Karla Martinez
Chicago,IL
Summary
Bilingual Spanish/English hospitality professional with 8+ years of experience in food service, guest support, and team coordination. Known for strong multitasking, time management, and conflict resolution in busy, high-volume environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Food Runner/Host
Lettuce Entertain You
Chicago, Illinois
03.2021 - 05.2025
- Greeted and welcomed customers as they arrived at the restaurant.
- Seated parties and balanced dining room flow throughout service
- Coordinated with servers and hosts to maintain smooth service flow.
- Delivered food orders promptly to guests across Lettuce Entertain You dining rooms.
- Verified plate accuracy with kitchen tickets before running dishes to tables.
- Checked all dishes before delivering them to ensure quality standards were met.
- Communicated guest allergy notes and special requests to kitchen staff.
- Assisted servers in setting up tables for guests.
- Responded promptly to customer inquiries and requests for additional items or services.
- Provided assistance with clearing plates from tables after meals were completed.
- Cleared finished plates and reset tables for incoming seating.
- Maintained supplies such as napkins, silverware, glassware and plates throughout shift.
- Supported guest questions and resolved front-door concerns
- Assisted in training new staff members on restaurant operations and procedures.
- Assisted with training new employees on proper hospitality techniques.
- Trained new hosts on greeting, seating, and reservation procedures
- Maintained clean, polished service areas throughout each shift.
- Cleaned and sanitized work areas throughout shift including counter tops, floors, equipment.
- Organized food orders and ensured accuracy of items served to customers.
- Performed daily pre-shift side work duties such as restocking supplies, polishing silverware.
- Helped maintain the organization of walk-in coolers and freezers according to health department regulations.
- Coordinated wait times with servers and kitchen staff
- Handled incoming phone inquiries and booking requests
- Collaborated with management team on ways to improve service levels within the restaurant.
- Maintained a positive work environment by responding to customer complaints in a timely manner.
- Supported expo station with organized order tracking and plate staging.
- Assisted teammates during peak service in busy Lettuce Entertain You restaurants.
- Trained new hosts on greeting, seating, and reservation procedures
Restaurant Team Member
Saigon Sisters
Chicago, Illinois
12.2018 - 05.2021
- Took food and drink orders accurately for restaurant guests.
- Delivered meals and beverages with attentive table service.
- Coordinated with kitchen staff to support smooth order flow.
- Refilled drinks, cleared tables, and reset dining areas.
- Resolved guest concerns with courteous service during high-volume shifts, ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Provided excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction.
- Assisted customers with order-taking and provided menu recommendations to enhance dining experience.
- Took dine-in and takeout orders using POS system.
- Processed payments and balanced checks using point-of-sale systems.
- Processed payments using POS system with accuracy and efficiency, contributing to smooth transaction flow.
- Maintained cleanliness of dining area by wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors.
- Cleaned dining, prep, and service areas to meet sanitation standards..
- Performed opening and closing duties such as setting up the dining area, restocking supplies.
- Restocked supplies and checked inventory for daily restaurant operations.
- Greeted guests and answered menu questions with friendly service.
- Prepared Saigon Sisters Vietnamese dishes, following kitchen recipes and portion standards.
- Assembled banh mi, pho, and rice bowls for fast service.
- Monitored food freshness and rotated ingredients in storage areas.
- Assisted team members during rush periods and coordinated kitchen flow.
- Followed restaurant guidelines in regards to food safety and hygiene to prevent illness.
- Provided exceptional service to a high volume of daily customers.
- Communicated clearly with kitchen staff regarding order specifics.
- Answered phone calls promptly and handled inquiries from customers courteously.
- Created salads, sandwiches, and desserts following standard recipes.
- Followed health code regulations when handling food items safely.
- Organized takeout orders for customers on the go or ordering ahead of time.
- Trained new team members on restaurant policies and procedures.
- Cleaned cooking equipment after use according to safety protocols.
- Navigated job responsibilities and completed regular tasks by interacting effectively with other employees.
- Maintained table readiness by efficiently clearing and resetting tables throughout dining service.
Environmental Services Housekeeper
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
09.2017 - 11.2018
- Cleaned patient rooms, discharge areas, and common spaces at medical center.
- Disinfected high-touch surfaces using hospital infection control procedures.
- Prepared isolation rooms following Environmental Services safety standards.
- Assisted in infection control measures by sanitizing surfaces and equipment by sanitizing surfaces, furniture and equipment.
- Disinfected public areas and performed spot cleaning to ensure a consistently clean and inviting environment.
- Followed safety procedures and sanitation guidelines throughout hospitality shifts.
- Greeted guests and delivered friendly service at the hotel front desk and dining areas to enhance guest experience.
- Supported nursing staff with timely room turnover and patient care readiness.
Production Line Leader
RJW Transport
Lockport, Illinois
09.2016 - 03.2017
- Led production line teams at RJW Transport to maintain shipping and receiving flow.
- Monitored line activity to ensure efficient sorting, staging, and load preparation.
- Assigned daily tasks to line workers, optimizing workflow based on workload and schedule needs.
- Monitored production line workers to ensure they followed safety protocols and procedures.
- Trained new employees on how to use machines and equipment safely.
- Set up, adjusted and maintained machines to operate at peak levels and meet challenging demands.
- Ensured that all products met quality standards before being shipped out.
- Inspected products and packages for damage before shipment.
- Prepared products for shipment by packaging and labeling finished products in cardboard boxes or containers.
- Identified any potential problems or delays in the production process.
- Communicated with supervisors about delays, shortages, and equipment issues.
- Resolved employee and production issues to implement effective solutions, minimizing resource waste and maintaining schedules.
Spa Attendant
Urban Oasis Day Spa
Chicago, Illinois
07.2014 - 10.2016
- Greeted guests and distributed robes, slippers, towels, and spa amenities.
- Checked guests into their scheduled appointments upon arrival at the spa reception desk.
- Assisted therapists with room turnover and prepared guests during peak service periods to enhance overall guest experience.
- Prepared massage tables, steam rooms, and sauna spaces before guest appointments.
- Maintained treatment rooms, locker rooms, and relaxation areas for Urban Oasis Day Spa guests.
- Restocked essential supplies in service areas to ensure smooth operations, across Urban Oasis Day Spa service areas and storage rooms.
- Coordinated with front desk staff to optimize guest flow and support daily spa operations.
Education
High School Diploma -
Preparatoria Taximaroa San Nicholas De Hidalgo
Michoacan, Mexico 06-2014
Skills
- Food safety
- Order accuracy
- Operational procedures
- Multitasking expertise
- Time management
- Team collaboration
- Leadership
- Problem solving
- Conflict resolution
- Food presentation
- Work ethic
- Bilingual proficiency
Timeline
Food Runner/Host
Lettuce Entertain You
03.2021 - 05.2025
Restaurant Team Member
Saigon Sisters
12.2018 - 05.2021
Environmental Services Housekeeper
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
09.2017 - 11.2018
Production Line Leader
RJW Transport
09.2016 - 03.2017
Spa Attendant
Urban Oasis Day Spa
07.2014 - 10.2016
High School Diploma -
Preparatoria Taximaroa San Nicholas De Hidalgo