Fine Dining Servers in LA area = $$$? (Santa Monica, West Hollywood: sales, how much, home)

[Mincrum]

I am working out the financial details for my brother, his friend and I to make the move to LA. We are all fine dining servers in Philly currently.

Is anyone here a server or know someone that is?
What are the best area's for high end restaurants? (that all the rich people go to)

With Cali's minimum wage being $7.50/hr plus tips, I can only assume we would make very good money in a high class area.

[Sorcerer68]

You can make pretty good money in fine dining if you get in the right place. I got out of the biz a few years ago. Bartenders in hot establishments make more. Some restaurants put a premium on looks and request a photo with your resume and others don't. One thing is certain: wine knowledge or lack thereof will determine where you work. Good luck.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

There is a definate premium on looks for the nicer places. Also, openings are usually in short supply. For the places where you would make killer tips, someone would have to die before there is an opening. It seems to me that females seem to be more in demand than males for most places.

My suggestion, take a bartending course and try to become a bartender. There are thousands and thousands of people coming to LA to try to land a server gig so unless you and your brother look like Josh Hartnet, Brad Pitt or someone like that, you may end up working at "not so fine dining" establishments.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by Mincrum

I am working out the financial details for my brother, his friend and I to make the move to LA. We are all fine dining servers in Philly currently.

Is anyone here a server or know someone that is?
What are the best area's for high end restaurants? (that all the rich people go to)

With Cali's minimum wage being $7.50/hr plus tips, I can only assume we would make very good money in a high class area.

You can always get a start at one of the chain steak & seafood Restaurants, Chart House, Dukes, etc.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by DaBeez

It seems to me that females seem to be more in demand than males for most places.

...except high end fine dining. There is a huge prejudice against females. I know a few who managed to permeate it but for the most part it's still male dominated.

Regarding securing employment, keep in touch with them. Most people apply and then drop the ball. Other do the unthinkable...they come on as a busboy to start. In a decent place you can still walk with 100-150 or more a night as a busboy. A friend of mine did this and was promoted to server and was making (until recently getting canned for being an a-hole) over $1000 a night.

[greggd]

[quote=Sorcerer68;1750063. A friend of mine did this and was promoted to server and was making (until recently getting canned for being an a-hole) over $1000 a night.[/QUOTE]


Thats a substantial income for a waiter. If he worked full time that would be over $240,000 a year.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Originally Posted by greggd

Thats a substantial income for a waiter. If he worked full time that would be over $240,000 a year.

I think I need to change careers.

[Mincrum]

Which areas of LA have the best restaurants for the greatest potential for income?

As for making $1,000 a night, that seems very high. $1,000 at 20% tips is $20,000 in sales. Maybe thats possible or maybe clients are tipping more that 20%; I don't know how LA restaurants behave. I do know that even in the best restaurants in Philadelphia that would be impossible.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by Mincrum

Which areas of LA have the best restaurants for the greatest potential for income?

As for making $1,000 a night, that seems very high. $1,000 at 20% tips is $20,000 in sales. Maybe thats possible or maybe clients are tipping more that 20%; I don't know how LA restaurants behave. I do know that even in the best restaurants in Philadelphia that would be impossible.

The only way i can see $1,000 a night is at some hi-end club/dinnerclub where you need to hand over cash to get priority seating, table, or acceptance. You get 7 people to hand you $100 for some favor and your up to $700 + general food/drink tips. Thats really the only explaination I can think of. Restaurants where prices are $28-50, generally do not get a big turnover through the night. I also suspect and have heard many people will not tip 20% on a $200 bottle of wine.

Regarding your question: Beverly Hills, Melrose/West Hollywood Areas, Santa Monica, and a few in Malibu. This may or may not be a good suggestion, but you may want to check a place called Campanili restaurant. I hate the place, but its packed and expensive. There are many others. Pick up a restaurant guide and you will see they are clumped in certain areas, then work from there.

Funny thing is that more and more frequently I see fat, ugly, and in many cases totally unqualified individuals working as food servers in very expensive restaurants around town. Not putting everyone down, most of the time service is generally good. But I suspect if your reliable, decent looking, have a good resume, you should be ok.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by Mincrum

Which areas of LA have the best restaurants for the greatest potential for income?

As for making $1,000 a night, that seems very high. $1,000 at 20% tips is $20,000 in sales. Maybe thats possible or maybe clients are tipping more that 20%; I don't know how LA restaurants behave. I do know that even in the best restaurants in Philadelphia that would be impossible.

I'm speaking of the highest of fine dining establishments and also a very hot locale. If you're pouring wine that's $500-1000+ per bottle (we had bottles up to $20,000) and have a genuine a' la carte menu and serve several courses...it's easy for a party of 2 to have a $700 bill. A typical night I had 4 turns and a huge station. I remember ringing 50k in sales in one brutal day when someone called in sick and we had large parties on top of large parties with no end in sight. I had lots of help. I'd often have 3 parties of 12 at the same time and we had a pushy maitre 'd who kept the tables turning. I had to "grease" him for doing that. Also keep in mind I was getting 18 percent guaranteed for 5+ and often got tipped handsomely on top of it. We had a fine selection of very expensive cognac and many other ways for people to waste money. This wasn't Red Lobster. It is high but it happens. I've made 100k a year waiting tables and I quit several years ago. I never said it happened everywhere, you have to find the killer job. And you have to pay your dues. With a high-priced menu and a killer wine list, it's totally doable. A word...you have to be a career server to get a job like this. They sniff out actors and flakes easily.

When I quit, the "pretty good" jobs you'd walk with a bill a night. The "really good" places you'd leave with 300-400. The best jobs...they'll never tell you how much they make. I was in the business 17 years and worked from a coffee shop to the top. 9/11 was a devastating blow to restaurants and hospitality. Fine dining took a hard hit. I was a casualty of many layoffs. Tumbleweeds would have looked at home in many dining rooms formerly teeming with business. Many places closed. I swallowed my pride and went to work at Cheesecake Factory which I considered beneath me after working for some of the biggest names in the business. They were still busy and I could walk to it from my house. I made $100 for lunches and about $140 for dinner, sometimes more. I'm sure they do much better now, the menu prices are a lot higher than they were in 2001. It was at least predictable. I wasn't planning on staying there a long time and worked there while I returned to college. This is a good place to start for newbies to L.A. as they hire more on looks and personality than experience. Look at restaurants on Robertson and Sunset Strip. There are a couple of killer, very high-end places Downtown as well. Look in BH too.