Host - Join Us Now!
Posted on October 24, 2025
Olive Garden is a well-established casual dining restaurant chain renowned for its commitment to providing a warm and welcoming Italian-inspired dining experience. With a reputation for quality food, friendly service, and a family-oriented atmosphere, Olive Garden has grown to become a favorite dining destination for families and individuals alike. The brand operates numerous locations nationally, each striving to offer guests an inviting environment paired with exceptional hospitality and delicious meals. Employment at Olive Garden means becoming part of a supportive ‘‘family’’ where teamwork, respect, and growth opportunities are core values. The company is dedicated to creating a positive workplace culture that emphasizes employee well-being and ongoing development, making it an employer of choice in the restaurant industry.
For the host position at Olive Garden, pay is variable depending on location, reflecting regional differences in the cost of living and market standards. The role offers flexible scheduling to help team members balance work with school, childcare, or other family commitments, promoting a healthy work-life balance. As a host, you will serve as the face of the restaurant, creating an inviting atmosphere for guests from the moment they arrive until the time they leave. This customer-facing role blends exceptional interpersonal skills with organizational efficiency to ensure a seamless dining experience. Hosts greet guests with friendly smiles, manage waitlists and table assignments, sanitize frequently touched surfaces to maintain health standards, and provide information about menu options and specials when necessary. Through your warm interactions, you will help foster guest loyalty and contribute directly to the positive reputation of Olive Garden.
Additionally, the role emphasizes adherence to the highest standards of safety and sanitation, ensuring a safe dining environment for both guests and staff. You will work closely with other team members to maintain cleanliness standards and promote a team-oriented work atmosphere. Olive Garden values employees who take pride in their work and seek to provide memorable experiences with every guest interaction. Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities, team members also enjoy a range of benefits including paid sick leave, family and medical leave after one year, medical and dental insurance options, and a 401(k) savings plan with company matching after one year of service. The company supports career advancement opportunities, with more than half of managers promoted internally from hourly positions. This makes the host role not just a job, but a potential stepping stone towards a rewarding career in the restaurant management field.
In summary, joining Olive Garden as a host means bringing your enthusiasm, attentiveness, and teamwork skills to a reputable dining brand that values its ‘‘family’�� of employees and guests. The position offers competitive pay variable by location, a supportive work environment featuring flexible schedules and employee perks, opportunities for skills development, and a clear path for career growth. If you are passionate about hospitality and enjoy making people feel welcome, this role provides an excellent opportunity to be part of a company that takes pride in delivering a memorable dining experience while fostering a culture of respect and support among its team members.
- high school diploma or equivalent
- availability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends
- ability to stand for extended periods
- capacity to maintain a positive and professional attitude
- willingness to follow health and safety protocols
- basic computer skills for managing seating and wait lists