I’m a poor college student looking for jobs for this summer. So far, the only restaurant that has called me back is TGIFriday’s. I don’t know anybody that works there, so I’m turning to you guys to get the inside scoop. Does anybody have any opinions about working there? Any secrets? How about tips- a fairly decent place to work? I’d appreciate any input I can get!
Currently, the only other place that I know is hiring and I could get a job there (my brother used to manage there) is Perkins. He claims that I’d make more tips there, because the sections are bigger, but I’m not sure if I believe that. I mean, meals are more expensive at Friday’s, plus, I bet the addition of alcoholic beverages also drives up sales. Also, there is a certain “lounge” factor to Perkins- it’s a laid back environment, so if people have time, they tend to hang around. Any other thoughts?
Try asking at customerssuck.com . There’s lots of restaurant people there, though I have seen anyone mention Perkins specificly. Still, it’s a good bunch of people there and they will happily help you with your questions.
The Friday’s in my college town did (and still does) tons of business. It’s relatively trendy and festive for a chain restaurant, plus you have the benefit of tasty alcoholic beverages being served. Perkins, to me, is just a slight step up from Denny’s, and I would think servers might not make as much from generous tippers there (plus you have the people who go there to study and just order coffee). Of course, this also depends where you live (college students are notoriously bad tippers, for example, and business in a college town will definitely take a major hit in the summer).
Once upon a time I worked in the kitchen at TGIFriday’s. I’m guessing you are looking for more of a server/bartender role though. Friday nights were often so busy I would have to wait hours to pee. We never made it out of there until at least a half hour after the kitchen closed. I worked in two different stores, trained at one then opened a new store. Pay was pretty good, but man you worked for it. Feel free to email me if you want to know more about the kitchen though.
I worked at that specific store as a cleaner and a hostess. Naming no names, the most annoying person in the universe worked there and probably still does. I’ll never find out because I now give the place a wide berth.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful as to the OP, since I was not waitstaff.
I have a friend that’s worked at Friday’s for years, he seems to like it all right. I can think of a lot of worse places to work. They sell a LOT of alcohol, and alcohol == good tips. He would clean up on the weekends and Friday nights. He made enough to support all his expensive hobbies, and then some.
In general, the higher volume the restaurant, the better the money, if you can handle it. I waited tables until the place I worked at closed down, and I liked the job (I love to stay busy) but the place I worked sucked. It closed down because we weren’t doing enough business and my tips reflected that. It wasn’t us though, the place I worked closed down all their chains in town. You don’t want to be “lounging” around with only two tables, because you won’t be making any $$, unless you manage to get a job at a higher end place where it’s a lot more per plate.
Oh… one more thing I forgot. Perkins/Denny’s/IHOP all attract the “get a cup of coffee and sit two hours to study” crowd. I have friends that are notoriously bad at this, and they come in at all times of the day. Most of the diners we go to in town have little signs at each table that say Minimum 2.50 person/hour because of things like that. I personally would avoid working in a diner.
Hey, a fellow Gainesvillian! (Not sure if I knew you lived there before, Dung Beetle.) Actually, the father of a friend of mine moved to Gainesville in the last year or two to take over that Friday’s as General Manager. When I was at UF in the late '90s through 2003, we’d often wind up there on Friday nights on our way to movies, and ALWAYS on people’s birthdays.
Knowing me and knowing the lovely girls who worked there, I probably had a silent, secret crush on you, but never dared talk to you because I figured frat boys and jerks came in and hit on you all the time, and I didn’t want to be just another jerk bothering you. D’oh!
