What the $#@%!!

Hang in there. When I first moved to the city, I ran into the same problem. This website is more about the crappy places, but there are some great places to work in this city and you’ll find one. Just look at it like dating…you meet a lot of jerks before you find the right one.

I spent some time working in NY. I tried it so hard till I figured out the money is not worth the stress. My advise, don’t walk, run from NY! Unless you want to spend the rest of your life going from one restaurant to another seeking fairness.

it isn’t about whats fair…its about money. there are too many stupid restaurateurs out there who think that tits on display will win out over a knowledgeable and premium service. Stuff like that has no place in a class establishment.

it took me about four years to find a waiters job i really like and believe in sticking with.

why would you want to work in a place where most of the servers are in their early twenties anyway? it should be a red flag to you if you walk into a place and everybody looks like they just got walked off the set of 90210. staffs like that are rife with bad drama.

Honey, you need to find a union job. Go on foot to every hotel and banquet hall you can find. The money is great, the days off are in stone, and you’ll make money. Times here in New Jack City have changed and all the jerks you worked for are going out of business. Brush off your sneaks and get out there. Try the hotels on Lexington between 40th and 57th. The other options are department stores. Sax, Bloomies, and Barney’s. They all have restaurants, I don’t think servers think to look there. Best of luck!!

Hi, I’m sorry you’ve experienced the worst of NYC’s restaurantuers. I want to advise you to keep your head up. However, it seems to me that you are being victimised by two different “sterotypes”. One: Your black. Two: Your an older woman, and black. Perhaps you should concentrate on finding jobs with your own community, where you’ll find that your skills are more needed, and your two major disadvantages will become your two most important assests!

Being black and over 35 are NOT disadvantages. However, drawing attention to these two facts and referring to them as such, that makes you the stereotype. The great thing about work in the service industry is that it is diverse and speaks to all people. NYC is tough on all newcomers, just go through all these posts and you’ll see that. Restaurant workers only succeed with the people they serve, and if you feel the right to judge people on any level, then maybe you need to find a job that makes your flaws an advantage!

To answer your question, the owners and managers in NYC for the most part are jerks because of the huge surplus of qualified waiters translates to them as expendable.

If any waitstaff pisses off underpaid ,overworked,drugged out, passive aggressive manager the KNOW that all they have to do is run an ad on Craigslist and have no less than 50 qualified applicants ready and waiting.

Everyone is expendable including management who, in most cases turn over faster than wait staff.
It is also sadly true that this business has little or no value for females over 35 as servers let alone females of color.

Unless you are willing to go into management or train as chef, it is what it is.

This business has no value left to it at all, not for men or for women, all races included. Just look at this website, restaurant veterans with years of experience are not taken into consideration for whatever reason. As for putting an ad on craigs list, you are right, you will get at least 50 applicants. As for them being qualified, probably not!!

Sorry all but beg to differ. You are all missing the boat about the places to interview at. Bloomies, Sax, Barneys… I work in one of them and the average age is 35, we go up in age to someone who is 78, and we are a mix of all nationalities, and both male and female. The customers at these department stores drop thousands on clothing and then come in for a sandwich. You’d be surprised how experienced we are and the bosses couldn’t care less about the 20 something model looking type. You need to get away from the individual restaurants and start looking into the places that have restaurants in corporate buildings and the like. Good luck. Those jobs are there. Even toy stores in Manhattan have restaurants.

I worked at Barney’s many years. excellent job with great hours and a nice environment, however, they have had no turnover in waitstaff in 6 years. Try for Bergdorf’s though, a little more turnover, and the same rich clientele. Also, American Girl Cafe, busy this time of year. Good Luck!!