Chicago Restaurants: Servers (Gibson, Alpha: renting, condo, law school)

[OldFaithful]

Does anyone know an average of what a server earn in Chicago- (on average) working the dinner shift at a sushi or steak restaurant in downtown Chicago?

(Examples: Sushi Samba, Ruth's Chris, Gibsons, Mercadito, etc.)

Please also specify if this is a 4 hour shift or an 8 hour shift that you are referring to.... And if the work is being done on weekdays, or the weekend.

Ps.
Also, please include any places that are currently hiring.

Thank you.

[marothisu]

Oh man, I don't know what the average is, but some servers can pull in a lot of money at the good/popular restaurants. Think about if you have a place where the average person spends $30. So maybe half the tables are 4 people, half are 2 people. 10 of those per hour is $900. 18% tip average is $162/hour. I don't know the rules of tip at a restaurant though internally, but I know of servers who make 6 figures at nice restaurants.

[ERS-One]

I know several people who (used to) work at the Chicago Chop House. Sometimes they could earn $400-$500 a 5 hour dinner service. Sometimes more than that, often times less. Average seemed to be around $150-$200. It's been a while, so I could be a little off. One guy did put his wife through law school working there while renting a small, but decent condo over by the Merchandise Mart.

[linicx]

The rule of thumb in food service was always minimum wage. This was before 9/11 and the current economic mess. All restaurant owners have a drawer full of applicants. What they don't have is a drawer full of applicants who understand fine dining. Those who do, work at Michelin red book Guide restaurants. Alpha cities are particularly demanding when it comes to Fine Food and Table Service.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by linicx

The rule of thumb in food service was always minimum wage. This was before 9/11 and the current economic mess. All restaurant owners have a drawer full of applicants. What they don't have is a drawer full of applicants who understand fine dining. Those who do, work at Michelin red book Guide restaurants. Alpha cities are particularly demanding when it comes to Fine Food and Table Service.

It's pretty much next to common sense that most waiters make minimum wage as a waiter/waitress. However, it's also pretty well known that you make almost all your money serving through tips. You don't need to work at a Michelin rated restaurant to pull in good tips. Even in the city if you work at a place like Cantina Laredo, where the average bill might be something like $60 for a table of 4 minimum...18% tip on that is $10.80 per table. 10 of those per hour is $108/hour. 5 hours a day and 4 days a week would mean you're getting over $2000/week or over $8000/month. Even if it's $40/table and 15% tip with 10 tables per hour, that's still almost $60,000/year.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by linicx

Alpha cities are particularly demanding when it comes to Fine Food and Table Service.

Fine food and table service get capitalized?

[CoolSocks]

Originally Posted by linicx

The rule of thumb in food service was always minimum wage.

You mean below minimum wage? All of the servers I know make around $3/hour, but tips supplement that and can cause a server to make well above minimum wage.

[linicx]

IF. If you get the 10 $60 tables everyday for 4 days every week for 52 weeks and IF they all tip 18%. $10.80 isn't even $3 a plate. Wouldn't you rather get $40-$50 per plate? Maybe Chicago doesn't serve a $300 plate like restaurants in LA?

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[linicx]

Only when attempting to emphasize.

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Fine food and table service get capitalized?

[linicx]

You're right.

Originally Posted by CoolSocks

You mean below minimum wage? All of the servers I know make around $3/hour, but tips supplement that and can cause a server to make well above minimum wage.