Hostess Restaurant jobs in St. Catharines, ON

Terrain Restaurant | Clayfield Hotel

About Terrain

Terrain is the signature dining experience at the Clayfield Hotel, an upscale wine country destination rooted in seasonality, terroir, exceptional food and wine, and genuine hospitality.

Our philosophy is simple: create memorable experiences through thoughtful service, meaningful connections, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Inspired by the bounty of Niagara wine country, Terrain celebrates local ingredients, culinary craftsmanship, and warm hospitality delivered with sophistication and authenticity.

As part of the opening team, you will play an integral role in shaping the culture, guest experience, and service standards of one of Niagara's premier dining destinations.

Position Summary

Terrain Restaurant is seeking a polished, engaging, and highly professional Full-Time PM Host to join our opening team.

The Host is the face of Terrain and the first and last impression of every guest experience. This role goes beyond seating and reservations—it is a concierge-level position responsible for welcoming guests, building genuine connections, guiding the guest experience, and ensuring every interaction reflects Forbes-level hospitality standards.

The Host will manage reservations and seating flow, support guest communication, and also take in-room dining (room service) orders with accuracy, warmth, and professionalism.

Menu knowledge is a core requirement of this role. The Host must confidently understand food, beverage, and in-room dining offerings in order to answer questions, make recommendations, and elevate the guest experience from the very first interaction.

We operate from a “place of yes,” where guest experience is always the priority, and where personality, professionalism, and genuine connection define success.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Experience & First Impressions

• Welcome and greet all guests with warmth, professionalism, and genuine enthusiasm.
• Serve as the face of Terrain Restaurant, creating a strong first and last impression.
• Engage guests in friendly, natural conversation and build rapport through authentic interaction.
• Hold small conversation comfortably and make guests feel personally welcomed and remembered.
• Ensure every guest feels acknowledged, valued, and cared for from arrival to departure.
• Manage guest expectations with grace during busy service periods or wait times.

Concierge-Level Guest Support

• Act as the concierge of the restaurant, supporting guests with recommendations, inquiries, and guidance.
• Assist guests with questions regarding dining experiences, menu offerings, and hotel amenities.
• Proactively enhance the guest experience by offering informed suggestions and assistance.
• Anticipate guest needs and provide thoughtful, solutions-oriented service.
• Build familiarity with returning guests and contribute to personalized guest recognition.

Seating, Reservations & Floor Management

• Manage reservations, walk-ins, and table assignments using reservation systems.
• Coordinate seating strategy with management and service teams to ensure smooth flow.
• Communicate wait times clearly and professionally.
• Maintain balanced pacing across dining sections to support optimal service delivery.
• Escort guests to tables with professionalism and attention to detail.

In-Room Dining (Room Service)

• Answer incoming phone calls and take accurate in-room dining (room service) orders.
• Ensure all orders are entered clearly and communicated correctly to the kitchen and service team.
• Provide warm, engaging, and professional guest interaction over the phone.
• Maintain the same level of luxury hospitality on the phone as in-person guest interactions.

Menu Knowledge & Communication

• Develop and maintain strong knowledge of all food, beverage, and in-room dining offerings.
• Confidently answer guest questions regarding ingredients, preparation methods, and daily features.
• Provide informed recommendations to enhance the guest experience.
• Stay current on menu changes, seasonal updates, and special offerings.
• Use menu knowledge to elevate guest confidence and satisfaction.

Operational Excellence

• Maintain immaculate cleanliness and organization of the host stand and entry areas.
• Ensure all guest-facing spaces are polished, welcoming, and visually aligned with luxury standards.
• Answer phone calls, manage inquiries, and handle reservations professionally.
• Support communication between guests, servers, bartenders, and leadership teams.
• Assist with opening and closing duties of the host area.

What We're Looking ForGuest-Focused Mindset

• Unwavering commitment to guest experience excellence.
• Operates from a “place of yes,” always seeking opportunities to accommodate and enhance guest needs.
• Understands that the host sets the tone for the entire dining experience.

Ownership & Initiative

• Takes initiative and acts without needing direction.
• Demonstrates pride in the entrance, reception, and guest flow experience.
• Treats the restaurant as if it were their own home.
• Maintains a clean, organized, and welcoming host stand at all times.
• Proactively supports service efficiency and guest satisfaction.

Hospitality from the Heart

• Treats every guest as a welcomed guest in their own home.
• Creates a warm, genuine, and inviting atmosphere.
• Understands that luxury hospitality begins the moment a guest walks through the door or calls the restaurant.
• Delivers calm, graceful, and attentive service at all times.

Team-First Mentality

• Believes hospitality is a team sport.
• Works closely with servers, bartenders, kitchen, and management to ensure seamless operations.
• Supports colleagues during high-volume service periods.
• Contributes to a respectful, collaborative, and high-performance environment.

Personality & Professionalism

At Terrain, exceptional hospitality begins with presence. The Host is the face of the restaurant, and personality, professionalism, and emotional intelligence are essential to success in this role.

Successful candidates will embody:

• A friendly, engaging, and naturally warm personality.
• The ability to confidently hold small conversation and build rapport with guests.
• A concierge-level mindset, acting as a guide and ambassador of the guest experience.
• Strong professionalism, polished appearance, and clear communication skills.
• Calm confidence in high-volume or high-pressure situations.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to multitask while maintaining guest focus and composure.
• Emotional intelligence and the ability to read and adapt to guest needs.
• Pride in representing Terrain Restaurant and the Clayfield Hotel with consistency and excellence.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a host/hostess in upscale dining, luxury hotels, or high-volume restaurants is an asset.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and guest service skills.
• Experience with reservation systems (OpenTable, SevenRooms, or similar) is an asset.
• Strong organizational and multitasking ability.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and welcoming during busy service periods.
• Strong menu knowledge or willingness to develop quickly in training.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Ability to walk guests to tables frequently.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while remaining composed.

Why Join Terrain?

This is a unique opportunity to become part of the opening team at one of Niagara's newest upscale dining destinations.

At Terrain, hospitality is more than service—it is about creating meaningful experiences, celebrating local food and wine culture, and building lasting relationships with our guests and one another.

If you are passionate about hospitality, thrive in a guest-facing leadership role, and are excited to be the first impression of an exceptional dining experience, we would love to hear from you.

Position Details

• Full-Time Position
• PM / Dinner Service Focus
• Guest-Facing Concierge-Level Role
• Competitive Compensation
• Gratuities (where applicable to FOH structure)
• Training & Development Opportunities
• Career Growth within Clayfield Hotel Hospitality Group

Terrain Restaurant and the Clayfield Hotel are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Pay: From $17.60 per hour

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Work Location: In person