Fine Dining Host

Fine Dining Host / Hostess — Valentino Ristorante Italiano

Valentino Ristorante Italiano is Clearwater's premier destination for authentic Southern Italian and Neapolitan fine dining. We are seeking a polished, warm, and detail-oriented Host or Hostess to serve as the first and last impression of our guests' experience.

Position Summary
The Host is the face of Valentino — greeting every guest with genuine warmth, managing reservations and seating flow with precision, and setting the tone for an elevated dining experience from arrival to departure. This role requires poise, organization, and an instinct for anticipating guest needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Warmly welcome and greet every guest upon arrival and departure, using names whenever possible
• Manage the reservation book and walk-in flow, balancing pacing across all dining zones
• Maintain an accurate, real-time seating chart and communicate table status clearly to servers and management
• Answer phone calls professionally, take reservations, and respond to guest inquiries
• Escort guests to their tables and present menus with confidence and grace
• Anticipate guest needs — coats, strollers, accessibility, special occasions — and communicate them to the floor team
• Maintain the cleanliness and presentation of the host stand, entrance, and waiting area
• Coordinate with the FOH Manager on large parties, VIPs, and special events

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a host/hostess in a fine dining or upscale restaurant preferred
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a polished, professional presence
• Strong organizational skills; able to stay composed during high-volume service
• Comfortable with reservation software and point-of-sale systems
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus