You Can Paint a Turd Gold, It's Still a Turd. - Bartender/Server Agave & Rye Employee Review

3.0
17 July 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Aesthetic/ambience. Simplified Chipotle-like kitchen. Casual dress code (company t-shirt and jeans)

Cons

-6% bar tip out (highest in this city), 1% busser tip out (you are still expected to buss your tables at all times) -sidework/closing work violates DOL's 80/20 rule. approximately 75% of their labor relies on their 2.13/hr service employees- who tip out their hourly employees that are sent home when labor is high (labor is always high) -their expectations to continue running food after you've been cut leave you there for 2+ hours after cut on a regular basis -inexperienced and ill-trained management fear making service cuts and will keep you there for 4+ hours without a table (also directly violating DOL's policy that states that servers cannot be kept on doing indirect work for more than 30 consecutive minutes without being compensated hourly) -toxic positivity culture - reluctant response to evident sexual harassment -inexperienced and ill-trained management means short ordered trucks on a regular basis (be prepared to work without necessary resources like soft drinks, napkins, and various menu items on a daily basis) -flooring is cheap and never installed properly, constantly comes up despite replacing it- possible mold issue? -when our A/C went out in May-June 2022, it took them two months to have it repaired -discriminatory management (hostile or neglectant toward certain demographics) -discriminatory servers (I was regularly given tables that were suspected low tippers) I've been in the industry since 2009. Agave and Rye is the biggest crap show I've ever seen. I wish them the best of luck!

Explore other reviews about Agave & Rye

5.0
18 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Culture is great and the training is throughout. It really was a little family over there

Cons

The owner themselves just was not making smart business decisions at the time and it ended up effecting my hours and pay

1.0
30 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pay is very good for a restaurant GM

Cons

Area director would constantly lie about policy Area director would create separate dead lines from the rest of the company Area director would constantly undermine my authority as a GM in front of my staff The brand preaches love and respect but the Area director had access to my email and saw I sent a grievance letter to HR and she came in and fired me. Stay away. Seriously. Not worth the hostile work environment she will create.

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