Original job description
Lead Hostess / Head Hostess
Chotto Matte Toronto | 161 Bay Street, Toronto
Full-Time | $21–$29 per / Gratuities
Chotto Matte Toronto is seeking an experienced, confident, and highly organized Lead Hostess to join our Front of House leadership team.
As the first and last point of contact for our guests, the Lead Hostess plays an important role in setting the tone for the entire Chotto Matte experience. This position goes beyond greeting and seating guests - we are looking for someone who can take ownership of the door, lead the host team, manage the flow of a high-volume restaurant, and work closely with management to deliver exceptional hospitality.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and support the host team during daily service.
- Create a warm, polished, and professional welcome for every guest.
- Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, table assignments, and overall restaurant flow.
- Coordinate seating strategically with managers and the service team to maintain smooth service and maximize table utilization.
- Oversee the guest arrival experience during high-volume lunches, dinners, weekends, and special events.
- Maintain a strong understanding of reservations, VIPs, celebrations, special requests, and large-party bookings.
- Communicate clearly with managers, servers, bartenders, and the Sales & Events team.
- Handle guest concerns at the door professionally and confidently, escalating to management when appropriate.
- Train, coach, and support new and existing hosts.
- Maintain host-stand organization, presentation, reservation notes, and guest information.
- Help ensure host standards, grooming expectations, opening/closing procedures, and service expectations are consistently followed.
- Anticipate operational challenges and communicate proactively with the management team.
- Represent Chotto Matte's hospitality standards with professionalism, confidence, and personality.
What We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate is someone who is naturally hospitable but also comfortable taking charge of a busy door.
You should have previous experience in a high-volume, upscale or premium restaurant environment, preferably in a senior host, lead host, maître d', or similar guest-facing position.
Strong communication and organizational skills are essential. You should be comfortable making quick decisions, managing competing priorities, resolving guest concerns, and maintaining composure when the restaurant is extremely busy.
Experience with restaurant reservation systems and a strong understanding of table management and pacing are considered important assets.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who understands that great hospitality begins before the guest reaches the table.
Compensation & Benefits
- $21–$31 per, based on experience
- Gratuity program
- Full Health, dental and vision benefits
- Daily Paid staff meal
- 2 weeks paid vacation
- Full-time position
- Opportunities for continued growth within Chotto Matte
About Chotto Matte
Chotto Matte brings together Japanese and Peruvian influences through Nikkei cuisine, cocktails, music, art, and high-energy hospitality. Our Toronto location in the Financial District serves a diverse mix of corporate clientele, celebrations, events, and destination diners.
We are looking for a Lead Hostess who can bring confidence, organization, leadership, and genuine hospitality to one of the most important positions in the restaurant - the front door.
More about this job
Responsibilities
Lead the host team and manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, seating, and restaurant flow to deliver a polished guest arrival experience. Coordinate with managers and service teams, resolve guest concerns, train hosts, and maintain consistent front-of-house standards.
Requirements
Candidates should have experience in a high-volume upscale or premium restaurant, preferably in a senior host, lead host, maître d', or similar guest-facing role. Strong communication and organizational skills, sound judgment under pressure, and familiarity with reservation systems, table management, and pacing are important.
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Guest Hospitality
- Reservation Management
- Waitlist Management
- Table Assignment
- Restaurant Flow Management
- Table Pacing
- Guest Relations
- Conflict Resolution
- Staff Training
- Communication
- Organization
- Decision-Making
- Prioritization
- Reservation Systems
- Event Coordination
Benefits
- Gratuity Program
- Health Benefits
- Dental Benefits
- Vision Benefits
- Daily Paid Staff Meal
- Two Weeks Paid Vacation
- Growth Opportunities
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Categories
- Hospitality
- Food & Beverage
- Management & Leadership
- Customer Service & Support
Keywords
- Lead Hostess
- Head Hostess
- Front Of House
- High-Volume Restaurant
- Upscale Restaurant
- Guest Hospitality
- Reservations
- Walk-Ins
- Waitlists
- Table Assignments
- Restaurant Flow
- Table Utilization
- VIP Guests
- Special Events
- Large-Party Bookings
- Guest Concerns
- Host Team Leadership
- Staff Training
- Reservation Systems
- Table Management
- Service Pacing
- Host Stand
- Opening Procedures
- Closing Procedures
- Sales And Events Coordination
- Nikkei Cuisine
- Japanese Cuisine
- Peruvian Cuisine
