Where would I make better tips?

Question

I have an interview with a family owned upscale italian restuarant in my town and I was wondering if I would make better tips there or at a really busy tgif or olive garden. I need to make about 80-100 a night to keep up w/ my bills if i am working 5 days a week.

Answer 1

I would say Olive garden. I'm sure that $80-100 would be pretty resonable to make. You would prob make more durning the night shift. to make about $80 you would need to sell about $800 in sales. Most checks are around $40 for just two people and $80-100 for a party of four. So making $800 in sales a night would not be hard at all. Most servers make about 10% of the sales.

I would say Olive garden first. More popular. Then Red Lobster. Then place like TGIF.

You could easily make the same money at places like TGIF, Chilis, Applebees etc. But the checks are less so you will have to wait on more tables to make the same amount as a higher priced restuarant.

Answer 2

Instead of trying to decide based on the restaurant name, you need to look at two important aspects: clientele and sales.  It doesn't matter how upscale the restaurant is if they don't have people coming in to order their food, so I would find out the weekly sales for each respective concept.  Also, you need to consider where the restaurant is located and on whom you will be waiting.  If you are going to be waiting on lower classes, then you will most likely have people eating cheaper meals and, consequently, you will get cheaper tips (though there are also plenty of cheap upperclass people as well!)  Look at the demographics and what kind of people flock to the neighboring establishments of each restaurant.  

By the way, I mean no harm with the statement about people who don't make as much money; it is merely a generalization and there are exceptions to every generalization.

Answer 3

I have ALWAYS worked at privatly owned steakhouses: "fine dining". Right now I make $70 a day ON LUNCH. I know the night girls make about twice as much.

You get a bigger station at a privatly owned place (Lonestar wanted to give me THREE TABLES).

The training period is shorter.

Waaa-a-a-ay less rules to follow, less managers. Better class of people (sorry, true)

Answer 4

If you want to make $80 minimum, then you will have to serve at least 10 people who'll leave you a $10 tip............your best best is a popular chain like Olive Garden.

Answer 5

I would suggest the family owned restaurant for these reasons:

1. It is an upscale restaurant; therefore the prices will be higher than the other restaurants. The higher bill... the higher the tip.

2.  Usually a better cliental that will come into an upscale restaurant.

3. You will probably make the amount that you want at the chain restaurants but you are going to have to work harder for it.

Good Luck in what you do- you can make that much I would think at any of the restaurants but the better choice would be the upscale one.

Answer 6

If you need $500 a week in tips, I suggest an escort service.

Answer 7

Become a bartender, on Fri/Sat nights they avg. 300.00 in a busy place.

Answer 8

It depends. If the family owned restaurant was busy and not over staffed, I think you  would make more money there. As for the olive garden or tgif...corporate restaurants tend to limit your tables and over staff because of their high turnover rate. My experience has lead me to believe that as long as its a good place to eat and the service is good and the guests are steady...privately owned establishments are better. Just my personal opinion-- definitely pros and cons to both.

Answer 9

Your tips depends upon your service.  If I had to work at any of the three you've mentioned I would go to Olive Garden.