Cruddy management can really drive a place under. Food service is pretty much the bottom of the barrel as far as jobs go -- it's not something you so much choose to do as you are usually forced to do it. And, yeah, a lot of the most obvious solutions are actually not really solutions ("Uproot your life! Retroactively have studied what you now want a job in! Magically find a new job!")
I don't know what temp agencies are like in your area, but in most large-ish cities, I've found them to be a pretty good way to earn a living wage and put in some face time with some people who might hire you. It can be pretty tedious, and isn't always regular, but you can work with multiple agencies at once. I may be lucky, but the agencies that I've worked with have been pretty good about putting food on my table, at least. It gives you a natural network and a place to prove yourself where people are watching. For me, it sure as hell beat food service and retail, even with the sporadic nature of it and the lack of insurance.
If there's a growing industry in your area, chances are good they'll need some data-entry chimp to fill out some spreadsheets or do some filing. And while it ain't glamorous, it's air-conditioned, seated, and actually tends to pay a living wage, if a low one. There's not always advancement opportunities, but at least you won't waste your time there: if they don't want you for something else, you'll be off to the new job in a week.
Maybe not the best solution, just the one I found worked for me when I was trying to figure out how the hell to leave the vortex of restaurant and retail.
