We need an experienced Server (preferably someone who has worked in a sushi restaurant) around the END OF FEB. We are very particular about our customer service and the quality of our food. For example, we won Best All Around Restaurant in Albuquerque for 2024 and 2025 (this category began in 2024), through Albuquerque's Journal's Reader's Choice awards. We were also voted Best Sushi Restaurant for 2021, 2022 and 2023 (this category ended in 2023); Best Asian Restaurant in 2024 and 2025 (this category began in 2024); Best Lunch Restaurant in 2025; and best Take Out Service for 2022, 2023 (this category ended in 2023). In Jan 2023, we were ranked by Restaurant Guru as the Number ONE restaurant in Albuquerque, out of over 2,700. You will be the face of our restaurant. We are located near Coors and Montano 6241 Riverside Plaza Lane NW, Suite C-1, Albuquerque 87120. We are fast paced, but we pride ourselves in our outstanding wait service. We will make sure you are trained to be the best. You will start out making $12.00/hr plus some tips, maybe $3/hr, depending on your performance. After a week or so, when you can handle your own tables, your pay will drop to $7.20/hr (not counting tips), but your overall pay will increase with your tips. Once you reach a certain level in your training, if you are average, you should be making over $33/hr, including tip, for a full payroll--across all shifts both busy and slow.
We are looking for one individual, (24-36 hrs/wk), to work, especially dinner shifts on Thu, Fri and Sat. Our restaurant is closed every Sunday, Monday lunch, and every day between 3 and 5 pm. You need to be able to think under pressure, prioritize tasks, and handle your section. Some Server experience is highly preferred although we do spend a lot of time undoing bad habits in experienced Servers. We finalize our week schedule on Thu or Fri. Once you agree to work your shifts for the following week, we expect you to show up. We can deal with you missing work once in a while for valid excuses. However, we do not tolerate frequent short notice absences without a legitimate excuse because we are too small to normally be able to have someone else fill your shift. If your normal routine is to cancel working if something fun pops up on Fri nite, please do not apply. If you are open to growing your skills, we are definitely interested in you. We are also interested in individuals that LIKE the stress that comes with this type of job. We are very busy. We are not interested in Servers who value THEIR way of doing things over ours. It doesn’t bother us that you will make mistakes. Everyone does. What we care about is your ATTITUDE in changing your behavior, so you do things OUR way. If you think you have what it takes to become one of the best Servers in New Mexico, this job is for you. Must be at least 19 years old to handle alcohol sales. You are required to have both an Alcohol Serving license and a Food Servers License soon after you are hired. Our Servers are rightfully proud to be the face of our restaurant, make good money, and work well together as a team. You know which ones we're seeking.
But first, you must learn our sushi menu and our system. The faster you learn, the sooner you become a well-paid employee. Warning: You should expect to work harder and stay busier than most Servers elsewhere.
I am one of the owners, and my first job was washing pots and pans at age 15. Loved it. My wife was a Server. Her tips, as a percentage of customer bills, were higher than anyone I know. We are looking for someone like us. Someone that takes pride in his/her work, enjoys the challenge of learning, is excited to LEARN our way of serving, and wants to be part of a great team. You may be in pre-med or business school and have greater aspirations than being a Server. This job may be a good stepping stone for you, and you may still be good for us, as long as you plan to work for more than a year. Or, you may want to own your own restaurant someday. This job may be the best place for you to get some core training.
As a Server, here are the talents we are looking for, in order of importance:
1. Have a sense of responsibility to yourself and to others. (Do what you say you are going to do--show up on time)
2. Honest and fair with those around you. Luckily, these will be the people you work with! (Don't hide your mistakes or blame them on the customer)
3. Ability to be trained and willing to learn from your mistakes. (Get explanations on why we do something our way and not your way--AFTER the rush is over)
4. Think quickly and prioritize well. (You can get training from Bill on how to do this any time--but it takes breaking bad habits)
5. Team player who can think from the perspective of other people, not just your own. (Most people only think of themselves. Not in our interest to hire someone like this. You end up not being a good team mate)
6. Work hard. I believe you should also play hard, but that's just my philosophy. (Many people are comfortable being in zombieland, where their brain and body are both on idle. If we have to continuously wake you up, you will not work out)
7. Good communicator, with customers, vendors, and fellow employees. (It's too late for us to teach this. You have to show up with this skill)
8. Ability to memorize our menu items--and the ingredients in each. This is not trivial. Can a customer substitute yellowtail for the tuna in a particular item? If so, is there a cost? If there is, how much? (We can help you improve your memory if you are SERIOUSLY interested)
Here are the common situations that we do NOT want to see in an applicant:
1. You have a significant track record of not staying very long with one employer because you typically have issues with other employees and/or the management. Or, you are using this job as a short term steppingstone to something else more important to you.
2. You are untrainable because you think being corrected is harassment. (or you don't get why we care about something you think is not important)
3. Your job resolves around your personal life. If you are a frequent No Show because of this, you will save us both a lot of time and effort by not applying to this job.
4. You lie a lot. You blame the customer (incorrectly) for your order mistakes. You fabricate lies about why you didn't do something or why you did something you shouldn't have done. (Most people don't realize that we catch most of your lies, although you don't realize that. Many people think lying makes you look better, when in fact, it makes you look ugly. Telling the truth when it is HARD makes you look very admirable. For some reason, the younger generation has a much harder time telling the truth. If that's you, you will have a very hard time in this job. Please don't waster your time or ours.
5. You are on hard drugs, but you think we won't notice and it won’t get in the way. When you work for us, you agree to be tested if your performance causes us to suspect drug use. If positive, we will fire you. Marijuana and alcohol is OK; but, if you come to work drunk or stoned, we will fire you.
Do we have a commitment to you? Absolutely.
1. We agree to be honest and fair with you.
2. If you have issues with another employee (or even a customer or vendor) treating you unfairly, we will NOT sit back and watch.
2. We agree to describe clearly what your pay is and we will meet or exceed that.
3. Everyone deserves to know what they have to do to get a pay raise. Just ask. We will tell you the specific skill(s) you need to improve to do that. And, we will tell you HOW to develop that skill. By the way, if you achieve this, we BOTH benefit.
4. Everyone deserves to know why we have you do what we do. But, just like in basketball, if the Coach tells you to quit dribbling the ball so much and do more passing--you don't get to stop the game to find out why. Do that when the game is over.
Yes, we are little like joining the Marines. It’s tough to pass training, but those that do have a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Hopefully, you will learn some lifelong skills. Luckily, all we have to do is provide great service and great food to our loyal customers. The Marines do more.
Consider joining our talented family.
If interested, PLEASE SEND A RESUME to Bill at the email listed. You may also text Bill if you have any questions. If you do not have a Resume, at least send me YOUR NAME, a list of prior employment, where you worked, what your job was, when you started, and when you left. (since you started working or 10 yrs) Anything less than that and I will not answer you.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.