Honestly you need to be looking at the places everyone recommends all the time. People make money at those places because they’re always busy and usually small with high table turnover or people who stay but keep ordering. Bamboo, Stella’s, Perly’s, Moore st. Etc. but you’re also looking at the new person working there being there for 6 years. So it’s not just a work environment but a family.

Places like can can would make a fuck ton more money if they only had two or three people working service well. Instead they have one for the whole restaurant and you get your food before your drinks. Hard to upsell when you can’t provide goods.

Then you have your frat places or late night spots. You’ll make money but be dealing with a lot of “my dads a lawyer” Chad’s and l wear my hat backwards and snap my fingers at you shitty coke dealers. Who might tip or might write their phone number for you. Usually volume makes up for them but you’re tired and not home before 3-5 am.

Yes this city is super insular - we know who we want to work with and who we don’t. My biggest recommendation to Get into a place is to frequent there and make friends with the staff- that way if you want an in- you know someone. Don’t be a douche, tip well and when there’s an opening float your résumé.