J. Alexander's Reviews

Pros

J. Alexander's truly cares about all of their employees, line level and management. Its a great company overall.

Cons

Managers work 55-60 hours a week

Advice to Senior Management

N/A

Pros

The meals are a lot of money so the tips are good

Cons

the coaches are rude and easilly angered. everything must be 110% perfect which is not humanely possible. greeting a table in 45 seconds sounds a bit ridiculous to the rest of us when there is a million other things going on. everybody that works here is stuck up and they do not want to see you get ahead. just save the aggravation and do not work here!

Advice to Senior Management

be nicer to your employees and understanding when there is a minor mistake that could easilly be fixed. there is no reason to be negative all of the time. I felt very uncomfortable when talking to the management because it was always very negative.

Pros

Corporate structure is there positive but also there downfall. Everything has a written procedure. But those procedures are not necessarily efficient.

Cons

Lots of corporate drama. Some suits in Nashville who haven't ever actually worked in a restaurant tell you how to do your job better. It's all about the bottom line. No long term plans.

Pros

I loved the people I worked with (servers, hosti, and pubkeep - not the managers). Pay was decent as well.

Cons

Management was very disrespectful, often times patronizing. Corporate offices the same way when I called to ask a question about payroll. The fixed schedule with no opportunities to request off is just awful. Job description does not include the extra duties that the managers expect you to do such as cleaning/bussing tables and running food. Dress code is too strict (plus, who wants to clean tables when we have to wear a $100 cocktail dress to work??).

Advice to Senior Management

Honestly? Just treat us with a little more respect. I understand that our job as a hostess is super easy, but we're not idiots. All of the girls at that stand are intelligent young women who are either working towards or have finished our college degrees. Follow the platinum rule you so heavily try to advertise to us: treat us the way we want to be treated.

Pros

It is very possible to make money and you you can meet great people. they have great food and great reputation around the city.

Cons

Management do not know how to treat nor speak to people. They treat and speak to people (including trainers and other coaches) like they are stupid and they only hire people in their ethnic group.

Advice to Senior Management

They always talk about being on the same page and communication, and they do not do it themselves. Be friends with other coaches but treat others how you would like to be treated, and if you do not like them speak up and have some balls!

Pros

The tips are really good and the customers are very friendly. Very professional and good training.

Cons

Management does not treat their employees like respectable people. Everything has to be done a certain way.

Advice to Senior Management

treat people like they are students who will make mistake and learn from them.

Pros

nice pay, fun work atmosphere

Cons

long shifts with no break

Advice to Senior Management

give a little bit more recognition to employees

Pros

Good money
Potential for Regular customers
Schedule based on seniority
Availability to promote to trainer
fast paced and friendly environment

Cons

Bar tenders seem to be promoted based on looks and physique as opposed to ability.

Advice to Senior Management

Ensure that all job placements are based on knowledge, skills and abilities instead of looks or body type. Good customer service matters more in the end than good looks.

Pros

Learned alot about fine wines, as well as pairing them with certain meals to enhance overall taste. The staff was taught a new level of teamwork unlike any other restaraunt in this town. It was learn to work together or the restaraunt goes down.

Cons

Communication between management (Coach's) was poor. Set schedules by school semester, you have to get all your shifts picked up rather than a request off book. Uniform requirements almost impossible to achieve on your own. Therefore, get used to a $10 a week dry cleaning bill.

Advice to Senior Management

When your staff is explaining the troubles they are having within the restaraunt, listen to them. Otherwise, say goodbye to alot of hardworking individuals.

Pros

Modern company, very hard working management, the system they use to run the floor is modern and practical, the only flaw is that sometimes managers are not strong enought to make everyone work the same as all the team. The system is based on team work, you run in circles through the floor running food, then delivering it, them scaning tables, them picking up dirty plates and them dropping them in the dish pit and them all over again but in order for this to work you need manager to ensure that everybody does their share, when their is no manager with leadership this doesnt work.

Cons

LOTs and LOTS of side work, no benefits for hourly employees. Ask for the day off if the big wigs are in town, Lonnie Stout can be very rude same as the members of his entourage.

Advice to Senior Management

The system is very good, food is very good as well, but benefits are minimal and managers are stresed all the time.