Are servers given a written test to work at all higher end places?

Post-Katrina I was hiring people who had relocated to BR, most positions were IT, so most were pretty smart people. One guy was excellent with the tech side, but what he really wanted to do was get hired at one of the better restaurants as a waiter. He told me that it just paid a lot more than I could afford to pay, the hours suited him and he liked the work.

I accommodated as best I could, he was trying to get on a Ruffino's and he showed me the written test he had to pass to be hired. This thing looked like a bar exam, what wines went with which dishes, the composition of sauces, it was about 12 pages and very detailed. I thought I knew a lot about food; I would have been lucky to get 50% correct.

I was very impressed with his knowledge, I had no idea this was required, my question is, how common is this?