Michael Graham
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Versatile Fine Dining Server adaptable to changing menu items, guest preferences and restaurant standards. Easily steps into any to any food service role with ease. Over 8 years of fine dining service experience.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Banquet Server
Adecco Staffing / Fountainview at Gonda
Playa del Rey, CA
02.2023 - Current
- Delivered outstanding service even during peak hours or challenging circumstances, receiving commendations from both clients and supervisors alike.
- Ensured timely food delivery by effectively communicating with kitchen staff and coordinating efforts.
- Set up banquet tables and chairs based on event requirements.
Fine Dining Server
Manchego
Santa Monica, CA
02.2021 - 12.2023
- Learned and utilized extensive bar and wine knowledge to enhance guest dining experiences.
- Suggested wine pairings to go with specific menu items.
- Ran food from chefs to guest tables with dishes that required special serving techniques.
- Rolled silverware, set up tables and polished glassware and silverware.
- Took and submitted orders that accommodated customer preferences and dietary requirements.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals and walk-in business.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Increased sales significantly by upselling higher-end products to customers.
Server
James Beach
Venice, CA
07.2021 - 08.2022
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
- Implemented effective communication strategies between front-of-house and back-of-house staff for streamlined operations.
- Utilized communication practices with kitchen staff to deliver customer meals in timely manner.
- Maintained clean and organized dining areas to uphold restaurant hygiene standards.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills by managing multiple tables simultaneously without compromising service quality.
Front Waiter/ Server
Cafe Pinot
Downtown - Los Angeles, CA
02.2017 - 04.2019
- Familiarizing guests with menu and daily specials
- Accurately recording food and drink orders, running multi- course meals, and tallying bills with MICROS
- Up-selling: Direct customers to meal add-ons and specialty drinks of perceived value to increase sales
- Paring of specific wines with certain menu items
- Closing out each shift with proper paperwork (tips payout etc.)
Child Care Counselor
Eggleston Youth Center
Baldwin Park, CA
06.2010 - 10.2011
- Counsel and oversee at risk youth within a group home for probation children between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age.
Certifications Specialist
Eggleston Family Services
Los Angeles, CA
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Was in charge of recruitment and certifying new families to potentially become foster and or adoption ready homes.
Captain/ Front Waiter
Arnauds Fine Dining Restaurant
New Orleans, LA
01.2002 - 08.2005
- Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems
- Collect payments from customers
- Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff
- Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes
- Take orders from patrons for food or beverages
- Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required
- Inform customers of daily specials
- Roll silverware, set up food stations or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties
- Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers
- Describe and recommend wines to customers
- Properly complete end of shift paperwork with tip payout of 3 man team
- Occasionally work banquets within restaurant especially on holidays
Education
Bachelor's - Business Management
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA05-2004
Skills
- Able to Lift 50 Pounds
- Warm and Friendly
- Team Player
- Age Verification
- Conflict and Complaint Resolution
- Transactions and Cash Handling
- Restaurant Operation
- Dietary Restrictions
- Dining Room Cleaning and Upkeep
- High-Volume Dining
- Billing and Payment Processing
- Fine Dining Expertise (8 years)
- Micros POS
- Serving Experience
- Upselling
- Banquet Experience
- Childcare
- Food Service
Certification
- California Food Handler Certified
- RBS Alcohol Certified
Timeline
Banquet Server
Adecco Staffing / Fountainview at Gonda
02.2023 - Current
Server
James Beach
07.2021 - 08.2022
Fine Dining Server
Manchego
02.2021 - 12.2023
Front Waiter/ Server
Cafe Pinot
02.2017 - 04.2019
Child Care Counselor
Eggleston Youth Center
06.2010 - 10.2011
Certifications Specialist
Eggleston Family Services
01.2007 - 01.2010
Captain/ Front Waiter
Arnauds Fine Dining Restaurant
01.2002 - 08.2005
Bachelor's - Business Management
Xavier University of Louisiana