Restaurant Host/Hostess

Sakana Wayne is a new Japanese all-you-can-eat restaurant. We are hiring friendly, organized, and dependable Hosts / Hostesses to join our opening team.

The Host is the first and last point of contact for our guests. This position is responsible for welcoming guests, managing the waitlist, coordinating seating, answering phone calls, preparing tables and ordering tablets, and helping first-time guests understand Sakana’s dining experience.

Responsibilities

• Welcome every guest promptly with a friendly and professional attitude.
• Ask for the party size and accurately manage the guest waitlist.
• Provide realistic wait-time estimates and keep waiting guests updated.
• Coordinate seating based on table availability, server sections, party size, and manager instructions.
• Maintain an organized and balanced seating rotation.
• Identify first-time guests and provide Sakana’s printed AYCE introduction guide.
• Inform the assigned Server when a table is visiting for the first time or communicates a food allergy.
• Confirm that tables, menus, ordering tablets, and seating areas are clean and ready before seating guests.
• Assist guests with basic questions about the AYCE menu, tablet-ordering process, dining policies, hours, pricing, and service charge.
• Refer special seating requests, menu exceptions, guest complaints, and uncertain policy questions to a Manager.
• Answer phone calls professionally and provide accurate restaurant information.
• Monitor the entrance, waiting area, dining room, and table status throughout the shift.
• Communicate table availability, large parties, wait times, and special situations to Servers and Managers.
• Help clean and organize tablets, menus, the Host Station, entrance, and waiting area.
• Assist with guest payments, gift cards, and other Host Station responsibilities after training.
• Thank departing guests and invite them to return.
• Complete assigned opening, closing, side-work, and cleaning duties.

Qualifications

• Previous Host, customer-service, or restaurant experience is preferred but not required.
• Friendly, patient, professional, and comfortable speaking with guests.
• Strong organization, communication, and multitasking skills.
• Able to remain calm and respectful when managing long waits or guest concerns.
• Comfortable learning a waitlist system, POS system, tablet-ordering process, and restaurant policies.
• Dependable, punctual, attentive, and team-oriented.
• Evening, weekend, holiday, opening, and closing availability is strongly preferred.
• Must be available for paid pre-opening training.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• English is required for clear guest communication. Spanish or Chinese language skills are a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive pay of $17.00–$21.00 per hour
• Paid pre-opening and position training
• Full-time and part-time opportunities
• Earned sick leave in accordance with New Jersey law and Sakana policy
• Opportunities to train for additional FOH positions and grow with the Sakana Wayne team

Schedule

Day, evening, weekend, holiday, opening, and closing shifts may be available.

Sakana is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without discrimination and provide reasonable accommodations as required by law.

Indeed Screening Questions

• How many years of restaurant, Host, or customer-service experience do you have?
• Are you comfortable managing a waitlist and communicating wait times to guests?
• Are you comfortable answering phone calls and explaining restaurant policies?
• Are you available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays?
• Please list the days and hours you are normally available to work.

Pay: $17.00 - $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person