Host

About iara
iara is a Brazilian open-kitchen restaurant opening this fall on the Lower East Side, inspired by the Amazon. Chef Vitor Mendes, a 2025 StarChefs Rising Star and the opening Chef de Cuisine of Theodora, is opening his first restaurant at 205 Allen Street and putting the team together now. 50 seats, one open kitchen, and a menu you won't find anywhere else. iara celebrates Amazon Rainforest’s unique ingredients through comforting Brazilian cooking.

The Role
Our host is the first person every guest meets and the last one they see on the way out. You run the door and the book, read the room, and pace the night so the floor and the open kitchen stay in rhythm. In a 50-seat room, the door sets the tone for everything behind it, and as part of the opening team you help build how that works from day one.

Responsibilities
- Greet and seat every guest with warmth, and see them off at the end of the night
- Manage reservations, the waitlist, and walk-ins on Resy, balancing section rotation, table turns, and quoted wait times
- Build the floor plan for each service with the General Manager and adjust it as the night changes
- Answer phones, email, and Resy messages; confirm reservations and note allergies, occasions, and guest preferences
- Communicate pacing with servers and the kitchen so seating matches what the line can handle
- Keep the entrance, host stand, and waiting area clean and guest-ready
- Complete opening, running, and closing side work

What We're Looking For
- 1+ year hosting or front-desk experience at a busy NYC restaurant
- Comfortable on Resy or a similar reservation system (we run Resy)
- Warm, clear communicator in person and on the phone, including with guests who are waiting
- Analytical and organized, with the composure to read and solve fast-changing situations under pressure
- Holds our operating and training standards consistently, service after service
- Open availability across nights, weekends, and holidays, as business needs require
- Comfortable on your feet for long stretches, with the ability to bend, kneel, reach, and take stairs throughout service
- Able to lift, carry, push, or pull objects of up to 50 lbs as the job requires
- Strongly Preferred: Interest in Brazilian or South American food and culture

Compensation & Benefits
- $20-$24/hr, based on experience, plus a share of the tip pool
- Ground-floor role on a founding team, with real growth as iara grows
- Health insurance plan offered
- Paid time off
- Staff meal every shift plus an employee dining discount

To apply: Email [email protected] with your resume and a short note on why iara. Subject line: Host

iara is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive workplace where every member of the team belongs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and reasonable accommodations are available for the hiring process and the essential functions of the role.