Okay, so I figured I'd start my own thread... and yes, Amber, you're more than welcome to invade. Just wanted to welcome all the new Cdn foodies. Can't wait to meet you all. Yes, you're nervous, yes you're excited. All normal. You will get everything packed and you will get down here. So, don't worry, but I know you will all continue worrying. Anyways, any questions... go ahead. See you soon, Sandra
oh oh! Pick me! I have questions! How many food positions are there that aren't it the restaurant? I know there is (was?) a beer cart and popcorn stand, but how many people can pour beer at once before they just start to trip over one another? Does anyone actually start in the restaurant and skip cart duty? What different shifts are there? (I.e., 10 - 7, 11.30 - 8.30, etc.) Thanks a bunch! ~ Jen (Ahh, Sandra - you're still as useful now as you were during the dreadful application stage! You're so great!)
The positions in the restaurant when you first get here are seater, greeter and stocker. Greeter and Seater shifts can start as early as 11:15 or start as late at 4pm. Shifts usually end anywhere from 7:45 to 10pm. Today I was an in between seater and my shift was 12pm-8:30. The stocker shift usually goes from 2pm-10:30pm. You can ask or be asked to train as an assigner or money counter. An assigner shift starts around 11am and ends when the last table is seated, so around 9pm. Money counter shifts run from 4pm to midnight. Outside on the popcorn/beer cart, there can be up to 4 people on at a time. Opening popcorn, you'd start at 11am and finish at 5, 6 or 7pm. Sometimes there are mid shifts that go from 12-5. You could start as late 6pm if you're working extra magical hours (although, I'm not sure if they are continuing those after August) and work until 12:30 or 1am. At the moment (let's hope it changes), the cart stay open until 10pm. So, if you're on cash, you finish at 10:30pm and around 11pm if you're stocking the cart. I know the hours seem like they are all over the place, but that's because they are. I seem to work quite a few 2-10pm shifts in the restaurant, although next week, I have more 11am shifts on popcorn. Hope that helped and didn't just make the whole thing more confusing. Sandra
i have a question about breaks while on shift. can you buy the meals that we serve in the restaurant for breaks at a really good price because i don't want to pack a lunch everyday. and how long are meal breaks?
that answered a lot of questions in one Sandra (thanks) but of coarse I have more questions.... I just wondered what exactly an assigner and a stocker does (I assume a stocker staoks things lol but I just wondered what/where) thanks ! -Derek-
An assigner is the person that decides where all the guests will sit in the restaurant.... assigning tables to servers. They work long shifts.... from about 11am until the last table is sat around 9pm. If you assign 4 days a week then you'll get 3 days off. A stocker is exactly what it sounds like. Specifically, you're in the restaurant and you're responsible for making sure there is cutlery, napkins and wine glasses at the side stations. If everything is stocked, you'll be folding napkins or rolling crayons. Also, you make sure that the bartender has everything they need. So, you're making sure they have beer, smoothie mix, wine, glasses etc. When the bartender leaves at 9pm, you go behind the bar and start cleaning it up. Once the servers all have their drink orders in, you shut the bar down and clean everything up. You're scheduled until 10:30pm. Not one of my favourite roles. I find that you really don't get any guest interaction and that kind of bores me. Some people really like it though. Sandra
Thanks Sandra - that is good to know... Assigner sounds like a good job to me but I don't really care as long as I am there!
Hi Sandra!! So yo're there now....what's it like? How did they decide what position you would work? I'm very curious to know if I'll be working in the restaurant or outside. I'm hoping I get to work in the restaurant. I love people and I think it will be too hot to work outside in our uniforms!! How's the outfit by the way? Lumberjacks!!! Sound interesting!! Brigitte
Hey Brigitte, I've been working in both the restaurant and outside on the cart. Everyone does. Some people work on the podium in the restaurant more than the cart, but it all depends. Right now, I'm doing 2-3 shift on the cart and I actually asked for that. Seating and greeting in the restaurant can get a little boring sometimes. When you're outside, I feel that you can get the best guest interaction, you get to listen to Off Kilter play and you can get a little sun at the same time. It is hot and you do sweat, but just drink lots of water. There are some people that arrived in June that I think rarely work on the cart if at all. These people are assigning in the restaurant. They work longer shifts, so they only work 4 days instead of 5. There is also money counting and that's inside, but that's not exactly in the restaurant. It's funny... I thought the same way as you. I wanted to get into the restaurant and not have to worry about the heat outside, but I really do enjoy working on the cart. The costume outside isn't all that bad. We have our lumberjack shirts, yes, but we can roll up the sleeve and they're a lighter cotton. Girls have the choice of wearing shorts (which are ridiculously long) or coulottes. Not a big fan of the coulottes. They are a little more flattering, but I find then uncomfortable. In the restaurant, we have a purpley coloured long sleeve shirt, black pants and a long white apron. We only need to buy one pair of black shoes that we can wear inside and outside. We don't need to buy a pair of hiking boots to wear outside. So, after all this babble. To answer your first question. You will work everywhere to start. Then you will find out what you like and you can tell a mgr what your preferences are. I said that I liked cart and wanted at least 2 shifts a week out there and I also asked to be trained as a money counter. Let me know if you have anymore questions.... Sandra
Alright guys....an assigner has arrived on the scene. My job rocks and i love it!!! and thats right, i decide when you go for your break . So if you work hard enough i might let you go for 15 minutes, if not well then.... haha. No really it just depends on when you started or how long your shift is, and that will determine when you go for your break. If you start anytime before 1:30 then you usually get to go for your break from 3-4 cause the restaurant is closed then. Anyone after that just has to let me or whoever else is assigning on that day know that you are going on your break. If we are slammed then your break might be slightly delayed but usually none of us care when you go. Hey we are all there to bring home the bacon and have fun. The other assigners are Mary and Carla in case you are wondering. if you have any more questions, hit me. Robyn
does it really take 10 hours to assign people for breaks and stuff? surely there must be other things done during a shift and do you sit in a office or day or get to walk around?
i really want to work in the restaurant....i hate popcorn and cant stand the smell i may not doo so well if i have tobe on that cart lol ahahahahah.......mmm popcorn vomit how fun lol ahahahah.....sorry had to add that .. a little sick i know
First off, assigning is not assigning breaks. You just need to check in with the assigner before you take your break. An assigner is the person that assigns tables in the restaurant. You need to make sure that you're seating guests by their priority seating time or the time that you quoted them if they are a walk in. You also need to time the tables right for the servers. The reason that it is a 10 hr shift is because you go from the first seating of guests at 11:30 to the last seating at 8:50. As for whether or not you will be on the popcorn cart, you will be. Everyone does their time seating, greeting and stocking in the restaurant AND you do your time on the popcorn cart. The popcorn cart and the podium are the first step to getting yourself into service in the restaurant and you will do it. Sandra
