May not be all stores but from my experience there is so much favoritism, if you're not part of the cliques you're not going to go far.
Opportunities for REAL promotion are far and few between, based on numbers not merit, and you're have to be willing to relocate majority of the time.
Standards are only a worry when restaurant inspections are coming up and if you want to get good hours make sure you are willing to be buddy buddy with the managers.