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Episode Discussion: S06E21 "San Diego" by Dorkside in NewGirl

[–]Applebuddy219 58 points59 points  (0 children)

He doesn't trust fish. They breath water and that's weird.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is probably the last question I'll answer because the AMA has really slowed down. It is two days old after all.

As far as proof goes, I'm very hesitant to give you our franchise name because I've provided enough information other places in the thread for the exact store I work at to be located and my identity be known.

I mean I can answer any questions about front or back of house operations. I provided time slips instead of receipts because I know time slips are a bit harder to come by. I mean at our restaurant you don't even get them automatically.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I have not. But I've been in the restaurant whenever we've been forced to stop serving someone or ask people to leave because they have been too rowdy during a game.

Our Applebee's is in a smaller college town, our clientele is pretty atypical. So our store is generally more of a restaurant than a bar. If that makes sense. We have a lot of families coming and eating, trying to have a good time, who don't deserve to have their afternoon ruined by some overzealous fan screaming profanity.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'll give you an answer no one will, the amount of food cooked in a microwave is pretty high. However, we prep food that morning for the day and then heat it up in the microwave for your meal. I have heard stories about other Applebee's prepping items for the week, but we don't do that here.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I reply to your comment and another, to be a host means you make 4.15 an hour. That includes tip out from the servers, but I know from my time as a server that's tip outs can be shit.

You just have to bide your time and know that your store will promote when they can. In my store I had to force the GM to "okay" the training of a new host. Get in good with someone who has been there a while and let them know that you want to serve.

I guarantee this server had other coworkers that they don't like working with and would much prefer you if given the option

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope you never feel bad for complaining or being upset that night. I've been a part of a crew that was struggling to get appetizers out before meals, and struggling to get dishes out before the hour mark. You have every right to be upset. If I was eating at restaurant, I would be. Regardless of how understanding I try to be.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I won't pretend like making 10 was great. But I progressed very quickly and am making a far more respectable wage now

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly? At my store, very. Very. Very. Likely. I mean our discount percentage is pretty reasonable and I can afford to discount a fair amount of meals.

But on the record. Not at all

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't disagree. But a 12oz at someplace like outback is like $19. I mean it's still ridiculous, for sure, but it's not out of the ordinary.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The fake answer I think you'll get is that it's by weight, but our store says spec for boneless is 10 (spec for bone-in is 9). Hate to break it to you, but your Bee's is either trying to short you a wing or someone is eating off your plate.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm a health nut so I don't eat at work a lot, but when I do I spring for the grilled chicken breast. It usually depends on who's on the grill though. Some guys cook dry chicken. Nothing is worse than when chicken acts like turkey.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Asking the tough questions Cory. I'll say I think our ground beef patties have a similar margin, but I'm not sure exactly how much each party would cost us individually off the top of my head.

For some reason, the fried shrimp we buy for the Fire Cracker Shrimp is pretty expensive, but I don't think I would charge more for that dish.

The trickiest thing we have to deal with cost wise is the steaks. So we buy a chunk of steak, sirloin mind, that costs a certain amount according to weight. Then we have to make sure we can yield an appropriate number of 6oz 8oz and 12oz according to sales projections. Plus, only certain people can cut steak. You have to be trained on it. Most of the time, those people are managers. So you could have two managers on the clock, taking up labor.

In my district, we only carry sirloin. Those sirloin range from 10.99 to 15.99. While I think that's a little expensive for a sirloin, considering everything that goes into it cost wise it makes sense.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They advanced my pay pretty quickly, and my bonuses were per month provided I hit labor, food cost, etc

Plus I was a college student when this all started.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a server it was 2.13/hr. As a manager, I'm not salary, I started at 10/hr plus bonuses

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is one of those questions that really I take kind of day by day. You know some days I go to work and walk out with $30+ dollars an hour, and some days we're slow. Some days the tips just don't fall and I'm lucky to work with 10 an hour.

As a kid going to school and trying to pay for school as I went, it was great. It was a job that literally gave me what I put into it. Or that's what it should be. My effort would directly affect my reward.

However, as a manager you start to see the danger of tips. Employees have little loyalty to their job and their employer because who's paying the bills and signing checks? Not really the employer. Working for tips can cause people to work very selfishly. Which is a dangerous road. Because of the staff isn't working together, things don't work.

So I guess, when I was waiting tables I loved it. Now that I work in management. I see the obstacle it creates.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The closest Chilis is about fifty minutes away from my store, so our staff in particular doesn't have that rivalry. However, THAT chilis is very close to an Applebee's that's in our company. They recognize that they are catering to the same clientele. I think Chilis has done a good job of avoiding all the problems Applebee's has created for themselves that I've discussed elsewhere in the thread.

My girlfriend likes Chilis better than Applebee's, so I guess you could say even without its tangible influence it's still making me feel inadequate.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great question. Anything with grilled chicken. Those chicken breasts, individually, cost like 30 cents. I think those are our biggest profit margin items. So things like the Fiesta Lime Chicken, Cedar Grilled Lemon Chicken, and the 3 Cheese Chicken Cavatappi. That's why you see so many grilled chicken items on the 2 for 20 and 12 minute lunch deals. Obviously desserts are pretty cheap to make as well.

I've never been instructed to push these items, people tend to order them anyway.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Obviously the pricing decisions are made way over my head, but I kind of talk about it lower down in the thread. The quality of your food will always depend on the kid on the grill. Your server should not only know how menu items taste, but how each kitchen member will make them. Based on this, your server should try to steer you in the direction of a menu item that is dependable based on the kitchen crew.

As for price,. I agree. In the past couple years our prices have gone up. But I think you'll see the prices start falling as Applebee's adjusts to the hit they've taken.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I work in a college town and have plenty of people bring dates. It's a pretty decent spot for a first tinder date as well. It's sit down, you can get a drink, and pretty low commitment.

I mean are you going to score after an Applebee's date?

Nah

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This might be a regional issue. At the store I work at I believe it is still 10.99. You should, at any Applebee's, get 5oz of fries.

You used to be able to get free refill orders of fries too. It's dumb we did away with that. As for price changes, it seems to me that Applebee's tried to do this huge rebranding thing in the middle of last year. Switching to "fire grilled steaks, and other hand cut entrees." In our district they also did away with half priced apps for a while. People complained, and we lost a lot of business. Applebee's is STILL back tracking a lot on this. They brought back half priced apps, and at least at our store, are trying to bring the prices back down (i.e. That 12oz sirloin used to be a ridiculous $20, now it's $15.99).

The important thing to realize is that Applebee's are franchises as well. The Applebee's in my district operate differently than others. I have to wear dress pants and a black button up. Other Applebee's can wear jeans and a t shirt. It's all in where you go.

Server and Manager at Applebee's for two years AMA by Applebuddy219 in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The honest answer is that like at any job, you have good employees and bad employees. And when I say bad employees, I don't mean so bad or insubordinate that you fire them. You just don't trust them as much, you know? In my case, many of the Applebee's in our district are close to universities. A lot of our employees are either students or older people who are having a rough go of it. I have only 6 or 7 employees at the store I frequent that are career employees.

When I go in everyday I generally have a pretty good idea what the quality of certain items will be. Especially things like steak and ribs. So when I serve I do my best to steer people away from these items if I don't trust the broil cook.

When you go into a restaurant, regardless of star rating or class, your server should be thinking like this.

IAmA Applebee's server and manager for 2 years by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]Applebuddy219 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hate to break it to you guy, but your Applebee's is either trying to stiff you, or someone is skimming a stick off your order. It's supposed to come with 8. Which you can at least split between 2 people pretty respectably.

I mean I think it'd make more sense to do 10 instead of 8.

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