Restaurant Management Internship in Fairfax, Virginia at Great American Restaurants

Great American Restaurants Management Internship

A paid, hands-on leadership experience in high-volume hospitality

Great American Restaurants (GAR) is a privately owned restaurant group with over 50 years of history, known for its commitment to quality, hospitality, and developing long-term leaders. With multiple concepts and continued growth across Northern Virginia and Maryland, GAR offers a unique opportunity to learn in a high-performing, team-oriented environment.

The Great American Restaurants Management Internship is a consecutive 10-week paid program designed for college students who are interested in hospitality, restaurant operations, and future leadership opportunities.

This internship provides a realistic, hands-on experience in restaurant management. Interns rotate through key hourly and management functions, learn GAR’s service standards, and work alongside experienced restaurant leaders to understand what it takes to succeed in a high-volume, standards-driven environment.

Program Overview

Interns are scheduled for approximately 40 hours per week, with the opportunity to work up to 50 hours. Interns are paid $20 an hour and are eligible for overtime pay at one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Interns receive internship-specific perks, including a complimentary meal each shift, uniform loan, GAR dining card privileges, a company email address, and opportunities to participate in company events, outings, and trainings when available.

What You’ll Experience

Throughout the internship, interns rotate through the core areas that make a GAR restaurant successful, including hosting, food running, serving, service bar, dining room supervision, and kitchen management shadowing.

Each rotation is designed to help interns understand how hourly roles connect to leadership decisions, guest experience, team coordination, and restaurant performance. High-performing interns may also gain exposure to additional areas such as kitchen operations, artisanal bakeries, breweries, or financial management based on performance and business needs.

Leadership Development

This internship is designed to build a strong foundation in restaurant leadership through hands-on experience and structured development. Interns develop skills in:

• Operational Execution – Working within GAR’s systems, standards, and pace of service
• Team Coordination – Communicating clearly and working effectively across roles and shifts
• Guest Experience Leadership – Making decisions that support service quality and consistency
• Professional Accountability – Receiving feedback, following through, and demonstrating reliability

Each intern reports directly to an assigned mentor manager and the Managing Partner of their training restaurant. Interns attend weekly manager meetings and receive ongoing coaching, feedback, and guidance throughout the program.

What Sets Top Interns Apart

While all interns gain valuable experience, the strongest performers consistently demonstrate:

• Initiative – Anticipates needs, steps in without being asked, and looks for ways to contribute beyond assigned tasks
• Coachability – Receives feedback professionally, adjusts quickly, and shows clear improvement over time
• Consistency Under Pressure – Maintains standards, attention to detail, and a positive attitude in a fast-paced environment
• Accountability – Follows through on commitments, arrives prepared, and can be relied on by both managers and teammates
• Attention to Detail – Notices small but important elements that impact guest experience and team execution

Performance & Expectations

Interns are expected to:

• Uphold GAR’s standards of professionalism, teamwork, and guest focus at all times
• Meet the expectations of hourly GARStars in each rotation
• Successfully complete required training benchmarks, including tests with a score of 90% or higher
• Demonstrate coachability, consistency, and a strong work ethic throughout the program

Interns who meet performance expectations may earn the opportunity to take on a supervisor-level role during the final week of the internship.

Pathway to Management

This internship is designed as a potential pathway into a permanent restaurant management role with GAR. Interns who demonstrate strong performance, professionalism, and leadership potential may be considered for future opportunities with the company.

Ideal Candidates

This program is ideal for students who are energized by hospitality, interested in restaurant leadership, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. We are looking for candidates who are professional, hardworking, coachable, detail-oriented, and interested in building a long-term career in restaurant management.