Havana Blue/Lotus

I've only been to Havana Blue & it's really good & worth the expense, IMO. You'd probably do well at either place. Good luck!

I've eaten at Lotus and it was great.

Haven't tried Lotus but I've been to Havana Blue three times. It was very good each time. Definitely one of the better restaurants I've been to on STT.

I prefer Lotus. I think HB has more business though.

RL

You should also see if you can take a peek at their menus. I have not been to Lotus, but HB was pretty pricey--food and cocktails. Ostensibly, the higher the bill the greater your 15-25% will be.

I have known people who have worked at both places and I believe those who worked at HB made more money. Lotus is not inexpensive, but there are more small plates so you may have guests who do not order a full dinner. I would say your avg check would be higher at HB. That being said, HB is more fine dining (by island standards) and Lotus is a bit more relaxed in that sense. Like you mentioned, they are on opposite ends of the island. Both are great places to work, so it really depends on what you want in a job and where you will be living. You might ask to work a few shifts at both locations and decide for yourself.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that HB is located at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef, which enjoys a high occupancy and a fairly affluent clientele. Lotus is in Red Hook, in the marina, which is close to the east end resorts, like the Ritz. However, it is not "on property". HB could never be classified as hotel food, and the guests at the Marriott and the locals know that.

I agree with Liz. It really is more about where you live. Lotus is more accessible if you don't have a car when you first get here. Another good idea was to observe both places. The folks that own these restaurants run a really good operation. You'll be fine either way.

BTW, I prefer Lotus because it is more of a neighborhood spot, and I always see people I know. The food is great in both places.