So many. This place is a toxic example of a fast paced environment. To preface: fast paced environments can be good and energizing, but this place made the end of the shift seem like a defeat because no one respects you or your humanity.
For being a customer service job, truthfully the customers (yes, in Bellevue) were better to deal with than the management and coworkers. Everyone would just talk bad about the customers when out of sight, or talk crap about other employees who were working that shift. On top of that, managers and employees would prey on new hires to do absolute garbage work because they themselves didn’t want to do it.
Everyone I worked with was always extremely stressed out and would lash out at each other at even the smallest of inconveniences. And because management fosters a hostile environment through micro-managing and favoritism, every department was on edge with each other. There were at most only 3-5 people who looked like they were somewhat pleasant, but everyone else was always stressed, rushing, and complaining to be off the clock. Restaurant/customer service jobs are stressful, but it's unfortunate this place created that environment from the management all the way down the pipeline to the workers.
Regarding the headline, this place only cares about money. The restaurant did not close during a dangerously intense snow storm during the winter, knowing that almost all employees drive/commute to the location. The ONLY reason it closed early was that there were no customers coming in for hours, because it's common sense to stay safely at home. So, no profit = it’s “okay” to close early and finally send employees home.
Furthermore, they apparently started using new ingredients (like kurobuta pork because higher quality?) but it tastes the same as usual, and they use this to justify their price inflation (close to $14 for 10 dumplings).
Please try to look elsewhere for employment. There are many other restaurants that will treat you well and be an enjoyable experience. Din Tai Fung is not that restaurant and will only make you miserable, stressed, and anxious for every shift.
