Smash Burgers by Vice — Restaurant in Milton

There is no reason for this restaurant to be run as poorly as it currently is. As servers and food runners, we earn only $7.25 an hour, relying entirely on tips to make ends meet. In my opinion, that wage is unfair compared to what employees at The Steak Bar by Vice make. According to reliable sources, their staff earns nearly double what we do here.

I am extremely stressed and do not feel that the pay justifies the workload. $7.25 an hour for this level of instability is unfair, especially when Steak Bar servers reportedly make $17 or more per hour, and their cooks earn $18-$20 according to Glassdoor.

We currently have no reliable manager to turn to when things get chaotic. According to the owner, our “manager” is also our main cook, who already runs the kitchen and is not consistently available. He has other commitments and can’t always be here when we need him. Our previous manager worked five days a week and provided structure and guidance. Since he was fired, things have gone downhill.

At this point, the job feels overwhelming and disorganized. We have lost two team members - one was fired and the other quit - and we are left feeling completely stranded. As of today, we still have no official schedule. When our manager was terminated, the schedule system fell apart. One coworker has been forced to work multiple doubles because no one else was available; many of the original openers and closers were fired, leaving major gaps in coverage.

Our front staff is down to about five employees total. One mainly works at Steak Bar and only helps here occasionally. Another is in college and has limited availability. One is still in high school and can only work short weekday evening shifts and the occasional weekend. Our previous manager used to post the schedule by Wednesday or Thursday every week so we could plan ahead; now, even by the end of the week, we still have no schedule.

If new employees are ever hired, there will be no one to train them, because we currently have no manager at all. The owners rarely come in, and when they do, it’s usually at The Steak Bar. I understand that restaurant may need their attention, but that doesn’t excuse completely neglecting us. The owner(s), should either send someone to assist or personally help stabilize things here.

There was absolutely no planning when the manager and an employee were fired. The schedule collapsed, morale dropped, and the entire week has been stressful for everyone. We want to do our jobs well, but we can’t if we’re left without leadership, communication, or basic structure.

Communication has been a constant issue. The owner often plans events or makes changes without notifying anyone here, leaving us scrambling to figure things out. The scheduling issues have only made everything worse.

Another serious concern is the lack of cash-out accountability. No one has been properly closing the register, counting tips, or organizing receipts for takeout orders. I’ve personally noticed that the tip jar still has money in it the next day, and old receipts are left out when they should have been cleared. This shows a complete lack of oversight and basic management.

If I or any of my coworkers are fired for speaking up, that would only prove how poorly things are being handled. We’re not trying to cause problems, we just want a functional, fair, and supportive work...

So here is the deal…co-owner Daniel and the team behind this one is trying to set a tone in Milton and plant the flag for a premiere smash burger joint that should find success for families and explorers of the expanding city of Milton. We attended their launch and while the mechanics of the operations were very much in flux (we waited over 20 mins for our burger), there was clear launch pains that were being ironed out. After a wait for our missing order, one of the other co-owners came by to apologies and offered free drinks. I declined because it was all part of them figuring things out. But we took them up on the complimentary fried pickles (yum).

We got the burger of the month (they quickly rectified for us) was delicious, hot and tasty. Would have liked to see a true “smash” for these burgers (bun was more smashed vs the meat). Many being delivered today looked thick and stacked, vs my preference for smashed thinner and extending over the bun with some nice crisp lacing (that is smash in my mind). Price was $13 for the burger and while a tad high (for size), it was ok for us. Gave them bonus points for Genesee Light beer ON DRAFT. Will return someday when they are a well oiled machine and to see if they perfected that “smash” that could earn them Milton’s top smash...

Smash Burgers by Vice is the latest project from the Vice Kitchen team, known for their focus on high-quality, locally sourced meats. The burgers feature two beef options—grass-fed and F1 American Wagyu—both from Vice's own North Georgia Meat Company. It's supposed to translate to high quality beef at approachable prices. Stopped in for lunch during their soft opening week so take whatever I say with some latitude -- good or bad.

I found the restaurant interior a bit disappointing. Layout feels like the old Community Burger space with a facelift -- not something I ever really liked. The seating areas are okay but mostly feel cramped inside. Outdoor seating is good. Neither one though is comfortable -- clearly designed for quick bites rather than lingering.

The burgers are solid; the beef tastes incredible. I went with a double patty which for me was overkill—one patty is plenty to enjoy the rich, juicy beef without getting overwhelmed. The burger bun is pretty small so I can't even imagine what a triple looks like. The loaded tots -- chef's kiss. :) Really delicious, too.

Two double burgers, loaded tots, a beer, tip -- $50. It can get pretty steep for a burgers out for two. Gonna mix it up a little and see if I can find the value sweet spot the...