Host - The Ridley

Overview Join the front-of-house team at The Ridley, Charlottesville's destination for high-quality American fare, local beer, and craft cocktails. Located within The Draftsman Boutique Hotel near The University of Virginia, The Ridley is not just a restaurant but a tribute to Dr. Walter Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from UVA and receive a graduate degree from any major historically white public university in the South. As a Host, you will be the first point of contact for our guests, providing a warm and inviting welcome to all who visit The Ridley. Your friendly demeanor, excellent communication skills, and ability to handle guest inquiries with professionalism will set the tone for an exceptional dining experience. Competitive Benefits: Health/Dental/Vision coverage Paid Time Off 401(k) with company match Short and Long-Term Disability Tuition Reimbursement Employee Referral Program Pet Insurance Discounts: Hotels, Travel, Tickets, Restaurants Eligibility for discounted meal plan at HBCU client locations Responsibilities Welcome guests with a friendly and professional demeanor, creating a positive first impression. Manage reservations and coordinate seating arrangements to ensure efficient table turnover. Provide accurate wait times and communicate with guests about the status of their table. Answer guest inquiries and provide information about the restaurant, menu, and special promotions. Maintain a clean and organized host station, assisting with various front-of-house duties as needed. Qualifications Experience in high-volume, upscale casual dining or an equivalent service environment preferred High school diploma (or equivalent) required At least 18 years of age (unless permitted by law) High energy and stamina. Able to work within a fast-paced, highly mobile environment Able to stand and walk for up to 10 hours per day preferred Able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds Able to work calmly and effectively under pressure Able to work flexible shifts and schedules, inclusive of weekends, and some holidays Who We Are: The Ridley is a Charlottesville-based restaurant located within The Draftsman Boutique Hotel near The University of Virginia. As part of Thompson Hospitality, the nation's largest minority-owned food and facilities management company, we take pride in being one of Charlottesville's Black-owned restaurants, paying homage to Dr. Walter Ridley, a trailblazer in education. Our menu is designed with inclusivity in mind, offering a modern Southern dining experience that celebrates diversity and brings people together through food. Thompson Hospitality is the nation's largest minority-owned food and facilities management company. Our services include hospitality, full dining and quick service restaurants, campus dining, diversity consultation, facility operations and maintenance management. We are a family-run organization with more than twenty-five years providing services built on our core mission to provide a positive experience to every relationship we are involved in: one guest, one client, one team member at a time. As a fast growing company, we have a growth plan to more than double in size over the next three years. We are looking for team members who are interested in developing their careers to the next level while joining our team of over 4,000 employees, serving clients in over 40 states to include more than 1.9 million guests each year. Thompson Hospitality focuses on three core areas in everything we do: Purpose Give back to our communities Celebrate diversity People Do the right thing Treat people the way you want to be treated Always do your best Be accountable for our actions Performance Serve the highest quality food Provide world-class service Maintain flexibility to better serve our clients We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.