Waiting tables? Waiters? Which is a good chain Restarant to wait tables at?

Question

Hello all!! After 6 yrs in the military and working for department of corrections and waiting tables part time. I finally quit all as I am a you full time father. I started working on ebay full time, I dont do bad but I need a little more. When I waited tables before it was actually so fun and tips were great, I only did it once, but I enjoyed it. I now live in San Diego, went to a couple of NON chain restaraunts today, but none are hiring in my imediate area, I did not really want to work at a chain restaraunt, but I might. Can you tell me the difference between a chain restaraunt and a family owned? Also I am looking for a setting with mostly younger employees, with an energitic and high pased atmosphere, what chain restaraunt can I find all of this?

Thanks,

Josh

P.S. I am in San Diego, but do not wanna travel outside of my litrtle suburb, there is a dennys ( I doubt its great) there is an olive Garden (Might be ok) There is a chillis,

Answer 1

i would try to work at cheesecake factory..  they are always hiring and i am sure the tips are great..  from the list you provided the best choice would be olive garden..

Answer 2

Hi Josh. I have over 10 years experience in the industry, with experience as a server, bartender, and manager, and I wholeheartedly agree with Tracy J. There are advantages and disadvantages with working in chain restaurants, and you are absolutely going to want to work at a place that serves alcohol.

In my experience, I have preferred to work at family owned restaurants. I have found that I make more money and enjoy the flexibility. Someone mentioned Red Robin I think, but I would stay away from that and TGI Fridays, where younger people tend to frequent and typically don't tip well. As mentioned, I would recommend Olive Garden, Outback, or Longhorn. But the best restaurants to work at in my area are family owned and super expensive.  

Currently I am working at the best country club in my area as a server, and I am making more money than I ever have (in this industry).

Answer 3

I worked part-time at a high volume Outback Steakhouse for five years and did quite well.

Answer 4

The more expensive, the better.  A place that serves alchohol would be good too,  since this usually means higher bills and better tips.

Go with Chiles out of the ones you listed,,,,

Answer 5

i say, skip dennys and go to either Olive Garden or Chilis.. olive garden will probably have an older crowd most of the time while chilis should have the younder ppl most of the time. and the diffrence between chain restaurants and family own i believe is food quality while I've worked @ a TGIFriday's and kids meals are sit frozen and microwaved be4 served, family owned restaurants usually make fresh food(no guarantee). Although i'm sure San diego has a wide variety of restaurants, I'd suggest TGIFriday's if you got one, or Red Robin.. Then again most chain restaurants are energetic if they seem to be getting alot of customers, also depending what shift your working, nite-time and if the restaurant has a bar is where you might be looking for! :)

Answer 6

Hi Josh, I have been working as a server for over 20 years and have worked at many of the chain restaurants around.  My best experiences are with family owned restaurants, however, mainly because they do not have a corporate set of rules and standards to which they must dutifully adhere to.  So in terms of menu and flexibility in standards, family restaurants offer more freedom.  Chain restaurants, on the other hand offer better training and security (or as much as this industry has to offer).

Tips are (ostensibly) a direct function of menu prices, so you may want to consider that when you select which restaurant to work for.

There is more to be considered when you are thinking of working in any particular place.  Sidework, for one, is important.  Some restaurants will give you 2-3 hours of extra work to do after your shift is over, and that really affects your hourly pay.

Of the chains that you listed, Denny's is a lot of work for not many tips, also you must work mornings to make any money at all.

Olive Garden is pretty good, good training, wine list ($$$), good company (Darden restaurants, they also own Red Lobster, whom I've worked for)

Chili's, young atmosphere, they only want to hire college kids to keep the atmosphere, service there usually sucks, I worked there and didn't make a whole lot.

Finer dining means more money!

Good luck with your search!

I hope some of all this helps you.