Business Glossary

What Is a maître d' in a restaurant?

This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.

Maître d’ is short for maître d’hotel. In a restaurant, maître d’ is responsible for greeting guests, seating them, and taking care of their needs during their dining experience. They are also responsible for maintaining the dining room and ensuring that it is clean and presentable at all times.

What is the role of the maître d’?

Maître d’s have many years of experience in the hospitality industry and have extensive knowledge of food and wine. They use their expertise to make recommendations to guests based on their preferences. Matre ds are also responsible for managing the reservations list and ensuring that parties are seated in a timely manner. They may also be responsible for coordinating with the kitchen staff to ensure that meals are served promptly and correctly.

Why is a maître d’ so important to a restaurant?

Maître d’s play a vital role in the success of a restaurant by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests. They go above and beyond to make sure that each guest feels welcome and comfortable throughout their dining experience. If you are looking for outstanding customer service and a memorable dining experience, be sure to ask for the maître d’ when making your reservation.

How does Square for Restaurants help maître d’s?

With Square’s table map, a maître d’ will be able to quickly see an overview of which tables are occupied. The maître d’ can also set each table to turn colors (yellow & red) when guests have been seated for a predetermined amount of time. This will help them manage the customer experience and flow throughout a dining experience.

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