Desiree T.
Yelp
My Experience at Valentino's - Clearwater, FL
I don't normally write reviews like this, but I felt it was important to share my experience for anyone considering working at Valentino's.
I was hired as a server and told I would start training right away to be fully prepared by Mother's Day weekend -- a notoriously busy time for restaurants. I was excited and committed, even leaving another serving job based on the offer I received.
During my third training shift, the owner, Gabby, pulled me aside and said, " Based off some feedback, we think you should run food this Mother's Day weekend to get a better look at the plates." I took that in good faith, assuming it was part of the training process -- that I'd get the full picture and then move into serving tables like we had discussed.
But I remember thinking: how could there be any feedback at all, when I was still in training and had been strictly told to only observe during the two days prior? I had followed instructions exactly and hadn't even had the chance to actually do anything yet.
From that point forward, I was never actually trained to be a server. I was used as support staff all weekend -- running food, folding linens, and helping on the floor -- doing tipped work for a flat $13/hour training wage. There was no one-on-one service training, no chance to learn the POS, and no shadowing of a full serving section. Just general support.
After the weekend was over, I was told that I wasn't "ready" to serve and that my only options were to stay on as a food runner or reapply for the server position in the future. I was completely blindsided -- how could I be expected to be "ready" for a job I was never trained for?
I brought this up respectfully to Dana and Roderick explaining that I wasn't actually trained -- just asked to help. The response I got was essentially: We're not going to pay for any more training.
This left me in a really difficult position. I had already quit a previous serving job to take this opportunity, trusting what I had been promised. Now I'm stuck with a position that pays much less, is over an hour away, and doesn't cover my basic expenses. Management was aware of my situation -- I was upfront about my need for steady income -- but they showed no concern for how their actions affected me. It honestly felt like I was brought in just to help them through their busiest weekend of the year, with no intention of ever letting me serve.
I'm not sharing this to be negative -- I'm sharing it because I wish someone had told me what to expect. Job opportunities should come with honesty and follow-through. Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience here. If you're considering working at Valentino's, just be cautious and make sure you're truly being set up for success -- not just used to get through a busy weekend.
Respectfully, I'll continue to update this review over time so it doesn't get lost, in case others find themselves in a similar situation. People deserve to be informed and treated fairly.