How much does a waiter at Applebees,Chili's, and Olive Garden?

Question

generally make, say in a city like Dallas or a suburb of Dallas that well populated, over 200K people. Not interested in what the upscale places are mom and pop places, but what waiters generally make on average at these chain type places assuming they are adequeate servers.

Answer 1

I would venture to say that Olive Garden servers make less than at Chili's or Applebee's. I worked at OG for a year and found that one glass of wine (if they drink at all) over a long drawn out dinner was the deal for many of the tables I had. That translates into people taking up your table for a longer amount of time, ordering less drinks, thereby lowering your overall tip amounts.

You will have some people that think OG is a high-class restaurant and will tip accordingly, but most people linger and then don't tip high-class.

I would work in a restaurant where tables had  a lot of turn-over in a shift and where a greater amount of alcohol was served. That tends to be the best recipe for high tip amounts in my experience.

Answer 2

I worked the restaurant business for years (Bob's Big Boy). If you are serious about going back into the business. Try something like Outback, or Olive Garden. Bigger tippers, plenty of customers and there is job security. But remember above all, as I used to tell my girls. The customer is always right and SMILE!

Restaurants are rated in two main categories, food and service. Keep-a-running, and be friendly.

John

Answer 3

there's really no set income. location IS one factor, but some people are just bad tippers...kinda sucks.

Answer 4

i work at chili's tuesday-sunday, all closing shifts and average 125/shift. but at chili's, you have to tip out your qa, busser, and bartender. so if a table tips you under 15%, you're only making a buck or two after tip outs good luck.

Answer 5

Chain restuarants should do quite well in the dallas area.  One thing to remember is when you work at a chain there is usually a whole list of coworkers that you have to tip out.  I am not sure on the chains you mentioned but some places make you tip out bartenders, hostess, bussboy, expo, and sometimes the cooks.  The percentages are not terrible but they can add up quick even on a slow night or a night with bad tippers.  I personally got out of the chain scene and now run a mom and pop place and make way better money since i get an awesome regular crowd