Opening Team Lead Host

Opening Team Lead Host - Opening Soon in Tampa's NoHo District

Hospitality is a craft.

At V Modern Italian, we believe every interaction matters. Every greeting. Every reservation. Every celebration. Every goodbye.

Our Host Team is responsible for creating the first and last impression of every guest experience. The Lead Host plays a critical leadership role in managing the flow of the restaurant, maximizing seating efficiency, coordinating reservations, and ensuring every guest receives exceptional hospitality from the moment they arrive.

This is not a traditional host position.

We are seeking an experienced hospitality professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and has the confidence to lead a host team while managing one of the most important operational systems in the restaurant.

As we prepare to open our Tampa location in the NoHo District, we're looking for someone who wants to help build one of the city's premier dining destinations from day one.

V Modern Italian is actively expanding into markets across the country. We believe in promoting from within and creating meaningful career opportunities for hospitality professionals who want to grow with us.

About the Role

The Lead Host is responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the host stand while ensuring exceptional guest experiences and efficient dining room flow.

This position serves as the primary OpenTable expert and works closely with management to maximize covers, minimize wait times, optimize seating strategies, and maintain reservation accuracy.

The ideal candidate understands that managing the front door is one of the most important responsibilities in the restaurant.

What You'll Do

• Lead and coach the Host Team during every shift.
• Manage all reservations, waitlists, and guest communications through OpenTable.
• Build and maintain accurate floor plans, seating rotations, and reservation pacing.
• Coordinate guest seating to maximize restaurant flow while protecting the guest experience.
• Manage VIPs, celebrations, large parties, and special requests.
• Monitor cover counts, turn times, table availability, and dining room pacing.
• Communicate continuously with Managers, Servers, and the Kitchen to ensure seamless execution.
• Welcome every guest with warmth, professionalism, and genuine hospitality.
• Assist with training and developing new Host Team members.
• Ensure lobby presentation and arrival experience consistently reflect V Modern standards.

QualificationsRequired

• Significant OpenTable experience required.
• Previous experience managing reservations in a high-volume restaurant.
• Experience working in elevated casual or fine dining.
• Experience managing restaurants with large dining room footprints and substantial nightly cover counts.
• Strong understanding of reservation pacing, seating strategies, and dining room flow.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to remain calm while making real-time operational decisions.

Preferred

• Experience opening a new restaurant.
• Experience training and developing host teams.
• Familiarity with guest recovery and service recovery techniques.
• Leadership experience within a hospitality environment.

Who Thrives Here?

We're looking for someone who enjoys being the conductor of the restaurant.

You naturally stay organized under pressure.

You anticipate challenges before they happen.

You enjoy solving problems in real time.

You understand that every reservation represents a guest trusting us with their evening.

You care deeply about creating memorable experiences.

Why Join V Modern Italian?

• Opening Team leadership opportunity.
• Extensive paid training.
• Work alongside experienced hospitality professionals.
• Competitive compensation.
• Employee dining discounts.
• Growth opportunities as V Modern Italian expands across the country.
• Opportunity to help shape the guest experience from the very first day of service.

Our Values

Boldness

We are confident enough to challenge the ordinary.

Awareness

We pay attention to every detail, every guest, and every teammate.

Energy

We bring enthusiasm, urgency, and positivity to every shift.

Compensation

Competitive hourly wage based on experience.

Leadership opportunities and continued advancement available for high-performing team members.

If you are passionate about hospitality, thrive in high-volume environments, and have the OpenTable expertise to lead one of Tampa's busiest dining rooms, we'd love to meet you.

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Work Location: In person