Is Working in a Restaurant Really That Hard?

Working in a restaurant can be a challenging job, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. From carrying heavy plates and sliding between tables to managing customer orders and ensuring customer satisfaction, restaurant staff have to juggle a lot of tasks. And while some people thrive in this environment, others may find it too uncomfortable. No matter where you are in the restaurant, you'll be on your feet all night.

Waiters have to juggle several tables simultaneously, and kitchen staff are constantly striving to get orders shipped on time. Twenty-six percent of restaurants say they're looking for cooks and line cooks, while 17% need waiters and 7% are looking for waiters, according to 7shift data emailed to Restaurant Dive. The owner of a restaurant in New York City reported that 20% of his staff said they would rather quit rather than get vaccinated, according to Business Insider. It's easy to pick up a bottle or a cigarette, says Kirsten Amann, a restaurant industry veterinarian who hosts weekly yoga sessions for the staff at Trina's Starlite Lounge.

This dynamic is likely to become complicated as states and municipalities increasingly require proof that diners and employees enter restaurants a voucher. While restaurant salaries are improving, the rates of abuse inflicted by both customers and managers increased during the pandemic. Limited-service restaurants are also under work pressure, and a handful of Chick-fil-A and McDonald's units have had to close their dining rooms due to a lack of staff. Now that you understand what it really means to work in a restaurant, you can decide if it's the right career path for you.

With all that in mind, we're forced to participate in these conversations, says Mike Shaw, of Loco Taqueria, whose restaurant has a drug-free policy called Livin' La Vida Without the Loca and offers discounted memberships to Peter Welch's Gym in South Boston. Or maybe the idea of working in a restaurant and one day opening your own is your dream. If you're interested in working in a restaurant, you should know the different dining skills you'll learn and need to learn to stand out. If you're interested in working in a restaurant, it's important to familiarize yourself with some of the jargon. The restaurant manager is responsible for scheduling and managing shifts, as well as all other areas of a restaurant's daily operations.