I wish Olive Garden were run differently. Unlike other companies, hosts didn't get a share of the tips made, so you were expected to do a lot for minimum wage. They also make it very hard to work up the ranks.
Advice
Make the best of your experience, but there are better options out there.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Cafe Server
January 2019 • Idaho Falls, ID
What I liked
interacting with my guests.
What I wish was different
i wish that as a corporate company, they were not so focused on up-selling.
Advice
Focus on making your guests happy and get those tips!!
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Line Cook
March 2021 • New York City, NY
What I liked
Everything nice staff
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Great way to learn new skills
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Bartender
May - September 2021 • Vancouver, WA
What I liked
What I wish was different
I wish that I was solely bartending and making higher than minimum wage
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Restaurant Server
April 2021 • Burnsville, MN
What I liked
How we all work together to make guests have a welcoming experience
What I wish was different
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
January 2018 • Amherst, NY
What I liked
My coworkers are amazing and it's a really fun job. Tips are a huge plus and contribute significantly to my compensation when I work.
What I wish was different
Manager and coworker turnover has been an on-going issue, but serving is mostly college students so it should be expected as people graduate and find full-time jobs.
Advice
Be confident in your ability to be a good server and remember to always smile!
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Restaurant Server
May 2018 • North Wales, PA
What I liked
Coworkers
What I wish was different
The pay
Advice
Save the money you earn
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
February 2020 • Portage, MI
What I liked
Flexible Hours, Sales opportunities, Great Coworkers, and Great Managers
What I wish was different
Recognition of employees (ie: Good vs Bad)
Advice
There's never a dull moment, so really just go into work everyday with a smile and see where it takes you! Work together with your team and it will pay back for you tenfold. Get to know the coworkers and they could turn out to be some of your best friends.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
January 2019 • St. Charles, IL
What I liked
Great staff, fast paced.
What I wish was different
n/a
Advice
If you enjoy working with others it’s a great opportunity.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Dining Room Host/Hostess
July 2019 - April 2020 • Pittsburgh, PA
What I liked
I liked the weekly pay, it was very beneficial
What I wish was different
No pay card, just direct deposit
Advice
Be the first to mark this as helpful
server
August 2020 • San Antonio, TX
What I liked
I loved helping people
What I wish was different
Long hours
Advice
Make that money
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
February - August 2020 • Cerritos, CA
What I liked
Flexibility
What I wish was different
Organization
Advice
N/A
Be the first to mark this as helpful
hostess
January 2017 - August 2018 • Noblesville, IN
What I liked
the hours were really good
What I wish was different
the management was not the best
Advice
don’t get involved in workplace drama
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
July 2019 • Fort Worth, TX
What I liked
Flexible hours
What I wish was different
Party was very low not minimum wage
Advice
Great if you have a large homework load
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Server
August 2019 • Grand Forks, ND
What I liked
The tips
What I wish was different
Better wage
Advice
Be friendly
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Restaurant Host/Hostess
April 2017 - July 2019 • Harrisonburg, VA
What I liked
I got to work with a wide variety of people and learned skills on how to effectively communicate and work as a team with people of all ages. I had a lot of variety in my job as well, as I worked both front of house and back of house.
What I wish was different
Management communication was sometimes an issue. Customers were often very critical.
Advice
Working at a restaurant is what you make of it. You can learn very important life skills that you wouldn't learn anywhere else.
