Cafe Zaffri is brought to you by Chef Mary Attea and the award winning team behind The Musket Room and Raf's. Cafe Zaffri is an all-day restaurant, focused on Levantine cooking, located inside The Twenty Two, a London-based hotel and members club making its US debut in Union Square

Position Overview  

The Maitre D' is the first point of contact for guests and plays a pivotal role in setting the tone for their dining experience. This position is responsible for managing reservations, greeting guests, and coordinating the flow of service. The Maitre D' works closely with the management team to ensure a seamless and exceptional experience for every guest, reflecting the standards and culture of Café Zaffri.

Duties and Responsibilities  

• Collaborates with the management team and front of house team to ensure that service operations enhance the guest experience and meet high service standards.
• Oversees daily floor operations, including guest flow, table assignments, and service timing to optimize efficiency and guest satisfaction. 
• Warmly greets and welcomes guests upon arrival, ensuring they feel valued and well taken care of.
• Manages and oversees the reservation system, ensuring that tables are allocated efficiently, and guest preferences are accommodated whenever possible. 
• Maintains an organized and calm demeanor during peak service times, managing guest flow to ensure a smooth and efficient seating process.
• Communicates closely with the floor team to ensure that guest seating, special requests, and any necessary adjustments are handled smoothly.
• Assists in managing the waitlist during busy periods, providing accurate wait times and offering guests options to enhance their experience while they wait. 
• Handles guest inquiries, special requests, and concerns with professionalism and poise, ensuring that all issues are resolved to the guest’s satisfaction.
• Ensures VIP’s are recognized by name, seated appropriately at designated VIP tables; ensures VIP guests are communicated to Manager on duty, Chef, and server when seated. 
• Answers guest phone calls and provides friendly, knowledgeable assistance to guest questions. 
• Trains, mentors, and develops front-of-house staff to maintain a knowledgeable and motivated team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement 
• Maintains compliance with all health, safety, and sanitation standards and all applicable city, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintains complete knowledge of Cafe Zaffri’s policies and procedures and ensure that all practices and policies are being upheld.
• Attends mandatory meetings, including staff meetings, leadership meetings, etc.
• Adheres to posted schedules.
• Completes other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications  

• Minimum 2+ years of experience in a fine dining or high-volume restaurant environment, with experience in a guest-facing role.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Proficient in a variety of technology systems, particularly OpenTable (reservations system).
• Ability to work a variable schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays, per the needs of the business.
• Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and problem-solving skills.
• Adaptable in fast-paced and challenging work environment.
• Polished personal presentation that meets Company standards.
• Passion for exceptional hospitality, food, and beverage.

Essential Functions and Physical Demands
This job requires meeting specific physical demands to perform essential duties effectively. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform those essential functions.

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• Exert well-paced mobility for periods of up to 12 hours per day.
• Lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Frequently stand, walk, reach, bend, stoop, push, pull, and kneel.
• Frequently utilize the stairs, often while lifting and carrying items.
• Occasionally crouch and climb.
• Utilize a computer for long periods of time.
• Withstand fluctuations in temperature within the work environment, from high heat to below freezing.

Benefits include:

• 401(k) with company matching
• 50% of health insurance covered by the company
• Paid Time Off + Safe and Sick Leave
• Dining discounts
• Continuing education

EEO Statement
Little Rest Hospitality LLC is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment where all individuals have equal opportunities. We value talent, skills, and potential, and strive to create an atmosphere that promotes diversity and equality.