Front Desk- HopCat at Project BarFly in Auburn Hills, MI

At HopCat, we believe great restaurants are built by great people. We’re looking for “A Players”—individuals who genuinely enjoy taking care of others, take pride in their work, support their teammates, and consistently create memorable guest experiences.

Mission

Set the tone for an outstanding HopCat visit by warmly welcoming every guest, managing the flow of the restaurant, and providing accurate, organized communication from arrival through departure.

What Success Looks Like

• Remain present and attentive at the front desk, acknowledging arriving and departing guests promptly.
• Use eye contact, a genuine greeting, and the question 'What brings you in today?' to personalize the visit.
• Maintain accurate reservations, guest information, table status, and waitlist details in OpenTable.
• Provide realistic wait estimates and proactive updates while balancing seating rotation and restaurant capacity.
• Communicate celebrations, accessibility needs, large-party details, and guest concerns to the appropriate team members.
• Maintain a clean, stocked, organized, and welcoming entrance, waiting area, host stand, and menu supply.
• Answer calls professionally and route reservation, event, and operational questions correctly.

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following:

Warmth and presence - Is visible, approachable, and genuinely welcoming.

Organization - Keeps tools, information, and work areas ready.

Clear communication - Shares accurate information early and respectfully.

Situational awareness - Reads restaurant flow and anticipates needs.

Composure - Demonstrates this behavior consistently during every shift.

Accuracy - Follows recipes, tickets, counts, and procedures precisely.

Problem-solving - Identifies issues and takes practical action.

Teamwork - Supports shared results beyond assigned tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage reservations, the waitlist, and seating through OpenTable.
• Seat guests according to rotation, table readiness, and manager direction.
• Recognize celebrations and communicate special occasions.
• Maintain accurate communication with servers, bussers, and managers.
• Answer phones and assist with common guest questions.
• Route large-party and event inquiries to management.
• Assist with takeout and other guest-service needs when assigned.

Experience and Qualifications

• Previous restaurant or customer-service experience is preferred but not required.
• Comfort using tablets, reservation platforms, and restaurant technology.
• Strong verbal communication and the ability to manage several priorities at once.
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Physical Requirements

• Stand and move throughout the shift.
• Lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Safely handle menus, highchairs, booster seats, and front-desk supplies.

Why Work at HopCat?

• Competitive pay appropriate to the position, including tips where applicable.
• Flexible scheduling and employee food discounts.
• Training, skill development, and opportunities for growth within HopCat and Project BarFly.
• A fast-paced, inclusive, and team-focused work environment.

What You’ll Receive:

Strong Earning Potential

Servers earn an hourly wage plus tips, with earning potential based on scheduling, performance, sales, and guest volume.

Comprehensive Training

Our structured training program provides the menu knowledge, service skills, and tools needed to succeed.

Why HopCat?

HopCat is known for award-winning food, legendary hospitality, and one of the best craft beer programs in the country. We invest heavily in our people and provide real opportunities for growth.

If you are ready to take ownership of the Front Desk role and help create memorable HopCat experiences, we would love to meet you.

Apply today and start building your hospitality career with HopCat.

BarFly is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We know that diverse, talented and dedicated individuals are critical to our success, so we look for veterans and people from various backgrounds not just because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's good for our business. We accept, celebrate and support the differences of people because it makes our team, the experience at our restaurants and the communities in which we operate better.