within the luxurious Hotel Café Royal, a 5-star hotel in the heart of Central London, near Piccadilly Circus. Serving modern Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Barbounia provides a sophisticated and welcoming environment for guests seeking an exceptional dining experience. We are looking for a warm, professional, and organized Restaurant Host to be the welcoming face of our restaurant and ensure every guest begins their dining experience with us on a positive note.
The Role:
As a Restaurant Host at Barbounia, you will be the first point of contact for our guests, responsible for creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere from the moment they arrive. You will manage reservations, coordinate seating arrangements, and work closely with the service team to ensure an efficient and seamless dining experience for our guests.
Barbounia is open for breakfast 7 days per week, 7am to 11am and Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Key Responsibilities:
* Greet guests upon arrival with a warm, friendly demeanor, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued.
* Manage reservations efficiently using the restaurants booking system, including accommodating special requests and preferences when possible.
* Coordinate table assignments and monitor the flow of guests, ensuring optimal seating arrangements for a smooth dining experience.
* Show guests to their tables, presenting menus and informing them of any special offerings or events.
* Handle guest inquiries and provide information about the menu, hours of operation, and general restaurant details with professionalism and accuracy.
* Support the restaurant team in managing wait times and handling walk-in guests, ensuring a positive and organized experience during busy periods.
* Maintain a clean and tidy reception area, ensuring the host station and front entrance reflect the luxury standards of Hotel Café Royal.
* Assist in preparing the dining area for service, including resetting tables and managing table rotations.
* Address guest complaints or concerns courteously, ensuring that any issues are resolved promptly or escalated when necessary.
* Collaborate closely with the service and kitchen teams to ensure a coordinated and efficient service flow throughout all meal periods.
Requirements:
* Previous experience as a host or in a similar guest-facing role within a luxury hotel or high-end restaurant environment.
* Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a genuine passion for delivering outstanding hospitality.
* Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage reservations and seating arrangements efficiently.
* Positive, professional attitude and polished appearance, reflecting the hotels luxury standards.
* Ability to handle busy shifts and work flexible hours, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
* Knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine and a basic understanding of food and beverage service is an advantage.
* Experience using Sevenrooms booking system is advantageous
The benefits:
* Pay of up to £32,000 including service charge
* Access to heavily discounted friends and family rooms rates across the Set Hotels
* Two complimentary rooms nights per year in London, Paris or Amsterdam (after 1 year of employment)
* Up to 50% colleagues discount in all our food and beverage outlets
* Colleague wellness sessions in our Akasha spa each month including osteopath, podiatrist, yoga and fitness classes (as well as staff discounts on spa treatments)
* Regular social events, including our infamous Summer Party (August) and Black-Tie Annual Awards dinner (January)
* Christmas celebrations, including colleague lunch, childrens party and Christmas gift
* Automatic membership of the companys life assurance scheme from day one
* Generous discounts on retail and dining in Central London through the West End Club app
* Mental health support including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and mental health champions in all departments
* A variety of external benefits including gym discounts and free eye tests
* Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
* A wide range of both internal and external training and development programmes to support all of our colleagues career progression
* The usual bits and bobs such as free meals on duty, uniform laundry, pension & holiday
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