Matthew Lugo
3202 W 74th Street
Summary
Dependable worker successful providing fast, high-quality customer service to guests in restaurant settings. Adaptable professional with expertise in personnel development, team collaboration and resolving issues with customers, waitstaff and management.
Talented Server bringing skills in order management, payment processing and upselling. Stay current on menu items and consistently offer targeted recommendations to meet individual customer needs. Knowledgeable about handling special dietary requirements and general food safety standards.
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Server
Lonell’s Soul Food
Los Angeles, CA
06.2025 - 12.2025
- Provided exceptional customer service in fast-paced dining environment.
- Assisted with menu knowledge and food preparation to enhance guest experience.
- Managed cash transactions accurately and efficiently during busy shifts.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure timely order delivery and quality standards.
- Maintained cleanliness of dining area, ensuring compliance with health regulations.
- Resolved customer issues promptly, contributing to positive dining experiences and repeat business.
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Collaborated with team members during busy shifts for efficient workflow and excellent guest experiences.
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Performed opening and closing duties, ensuring the dining area was prepared for seamless service transitions.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by promptly attending to their needs and providing personalized service.
- Maintained a clean and orderly dining area for an enjoyable guest experience.
- Provided attentive service during high-volume periods without sacrificing attention to detail or guest rapport.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Addressed customer complaints or concerns professionally, ensuring swift resolution and maintaining positive relationships.
- Assisted in training new hires, providing guidance on restaurant standards and best practices.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain positive reputation.
- Followed health and safety protocols crucial for maintaining safe and sanitary environments for customers and staff.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Increased sales with upselling techniques and thorough knowledge of menu items, specials, and promotions.
- Boosted repeat customer rates, remembered regular guests' preferences and greeted them by name.
Prep Cook
Lonell’s Soul Food
Los Angeles, CA
06.2025 - 12.2025
- Prepared ingredients and ensured station cleanliness to support efficient kitchen operations.
- Assisted in cooking and plating dishes according to established recipes and standards.
- Maintained inventory levels of supplies, reporting shortages to senior staff promptly.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline food preparation processes, enhancing service speed.
- Operated kitchen equipment safely and efficiently, minimizing downtime during peak hours.
- Contributed to menu planning by providing feedback on ingredient availability and seasonal options.
- Washed, peeled, and cut fruits and vegetables in advance to save time on food preparation.
- Maintained clean, hygienic kitchen workspace by sweeping, mopping, and taking out trash.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Enhanced kitchen efficiency by maintaining a clean and organized workspace during busy shifts.
- Contributed to a positive work atmosphere through effective communication and teamwork among staff members.
- Reduced food waste by properly storing ingredients and monitoring expiration dates.
- Followed orders from head chef to establish productive and timely preparation of meals.
- Preserved freshness of food by storing food in designated containers and storage areas within freezer or refrigerator.
- Collaborated with kitchen team, effectively communicating to streamline processes and optimize workflow.
- Trained and assisted new kitchen staff members.
- Received shipments and placed items on proper shelves to restock and organize restaurant pantry.
- Cultivated a safe working environment by consistently wearing appropriate protective gear and practicing safe handling techniques during food preparation tasks.
- Sharpened knife skills, resulting in precise cuts and reduced preparation time.
- Contributed to menu development, incorporating seasonal ingredients for freshness and variety.
- Enhanced kitchen efficiency by preparing ingredients ahead of busy shifts.
- Assisted in creating new menu items, leading to increase in customer interest and sales.
- Enhanced customer experience by contributing to creation of visually appealing dish presentations.
Barista
Starbucks
12.2023 - 06.2024
- Prepared high-quality beverages while adhering to company standards for taste and presentation.
- Provided exceptional customer service, ensuring a positive experience for all patrons.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of workstations to promote efficiency and safety.
- Assisted in training new baristas on beverage preparation techniques and customer interactions.
- Managed inventory levels, restocking supplies as needed to meet demand.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline workflow during peak hours, enhancing service speed.
- Implemented best practices for food safety and sanitation compliance in daily operations.
- Utilized point-of-sale system efficiently, processing transactions accurately and promptly.
- Maintained a clean and organized workspace for optimal productivity and safety.
- Promoted a welcoming atmosphere by greeting customers with a friendly demeanor and promptly addressing their needs.
- Pleasantly interacted with customers during hectic periods to promote fun, positive environment.
- Contributed to a positive team environment through effective communication and collaboration with colleagues.
- Cleaned counters, machines, utensils, and seating areas daily.
- Managed time effectively to balance both front-of-house tasks and back-of-house responsibilities during busy periods.
- Controlled line and crowd with quick, efficient service.
- Handled customer complaints professionally, resolving issues promptly to ensure satisfaction and foster loyalty.
- Maintained regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
- Maintained and operated espresso machines, blenders, commercial coffee brewers, coffee pots, and other equipment.
- Listened carefully to customer requests and created personalized, delicious beverages, which improved sales.
- Operated espresso machines and commercial coffee brewers to create beverages.
- Made and served brand-specific café beverages with focus on speed, quality and consistency.
- Trained new employees, sharing knowledge and expertise of coffees, teas, and merchandise.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by efficiently preparing and serving high-quality beverages.
- Created wide variety of hot and cold drinks in average shifts with consistently positive customer satisfaction scores.
- Trained new team members with positive reinforcement and respectful, encouraging coaching.
- Assisted in inventory management to maintain adequate stock levels and reduce wastage.
- Elevated coffee quality and consistency using precise measurements and techniques for every order.
- Initiated customer feedback system to gather insights for continuous improvement of service and product offerings.
- Maintained clean and organized workspace, ensuring welcoming environment for customers.
- Adapted quickly to high-volume periods by efficiently managing tasks and delegating responsibilities among team members.
- Learned every menu item's preparation and numerous off-label drinks to meet customer needs.
- Learned special recipe items and seasonal offerings to best meet customer needs.
- Restocked display cases with attractive arrangements to promote specialty food items like bagels and muffins.
- Prevented infections and maintained store professionalism by cleaning and sanitizing work areas daily.
- Packaged bagels, muffins and other food items for customer purchase.
Pharmacy Technician
CVS Pharmacy
Inglewood, CA
01.2023 - 02.2024
- Processed and dispensed medications accurately according to prescriptions and company protocols.
- Assisted pharmacists in managing inventory levels and ensuring medication availability.
- Educated patients on medication usage, side effects, and storage requirements.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of pharmacy workspace to comply with safety standards.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to resolve prescription-related issues efficiently.
- Implemented workflow improvements to enhance efficiency in medication preparation processes.
- Answered incoming phone calls and addressed questions from customers and healthcare providers.
- Stocked, labeled, and inventoried medication to keep accurate records.
- Enhanced pharmacy workflow by assisting pharmacists with medication dispensing, labeling, and packaging.
- Counted and labeled prescriptions with correct item and quantity.
- Assisted in maintaining a clean and organized work environment, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
- Improved patient satisfaction by efficiently processing prescriptions and managing inventory in a timely manner.
- Consulted with insurance company representatives to complete claims processing, resolve concerns, and reconcile payments.
- Communicated with patients to collect information about prescriptions and medical conditions or arrange consultations with pharmacists.
- Restocked pharmacy shelves with current merchandise to drive consistent peripheral sales.
- Boosted customer loyalty by providing friendly, knowledgeable assistance on drug interactions and side effects.
- Maintained clean and organized work environment, adhering to health and safety standards.
Employee
Winchells
Los Angeles, CA
10.2020 - 01.2023
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Educated customers on coffee offerings, promoting upselling opportunities and enhancing their overall experience.
- Supported training efforts for new hires, sharing knowledge of coffee making techniques and customer service standards.
- Adhered to strict food hygiene regulations, minimizing risk of contamination or illness among customers.
- Created seasonal beverage menu, driving increased interest and sales during holiday periods.
- Prepared ingredients by chopping, slicing, and measuring according to standardized recipes.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of workstations to comply with health regulations.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure timely service and high food quality.
- Utilized kitchen equipment safely, including ovens, stoves, and mixers for food preparation.
- Followed portion control guidelines to reduce waste while maintaining dish integrity.
- Worked closely with other line cooks to ensure consistency across all stations, delivering a cohesive dining experience for guests.
- Utilized strong multitasking skills to effectively manage multiple orders at once while ensuring high-quality output and timely service.
- Assisted in training new team members on cooking techniques, kitchen equipment usage, and company policies.
- Maintained a clean and sanitary work environment, adhering to health department regulations and ensuring safety for all staff members.
- Reduced food waste by implementing proper storage techniques and monitoring expiration dates.
- Operated dishwasher and manually washed dishes to clean all chinaware, silverware, and cooking utensils.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Received shipments and placed items on proper shelves to restock and organize restaurant pantry.
- Disposed of waste and recyclables according to safety protocols.
- Maintained cleanliness and sanitation standards in assigned areas.
- Operated cleaning equipment, including vacuums and floor scrubbers.
Education
High School Diploma - Film And Video Production
Verbum Dei Jesuit Highschool
Los Angeles, CASkills
- Strong work ethic
- Exceptional customer service
- Cash handling
- Guest engagement
- Professional appearance
- Hospitality service expertise
- Memory retention
- Customer service
- Cleanliness standards
- Safe food handling
- Menu memorization
- Team collaboration
- Sales techniques
- Sales expertise
- Supply restocking
- Table bussing
- Guest relations management
- Relationship management
- Allergy awareness
- Beverage preparation
- Guest seating
- Table setting
- Item promotion
- Food station setup
- Menu item recommendation
- Responsible beverage service
- Team member support
- POS operation
- Problem-solving
- Cool under pressure
- Excellent communication
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Server
Lonell’s Soul Food
06.2025 - 12.2025
Prep Cook
Lonell’s Soul Food
06.2025 - 12.2025
Barista
Starbucks
12.2023 - 06.2024
Pharmacy Technician
CVS Pharmacy
01.2023 - 02.2024
Employee
Winchells
10.2020 - 01.2023
High School Diploma - Film And Video Production
Verbum Dei Jesuit Highschool