Host/Hostess Non-Tipped Rotation

Serving Lancaster County Since 1929

Few companies can claim over 95 years in business, but we can at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. We owe our ongoing success to our exceptional staff and solid management team who are dedicated to an excellent guest experience.

Here is your opportunity to be part of a dedicated team at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.

Our business is booming, and we are seeking outstanding team members who take pride in their work, and ownership of the position to ensure we are living up to our high standards and providing a friendly guest experience.

What we expect from you:

• A friendly, professional demeanor toward coworkers and guests – after all, our mission is to make people feel valued. We expect that of you, and we do our best to make YOU feel valued as well
• Self-starter who owns the responsibilities of the role.
• A commitment to show up on time for every shift - ready to work hard alongside your team members.
• Your dedication to our values of diversity, integrity, excellence, accountability, community, and especially your willingness to have FUN

Here's what we offer to you:

• Competitive pay.
• Excellent benefit package and employee perks.
• Ability to earn unlimited employee referral bonuses.
• Ability to work in other business units within the hospitality group to make extra cash or gain new work experience. The more you know, the more you grow
• A "work-to-live" not a "live-to-work" workplace

Our Mission: Make people feel valued.

Our Values: Diversity, Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, Community and FUN

Thomas E. Strauss, Inc., is a local family-owned hospitality group. Our businesses include Miller's Smorgasbord, Miller's Bakery, The Quilt Shop at Miller's, Locally Made Food Shop, Anna's Gifts & Sundries, Plain & Fancy Farm, AmishView Inn and Suites, Smokehouse BBQ and Brews, and Plain & Fancy Country Store.

Position Summary

The Smokehouse BBQ and Brews Host/Hostess is responsible for the warm friendly immediate greeting of the guest. Seats and presents menus to guests in a friendly, professional, and quick manner for the part-time position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Greeting and seating guests, presenting menus to guests, informing them of special menu items
• Treating guests in a manner to ensure their complete satisfaction
• Taking names on a waiting list
• Running the floor plan board
• Observing tables and keeping track of clean, dirty, and occupied tables
• Taking guest information and quoting wait time to guests accurately when tables are not immediately available
• Cleaning, organizing, and stocking menus at host area
• Answering phone and answering questions concerning the menu and restaurant
• Interacting with guests coming in and as they leave, ensuring a positive dining experience
• Filling to go orders, if applicable
• Performing other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Must be 16 years of age
• Display positive, professional and enthusiastic attitude
• Excellent communication skills (verbally interacts with management, servers, team members and guests)
• Must be able to read, write, and determine wait time based on company's procedures
• Ability to work under pressure in fast paced environment
• Teamwork oriented
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Knowledge of workplace safety and emergency procedures
• Thoroughness and attention to detail
• Must visually scan restaurant for clean, unoccupied tables
• Time management
• High degree of quality in all work produced

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is regularly required to lift, bend, kneel, stoop, climb, push and pull items weighing 50 pounds or less.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.

Updated 08/25/2025