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I'm looking to waitress on the side for several reasons. I already have a FT, M-F day job. I love it and don't want to leave it. However, I need to make some extra money. Where I live, you can say we have a wide variety of dining options. It's not your average town of regular restaurants. Personally, I would rather serve at those spots unique to that city. However, sometimes those restaurants can be harder to get into because they want experience.
My question is this: until I do get experience in the food industry, what restaurants have any of y'all worked at have left a positive experience with you AND you didn't make bad tips? Working PT (12ish hours a week), I hope to bring in an extra $500/month. I've been thinking about PF Changs, Tucanos, Firebirds....
You in SC? Chick Filet for sure, if you're only looking for a chain. I don't know many chain restaurants that collect tips, so if that's what you're hoping to get, probably look at a local restaurant downtown that has good business. Have you considered Starbucks or other coffee shops? G'luck. I'm sort of in the same boat as you. Side money would be nice, but not necessary.
I'm looking to waitress on the side for several reasons. I already have a FT, M-F day job. I love it and don't want to leave it. However, I need to make some extra money. Where I live, you can say we have a wide variety of dining options. It's not your average town of regular restaurants. Personally, I would rather serve at those spots unique to that city. However, sometimes those restaurants can be harder to get into because they want experience.
My question is this: until I do get experience in the food industry, what restaurants have any of y'all worked at have left a positive experience with you AND you didn't make bad tips? Working PT (12ish hours a week), I hope to bring in an extra $500/month. I've been thinking about PF Changs, Tucanos, Firebirds....
Since you don't list your work, I'm going to suggest if it's a "In demand" profession, you might take some jobs out of Craigslist under "Gigs" and even putting out your resume there, who knows? You might get a better off and higher pay for the FT job you have now....
FF? Never should you consider that. Not often do you make any really good money...Unless you have a GREAT personality, you'll, never make good $$$
I don't know many chain restaurants that collect tips, so if that's what you're hoping to get, probably look at a local restaurant downtown that has good business.
TGI Fridays
Applebees
Red Robin
Bob Evans
Red Lobster
Olive Garden
Longhorn
etc
etc
etc
All are chains, and all employ servers who get tipped.
If you want to make good money for what it appears to be 2-3 shifts a week (12 hrs), you need to look at restaurants that are either high volume, or have expensive menus. With no experience, the latter might be hard to get on at. I would suggest places that have a large seating area and are right off a highway. I'm thinking something like Cracker Barrel. They do not serve alcohol, so you won't have to worry about learning drinks or getting certification (if your state/city requires a permit to serve). Cracker Barrel is not open really late at night, so you will maximize the amount of money for your time spent. The food is consistent, and I would assume the majority of diners would not sit and languish at their tables like some other restaurants because a lot of the business is travelers. Also, they rarely change their menu, so you are not going to constantly have to memorize a new one and scramble to find different keys on a micros. Keep in mind that most dinner shifts require you to be there before 5, so I would imagine that unless you can work something out with management, you will mostly be working weekend shifts. I used to joke that Cracker Barrel was where old servers go to die (because there are a ton of older women working there), but I had a buddy that ended up working there and he made good money.
My family owned a restaurant growing up, and I worked in every position of a restaurant/bar from dishwasher to management (family and corporate operated) over the course of almost 20 years. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to pm me.
does it matter? most of them are owned by individual owners and not a corporate store. get to know the owners at any of them and that is the biggest part of you enjoying the place vs it turning into drone work
TGI Fridays
Applebees
Red Robin
Bob Evans
Red Lobster
Olive Garden
Longhorn
etc
etc
etc
All are chains, and all employ servers who get tipped.
Aside from Red Robin or Olive Garden, most of these types of restaurants are slow or empty most nights of the week. How you gonna make good tips if you got no customers. Never heard of Longhorn or Bob Evans either, so that's probably regional.
Since you don't list your work, I'm going to suggest if it's a "In demand" profession, you might take some jobs out of Craigslist under "Gigs" and even putting out your resume there, who knows? You might get a better off and higher pay for the FT job you have now....
FF? Never should you consider that. Not often do you make any really good money...Unless you have a GREAT personality, you'll, never make good $$$
I work in sales for literally one of the best companies in the state. If you look up "Best Companies to Work for in SC," mine is on there. There's noway I'm leaving my company. Some emergency medical bills have come up and since insurance won't cover the procedure, I have a hefty monthly payment now. Never think that just because someone needs to get a second job that their first one is horrible.
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