Guest Experience Team Member – Host, Expo & Food Runner

Smashin Crab is looking for friendly, dependable, and energetic Guest Experience Team Members to support our host stand, dining room, takeout, food expo, and food-running operations.

This is a cross-functional front-of-house position that combines the responsibilities of a host, expo, busser, food runner, and takeout team member. Team members are expected to create a welcoming first impression, maintain an organized flow of service, ensure orders are accurate and complete, and help keep the dining room clean and ready for every guest.

The ideal candidate is comfortable interacting with guests, working at a fast pace, learning a detailed menu, and assisting wherever needed throughout the restaurant.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Greeting and Seating

• Greet every guest promptly, warmly, and professionally.
• Determine guest seating needs and escort parties to the appropriate table.
• Provide accurate wait-time estimates and manage the restaurant waitlist during high-volume periods.
• Communicate regularly with managers and service staff regarding table availability and guest flow.
• Assist managers with coordinating large-party reservations and seating arrangements.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and professional host stand.
• Keep menus, promotional inserts, kids’ menus, crayons, and other guest materials clean, organized, and fully stocked.
• Answer guest questions regarding the menu, restaurant services, promotions, and seating availability.

Phone, Takeout, and Retail Orders

• Answer incoming phone calls promptly and professionally.
• Accurately take food and beverage orders by phone.
• Enter phone, online, and walk-in takeout orders into the point-of-sale system.
• Process cash, credit card, and other approved payment transactions accurately.
• Follow all cash-handling and point-of-sale procedures.
• Assist walk-in guests with placing and paying for takeout orders.
• Sell and process restaurant retail merchandise purchases.
• Learn the full food, beverage, and retail menu to make recommendations and identify opportunities to suggest additional items.
• Communicate estimated preparation times and order information clearly to guests.
• Follow all applicable alcohol-sale, age-verification, packaging, and labeling requirements for takeout orders.

Takeout Order Management

• Monitor incoming phone, online, and walk-in takeout orders.
• Coordinate with the kitchen and bar teams to ensure orders are prepared accurately and on time.
• Verify that each order includes the correct food, beverages, sauces, condiments, utensils, and requested modifications.
• Package takeout orders securely and according to company standards.
• Label all food and beverage items accurately.
• Confirm that alcohol orders meet all applicable identification, packaging, sealing, and labeling requirements before release.
• Review completed orders with guests when appropriate.
• Maintain clean, organized, and fully stocked takeout and packaging areas.

Food Expo and Quality Control

• Act as the front-of-house expo for dining room and takeout orders as assigned.
• Read order tickets and confirm that all menu items, sides, sauces, and modifications are present.
• Ensure food is prepared and presented according to company recipes, portion standards, and appearance guidelines.
• Confirm that required condiments and accompaniments are included with each order.
• Communicate missing, incorrect, or delayed items to the kitchen and management teams immediately.
• Protect food quality by ensuring completed orders are delivered promptly.
• Follow all food-safety and sanitation requirements while handling completed food.

Food Running and Guest Support

• Deliver food and beverages to dine-in guests promptly and accurately.
• Identify the correct table, seat, and guest before serving each item.
• Announce dishes clearly and confirm that guests have the items and condiments they need.
• Check tables for additional service needs and communicate requests to the appropriate server or bartender.
• Assist with delivering takeout orders to guests as needed.
• Maintain guest awareness throughout the dining room and respond promptly when assistance is needed.

Dining Room and Table Maintenance

• Pre-bus tables throughout the guest experience by removing unnecessary dishes, glassware, trash, and other items.
• Clear and sanitize tables promptly after guests leave.
• Reset tables according to restaurant standards for the next arriving party.
• Maintain clean, organized, and properly stocked server stations.
• Keep the dining room, entryway, waiting area, host stand, and guest pathways clean and free of hazards.
• Sweep, spot-clean, and complete other dining-room maintenance throughout service.
• Monitor and maintain guest restrooms, including restocking supplies and completing assigned cleaning duties.
• Notify management promptly of spills, safety concerns, damaged furniture, or maintenance issues.

Stocking, Cleaning, and Side Work

• Stock and restock menus, takeout supplies, condiments, utensils, napkins, cups, lids, bags, and other service items.
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate applicable food and beverage products using FIFO procedures.
• Inspect products for freshness, quality, proper storage, and expiration dates.
• Complete all assigned opening, closing, and running side-work checklists.
• Complete routine and deep-cleaning assignments.
• Remove trash and replace liners as needed.
• Clean and sanitize workstations, shelving, storage areas, equipment, and guest-service areas.
• Assist other team members and departments based on restaurant needs.
• Perform other reasonable duties necessary to support restaurant operations.

Sales and Menu Knowledge

• Learn Smashin Crab’s food, beverage, retail, promotional, and takeout offerings.
• Answer guest questions accurately and confidently.
• Explain menu items, portion sizes, preparation styles, sauces, heat levels, add-ons, and available modifications.
• Make appropriate recommendations based on guest preferences.
• Suggest appetizers, beverages, desserts, retail items, and other additions when appropriate.
• Communicate allergies and special dietary requests according to company procedures.
• Never make guarantees regarding allergens or food preparation outside of approved company guidance.

Qualifications

• Previous restaurant, hosting, takeout, cashier, food-running, bussing, expo, retail, or customer-service experience is preferred but not required.
• Friendly, outgoing, and professional communication skills.
• Strong attention to order accuracy, food presentation, cleanliness, and guest service.
• Ability to remain organized and composed during high-volume service.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and shifting priorities.
• Comfortable handling cash, processing payments, and using a point-of-sale system.
• Ability to learn a detailed food and beverage menu.
• Willingness to recommend and upsell menu and retail items.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to follow written procedures, checklists, recipes, labeling requirements, and manager instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, servers, bartenders, kitchen employees, and managers.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Food Handler Certificate that meets applicable state and local requirements.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid TABC Seller-Server Certification.
• Must meet all legal age requirements applicable to the handling and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Work in a fast-paced, crowded, and sometimes noisy restaurant environment.
• Bend, reach, twist, push, pull, squat, and perform repetitive motions.
• Safely lift and carry food trays, bus tubs, dishes, supplies, trash, and equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Carry multiple plates or food items safely through the dining room.
• Work around hot food, beverages, kitchen equipment, cleaning products, and wet surfaces.
• Move quickly and safely between the host stand, dining room, kitchen, takeout area, and restrooms.
• Maintain an active pace throughout the scheduled shift.

Compensation and Tips

The hourly pay range for this position is $7.25–$9.25 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Eligible team members may receive tips directly from guests and may also receive tip-outs from servers and bartenders according to the company’s established tip-sharing policies. Tip amounts are not guaranteed and may vary based on sales, shifts worked, guest participation, and restaurant volume.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate creates a positive first and last impression for every guest. Successful Guest Experience Team Members are welcoming, attentive, organized, and willing to take ownership of the entire guest experience.

This position is best suited for someone who notices what needs to be done, communicates well with every department, and understands that greeting, seating, order accuracy, food quality, table cleanliness, and teamwork all contribute to excellent service.