Neiman Marcus Host/Hostess
- Location
- Employment
- Part-Time
- Seniority
- Entry-Level
- Compensation
- $20.79–25.99/hour
- Department
- Food & Beverage Service
- Posted
- May 5, 2026
About Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus is an American luxury retailer renowned for curated assortments, exceptional in-store services and signature customer experiences. Operating across stores, digital channels and remote selling, the brand is part of the Saks Global portfolio and is recognized for events such as Fantasy Gifts and other luxury activations.
Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto seeks a part-time Restaurant Host at the NM Café. Hourly $20.79–$25.99; manage OpenTable reservations and welcome guests.
Role & Responsibilities
- Greet and seat customers at the host stand or entrance, delivering a warm and professional welcome.
- Manage reservations and inquiries via the OpenTable platform, including VIP reservations and special requests.
- Organize seating and reservation flow to maximize capacity during operating hours and optimize staffing needs.
- Monitor server performance and dining flow to ensure smooth, high-standard service throughout guests’ visits.
- Handle telephone inquiries with professional etiquette and respond to questions about hours, specials and events.
- Process transactions following established accounting procedures and maintain working knowledge of the POS system.
- Participate in daily pre-shift meetings and coordinate with front-of-house staff to maintain service standards.
- Maintain cleanliness and presentability of menus and menu covers and adhere to hygiene and uniform standards.
- Perform light physical duties as required (lifting and moving furniture/equipment up to 35 pounds).
- Adhere to posted schedules and be available for flexible shifts, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED preferred.
- Familiarity with the OpenTable reservation platform.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and professional telephone manner.
- Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with front-of-house teams.
- Customer-focused with strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative 'win together' mentality.
- Ability to stand, bend, climb stairs and lift/carry up to 35 pounds; willingness to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.
Skills
Experience
Entry-level role; prior experience in hospitality, fine dining, or luxury retail front-of-house/reservations is preferred but not required. Experience using OpenTable or other reservation platforms is advantageous.
Education
High school diploma or GED preferred.
Workplace
The role is situated in Palo Alto, California, USA — conveniently close to San Francisco.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 20.79 to USD 25.99 per hour.
Benefits
Medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, voluntary benefits (e.g., critical illness, hospital and accident insurance), employee discount
Culture
Neiman Marcus cultivates a service-driven, client-centric culture rooted in luxury retail and experiential hospitality. The environment emphasizes refinement, attention to detail and collaborative teamwork, with internal advancement opportunities across retail, distribution, digital and corporate functions.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Neiman Marcus, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Restaurant Host», «Front-of-House Host», «Guest Relations Host», «Dining Room Host», «Restaurant Greeter», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.