Why Everyone Should Work in a Restaurant (at Least Once in Their Life)

by someone who knows these things

I was recently chatting with a friend who felt stuck. They were stagnating, waiting for the “right” job to come along, and in the meantime, life felt like it was on pause. I found myself saying, “Why don’t you just get a restaurant job for now?” Later, I sat with that advice and thought- Why did I say that? After all, aren’t most of us in the service industry a little over it? We’re tired, a little jaded, and let’s be honest, many of us are running on espresso and fumes.

But here’s the thing: there’s a reason so many of us stay in this business for years. And it’s not just the cash (though, on a good night, the money is great). I truly believe everyone should work in a restaurant at least once in their life. Not forever. Not even for long. But at least once.

Here’s why:

1. You Learn Real, Essential Life Skills

Restaurant work sharpens you. You become faster, more aware, and a whole lot more adaptable. You learn to communicate clearly, multitask like it’s second nature, manage your time down to the second, read a room, and stay five steps ahead. It’s one of the only jobs where you can quite literally give yourself a raise. The more experience you gain- the better you know the menu, the wine list, the pacing of a meal- the more valuable you become. In hospitality, part of the job is putting on a show. When you can confidently guide a guest’s experience, anticipate their needs, make thoughtful recommendations, you elevate their night- and your check average.

And when it’s a good shift? There’s nothing like it. Drinks are flowing, the kitchen’s on fire (in a good way), the bachelorette party just ordered top-shelf tequila, and the chef slips you a piece of perfectly seared pork belly. The playlist’s on point, the guests are vibing, and everything clicks. You move like water. Time disappears. You feel untouchable.

Then the night ends. You wipe down the last sticky table, stack the chairs, kick out the regular who stayed a little too long, and finally exhale. You’re sweaty, your feet hurt, and your body’s exhausted- but you’re also staring at the stack of tips you earned. More than that, you’re filled with pride. You made someone’s night. Maybe it was a birthday dinner, an anniversary, or just a random Tuesday where someone needed to feel taken care of, and you delivered. That clock-out moment? That quiet satisfaction of knowing you gave your best, connected with people, and created something memorable? That feeling is priceless. It’s the same reason I love hosting events and food tours today- because that sense of connection, of showing someone a great time and seeing them light up, is better than any paycheck. It's pride in your craft. And that stays with you.

2. It Teaches You How to Serve—With Grace

The service industry is built on one simple truth: you take care of people. You refill their water before they notice it’s low. You quietly pick up on the tension between a couple arguing over calamari. You remember that they wanted a margarita with no salt. You start to take pride in those small, thoughtful moments. And more importantly, you learn how to deliver them with grace, even when someone’s being difficult or (sometimes) rude.

One of my mentors, River, said that folks working in hospitality are a lot like therapists. When people are celebrating, they come to a restaurant. When they’re grieving, angry, or freshly dumped, they come to a bar. We hold space for all of it. We listen. We serve. We offer a moment of comfort, even while we might be dealing with our own mess behind the scenes. That’s what service is: showing up, staying present, and making someone feel a little more human, even if only for a moment. It teaches you empathy in a way few other jobs can.

There are nights when you’re running on empty. Your heart’s heavy, your feet hurt, your break was cut short- and there’s a table full of kids screaming for birthday sundaes. What do you do? You take a deep breath, have a two-minute reset (and sometimes a cry)in the walk-in, and step back out like nothing happened. That’s strength. And it sticks with you.

3. Camaraderie in the Chaos

There’s nothing like the bond that forms during a slammed dinner rush. It’s a kind of battlefield intimacy, sweaty, frantic, and full of adrenaline, that forges friendships. The relationships made in this industry are built on mutual survival. You’ve seen each other running on fumes, rolling silverware in a fog, somehow pulling off a flawless brunch while still half-recovering from the night before. You trade Tylenol, lighters, and emergency hair ties. You rely on each other. You share shift meals, cover each other’s sections, tag-team grumpy tables, and vent over post-shift drinks. You develop an unspoken rhythm: when to jump in, when to hang back, when to quietly take over someone’s table without them even asking. It’s chaotic, it’s unpredictable, and it’s full of huge personalities—but that’s where the magic lives.

Some of my best friends in the world came from this work. We didn’t grow up together. We don’t look alike. We come from wildly different backgrounds. But we went through the fire of Friday nights side by side, and that shared experience builds a bond that transcends age, gender, and race. There’s something about surviving the madness of a shift together. It teaches you to trust, to laugh through the stress, and to show up for each other in big and small ways. You don’t make it in this business without grit, humor, and flexibility.

Final Thoughts

Working in a restaurant is more than just a job. It’s a crash course in empathy, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and grace under pressure. Even if it’s not your forever path, it’s an experience that stays with you. You’ll never look at a server the same way again. You’ll tip better. You’ll have stories to tell. And you’ll carry the skills and perspective into whatever comes next.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, waiting for your next step: get a job in a restaurant. You’ll learn something. You’ll make some money. And you might just find a version of yourself you didn’t know was there.

-MJ