OPT Restaurant Jobs
Restaurant jobs on OPT span front-of-house management, culinary arts, hospitality operations, and food service management, roles that qualify when tied to a degree in hospitality management, culinary arts, or business administration. Your OPT authorization must match your field of study, so the job title and duties need to align with your degree.
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Get Access To All JobsHotel: Lincoln Embassy Suites
1040 P Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Job Type: Part time
Compensation Range: 14.50
Compensation is determined based on a variety of factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and the specific location of the role. Actual pay may differ depending on these factors.
What’s in it for you?
The Atrium SPIRIT is a belief in the power of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork to create an environment where everyone thrives. We go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences, work together to overcome challenges, and are passionate about positively impacting those around us.
- Career Growth & Learning – 40% of our management hires are internal promotions!
- Invest in Your Future – 401(k) plan with company match.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Paid Time Off & Vacation – Enjoy exclusive Atrium Traveler and brand discount programs to explore new destinations.
- Perks That Fit Your Life – Enjoy DailyPay, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and exclusive discounts on your favorite brands and services.
- Purpose & Impact – Make a difference through Atrium’s community service and volunteer programs.
Job Description
What You Will Do:
- Greet guests, manage dining reservations, and provide attentive table service
- Take and deliver food and beverage orders accurately and efficiently
- Process guest payments and ensure proper reporting of tips
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of dining stations and service areas
- Support team by assisting with phone orders, amenities, and guest inquiries
What We Are Looking For:
- Six (6) months of customer service, restaurant, or cashier experience (preferred)
- Food Safety and Alcohol Awareness certifications (or ability to obtain within 60 days)
- Friendly, professional demeanor with a genuine passion for hospitality
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, bend, squat, and stand for long periods
- Flexible availability including days, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
Why Atrium?
Hear it from Karyn H. “I absolutely love working for Atrium because the environment is fun and stimulating. We are all offered opportunities to learn and grow and they make us feel important and valued as a team. It stands out from other places where I’ve worked and really does feel like a family atmosphere.”
Atrium is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
Notice of candidate Privacy Rights: https://www.atriumhospitality.com/privacy-policy
Hotel: Lincoln Embassy Suites
1040 P Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Job Type: Part time
Compensation Range: 14.50
Compensation is determined based on a variety of factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and the specific location of the role. Actual pay may differ depending on these factors.
What’s in it for you?
The Atrium SPIRIT is a belief in the power of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork to create an environment where everyone thrives. We go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences, work together to overcome challenges, and are passionate about positively impacting those around us.
- Career Growth & Learning – 40% of our management hires are internal promotions!
- Invest in Your Future – 401(k) plan with company match.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Paid Time Off & Vacation – Enjoy exclusive Atrium Traveler and brand discount programs to explore new destinations.
- Perks That Fit Your Life – Enjoy DailyPay, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and exclusive discounts on your favorite brands and services.
- Purpose & Impact – Make a difference through Atrium’s community service and volunteer programs.
Job Description
What You Will Do:
- Greet guests, manage dining reservations, and provide attentive table service
- Take and deliver food and beverage orders accurately and efficiently
- Process guest payments and ensure proper reporting of tips
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of dining stations and service areas
- Support team by assisting with phone orders, amenities, and guest inquiries
What We Are Looking For:
- Six (6) months of customer service, restaurant, or cashier experience (preferred)
- Food Safety and Alcohol Awareness certifications (or ability to obtain within 60 days)
- Friendly, professional demeanor with a genuine passion for hospitality
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, bend, squat, and stand for long periods
- Flexible availability including days, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
Why Atrium?
Hear it from Karyn H. “I absolutely love working for Atrium because the environment is fun and stimulating. We are all offered opportunities to learn and grow and they make us feel important and valued as a team. It stands out from other places where I’ve worked and really does feel like a family atmosphere.”
Atrium is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
Notice of candidate Privacy Rights: https://www.atriumhospitality.com/privacy-policy
See all 715+ OPT Restaurant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Restaurant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Restaurant
Frame your role as a professional position
OPT requires employment in a role related to your degree. If your degree is in hospitality management, target manager, coordinator, or operations roles rather than purely hourly service positions. The job title and duties must connect clearly to your academic field.
Document the degree-to-job connection in writing
When applying, prepare a brief written explanation of how the restaurant role relates to your degree. Hiring managers unfamiliar with OPT will ask. A clear, one-paragraph statement speeds up the authorization conversation and reduces the chance of a misunderstanding.
Target employers with HR infrastructure
Independent restaurants rarely have experience with OPT employment verification. Multi-location restaurant groups, hotel food and beverage departments, and corporate dining operators are more familiar with Form I-9 requirements and work authorization compliance for international employees.
Report employer changes immediately through your DSO
Switching restaurant employers requires updating your OPT record through your Designated School Official before your start date with the new employer. Working for an unreported employer, even briefly, creates a gap that can jeopardize your status and any future STEM extension.
Track your 90-day unemployment limit carefully
OPT allows no more than 90 days of unemployment. If you leave one restaurant job before securing another, those days count. Build a timeline, keep written records of your job search, and aim to have your next offer confirmed before giving notice.
Understand what counts as authorized employment
Paid employment is straightforward, but unpaid restaurant internships and part-time arrangements also require DSO reporting. Work fewer than 20 hours per week counts toward your unemployment limit. Confirm any non-standard arrangement with your DSO before accepting to avoid compliance issues.
Restaurant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work in restaurant jobs?
Yes, but the position must be directly related to your field of study. A hospitality management or culinary arts graduate can work in restaurant operations, food and beverage management, or culinary coordination. A business administration graduate may qualify for restaurant general manager or operations roles. Purely hourly service positions without a clear academic connection are unlikely to meet OPT requirements.
Do restaurant employers need to file any paperwork to hire an OPT student?
No separate petition or government filing is required from the employer. The restaurant must verify your work authorization through Form I-9 using your Employment Authorization Document. However, your DSO must record the employer in your SEVIS record before or shortly after you start. The employer's obligation is limited to proper I-9 completion and retaining that record.
Where can I find restaurant jobs that accept OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and lists restaurant and hospitality roles from employers open to work authorization. Filtering by job category on Migrate Mate surfaces positions where hiring managers already understand OPT, which reduces friction during the offer process and speeds up onboarding.
Does working part-time at a restaurant count toward my OPT period?
Yes. Part-time employment of at least 20 hours per week counts as authorized OPT employment and does not accumulate toward the 90-day unemployment limit. Working fewer than 20 hours per week does count as unemployment time. If you're in a part-time restaurant role, confirm with your DSO that the hours and job duties are properly documented.
Can I work at multiple restaurants simultaneously on OPT?
Yes, you can hold multiple concurrent restaurant jobs on OPT as long as each position is related to your degree and each employer is reported to your DSO. Each employer must complete a separate Form I-9. If either position ends, notify your DSO promptly and track total days without qualifying employment across both roles to stay within the 90-day limit.