Job Description

Host | Sava's Ann Arbor

At Sava's, the Host is the first impression and final impression of the guest experience. This role is much more than managing the front door. Our Hosts set the tone for the restaurant, create an organized and welcoming arrival experience, and help control the flow of the dining room throughout every shift.

We are looking for energetic, polished, hospitality-driven people who enjoy connecting with guests and working as part of a fast-moving team.

As a Host, you will welcome every guest with genuine hospitality, manage reservations and walk-in traffic, communicate accurate wait times, coordinate seating with servers and leadership, answer phones professionally, maintain the cleanliness and organization of the entrance and host area, and help ensure every guest feels recognized and cared for.

Hosts are expected to understand the flow of the restaurant and work closely with servers, support staff, bartenders, managers, and the culinary team. During busy shifts, you must be able to remain calm, organized, positive, and solutions-focused while managing multiple priorities at once.

At Sava's, hospitality is everyone's responsibility. Hosts are expected to take ownership beyond the host stand by assisting with table resets, maintaining the appearance of guest-facing areas, communicating guest needs, and helping the team wherever necessary.

What You'll Do

• Welcome every guest warmly and professionally.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, and seating rotation.
• Provide accurate wait-time expectations and communicate changes with guests.
• Answer incoming phone calls with confidence and professionalism.
• Coordinate continuously with servers, support staff, bartenders, and managers.
• Learn the restaurant layout, table numbers, menus, service periods, and daily operations.
• Maintain a clean, polished, organized host stand and entrance.
• Assist with resetting tables and preparing the dining room for incoming guests.
• Recognize special occasions, guest requests, allergies, accessibility needs, and other important reservation notes.
• Help control the pace and flow of the dining room during high-volume periods.
• Look for opportunities to assist guests and teammates without waiting to be asked.
• Maintain Sava's hospitality and appearance standards throughout every shift.
• Continue developing your restaurant knowledge through training, coaching, and hands-on experience.

We are looking for people who want to become excellent at hospitality. If you enjoy people, thrive in a high-energy environment, and take pride in creating memorable experiences, we would love to meet you.

Requirements

Host Requirements

What We're Looking For

• A genuine interest in hospitality and taking care of people.
• Positive, professional, and welcoming communication.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain composed and friendly during busy, high-volume shifts.
• Ability to communicate confidently with guests, teammates, and restaurant leadership.
• Willingness to receive coaching and continuously improve.
• Dependability, punctuality, and strong attendance.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Willingness to take initiative and help outside of the immediate host position when needed.
• Professional appearance and commitment to maintaining Sava's standards.
• Ability to learn reservation systems, table numbers, menus, restaurant procedures, and service standards.
• Ability to stand and move throughout the restaurant for extended periods.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays based on restaurant needs.
• Previous restaurant or customer-service experience is helpful, but not required for the right candidate.

The Ideal Sava's Host

The ideal Host is someone who can make a guest feel welcomed within seconds, stay organized when the restaurant is packed, communicate clearly when plans change, and recognize what the team needs before being asked.

Hospitality can be taught. Character, effort, curiosity, and attitude matter most.

Sava's is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a welcoming workplace and providing employment opportunities based on qualifications, performance, and the needs of the business.

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