Restaurant Receptionist CV Example
Designed for restaurant receptionists and hosts who manage reservations, greet guests, and ensure smooth front-of-house operations. Highlights your organisational skills and warm, professional demeanour.
Recommended template: ExecutivePro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Mention experience with specific reservation platforms such as OpenTable, ResDiary, or SevenRooms.
- Highlight your ability to manage guest expectations during busy periods and handle walk-ins diplomatically.
- Include any additional responsibilities such as managing social media reviews or coordinating private events.
- Demonstrate your calm, welcoming personality and ability to represent the restaurant brand professionally.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Restaurant Receptionist CV
A restaurant receptionist CV should convey your warmth, professionalism, and organisational ability. As the first person guests encounter, you set the tone for their entire dining experience. Employers want to see that you can manage a busy reservation system, greet guests with genuine warmth, and handle the pressures of a full dining room with poise. Your CV should highlight your front-of-house skills, your experience with booking platforms, and your ability to represent the restaurant brand impeccably.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with a brief profile, followed by work experience, skills, and education. For each role, mention the restaurant style, covers, and the booking systems used. List four to five responsibilities and two to three achievements per role. Keep to one or two pages depending on your experience level.
CV Format
Choose an elegant, clean template that reflects the attention to presentation expected in a host or receptionist role. Ensure your booking system experience and language skills are prominently displayed. Use bullet points and keep descriptions polished and concise.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Restaurant Receptionist
Poised and welcoming restaurant receptionist with four years of experience managing front-of-house operations in fine-dining and upscale casual restaurants in central London. Proficient in OpenTable and SevenRooms, managing up to 200 covers per service and maintaining a seamless flow of guests from arrival to seating. Known for building rapport with regular guests and handling high-pressure booking periods with calm efficiency.
Hotel Restaurant Host
Professional and articulate restaurant host with three years of experience in a four-star hotel restaurant, greeting guests, managing reservations, and coordinating with the kitchen and service teams to deliver smooth seatings. Skilled in managing group bookings, private dining arrangements, and special occasion requests. Fluent in English and Italian with intermediate Spanish.
Junior Restaurant Receptionist
Friendly and well-presented individual with eighteen months of experience as a restaurant receptionist in a popular gastropub, managing walk-in guests and telephone bookings during busy weekend services. Comfortable using ResDiary for reservation management and communicating table availability to both guests and front-of-house colleagues. Seeking a host position in a larger restaurant to develop further.
Write a three-sentence profile covering your experience level, the calibre of restaurants you have worked in, and your strongest front-of-house skill. Mention any languages spoken and the booking systems you are proficient in.
Key Skills for Your Restaurant Receptionist CV
Reservation Management
Managing bookings across phone, email, and online channels to maximise restaurant capacity and guest satisfaction.
Guest Greeting & Seating
Welcoming guests warmly on arrival, confirming their booking, and escorting them to their table professionally.
Telephone Handling
Answering calls promptly and courteously, taking bookings, and responding to enquiries about the restaurant.
Booking System Operation
Using reservation platforms such as OpenTable, ResDiary, or SevenRooms to manage the dining room diary.
Table Allocation
Assigning tables strategically to balance guest preferences, server sections, and kitchen capacity.
Waitlist Management
Managing walk-in guests and waitlists during busy periods, providing realistic wait times and alternatives.
Customer Service
Delivering a consistently positive experience through attentive communication and anticipation of guest needs.
Presentation & Grooming
Maintaining a polished, professional appearance that reflects the restaurant's brand and service standards.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, describe the restaurant style and cover count before listing duties. Focus on reservation management, guest interaction, and coordination with service and kitchen teams. Include achievements such as table utilisation rates, guest commendations, or training responsibilities.
Restaurant Receptionist
The Wolseley, London
Managed the front desk of an iconic 150-cover European grand cafe-restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to a high-profile clientele.
Responsibilities
- Managed the reservation diary using SevenRooms, handling up to 400 bookings per day across three meal periods.
- Greeted guests on arrival, confirmed reservations, and escorted them to their tables with menus and wine lists.
- Managed walk-in guests and waitlists during peak periods, providing accurate wait time estimates and alternative options.
- Answered telephone enquiries regarding reservations, menu details, private dining, and gift vouchers.
- Coordinated with the floor manager and kitchen team to manage table turns and accommodate late arrivals or special requests.
Achievements
- Maintained a table utilisation rate of 94% during dinner service through efficient waitlist management and proactive table turning.
- Received five named commendations in guest feedback surveys for warm, professional greeting standards.
- Trained three new receptionists on SevenRooms operation and front-desk procedures during their induction period.
Host
Gaucho, Manchester
Welcomed guests and managed the reservation system at a premium Argentinian steakhouse with 100 covers and a private dining room.
Responsibilities
- Operated OpenTable to manage reservations, table assignments, and guest notes for regular and VIP diners.
- Greeted guests with a warm welcome, managing the cloakroom and offering drinks upon arrival.
- Handled guest complaints at the front desk, escalating to the manager when necessary while maintaining composure.
- Assisted with social media review responses, thanking guests for positive feedback and addressing concerns professionally.
Achievements
- Contributed to the restaurant achieving a 4.7 Google review rating through consistently warm and professional guest interactions.
- Increased private dining enquiry conversion rate by 20% by following up on enquiries within 24 hours with personalised proposals.
Education & Qualifications
List any hospitality qualifications or customer service training first. Include language certifications if relevant. Follow with GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. If you have completed courses in wine knowledge or food and beverage service, include these as they add value.
Level 2 Diploma in Food and Beverage Service
Vocational qualification covering professional service skills relevant to restaurant front-of-house roles.
Level 2 Customer Service NVQ
Competence-based qualification demonstrating practical customer service skills in a hospitality setting.
WSET Level 1 in Wines
Introductory wine knowledge qualification useful for advising guests and supporting the sommelier team.
First Aid at Work Certificate
Practical first aid qualification valued for guest safety at the restaurant front desk.
Frequently Asked Questions
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