Is Restaurant Associates a good company to work for?

Restaurant Associates has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 712 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 14% over the last 12 months. 66% of employees would recommend working at Restaurant Associates to a friend and 69% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Restaurant Associates have been left by employees working as General Manager , Executive Chef and Assistant General Manager .

Does Restaurant Associates pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Restaurant Associates employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.7 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Restaurant Associates. This rating has decreased by 13% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Restaurant Associates?

66% of Restaurant Associates employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Restaurant Associates 3.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.7 for culture and values and 3.9 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Restaurant Associates?

Executive Chef (35) , General Manager (34) , Butler (25) , Cook (21) , Director (20) , Cafe Manager (19) , Manager (19) , Sous Chef (18) , Catering Manager (17) , Line Cook (13) , Chef (12) , Assistant General Manager (11) , Food Service Director (8) , Regional Director of Operations (8) , Catering Attendant (7)

What are the pros of working at Restaurant Associates according to real employee reviews?

"Great benefits and the company encourages growth from within." ((in 62 reviews)); "Great people to work with" ((in 39 reviews)); "The pay is good and reliable." ((in 38 reviews)); "Great leadership and systems in place to succeed." ((in 21 reviews)); "Great work life balance" ((in 15 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Restaurant Associates according to real employee reviews?

"Poor management; corner" ((in 35 reviews)); "Managers are horrible, they look for a reason to fire you before you get into the union" ((in 19 reviews)); "Long hours and you pay for parking" ((in 13 reviews)); "Long hours are expected, sometimes no support." ((in 10 reviews)); "Senior management is giving way to many units to over see." ((in 5 reviews))

What are employees saying about Restaurant Associates layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Restaurant Associates layoffs and their outlook for job security at Restaurant Associates in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Restaurant Associates locations?

New York , Washington , Boston , Kennett Square , Cambridge , Philadelphia , Atlanta , Wilmington , McLean , Chicago , Jersey City , Weehawken , Hyde Park , Ann Arbor , Knoxville , Kennet Sq , Richmond , Leesburg , Clifton Park , Los Angeles , Baltimore , Tysons Corner , Bound Brook , Newark , Princeton , Trenton , Blacksburg , Arlington , Lorton , Albany

Restaurant Associates reviews

3.7

66% would recommend to a friend

(683 total reviews)

Ed Brown

68% approve of CEO

69% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (683 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Restaurant Associates has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 683 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Restaurant Associates employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

683 reviews

2.0

Mar 23, 2018

RA....times are changing.

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

My everyday environment at work is amazing. I enjoy coming into work everyday, I appreciate my fellow workers, I love engaging with the googlers.. My insurance is top notch and I appreciate that I am able to take time off when needed

Cons

It is 2018......New york is one of the most expensive places to live in the country.Rent,taxes,etc....everything is going up. Restaurant associates/compass needs to come up with a realistic financial plan to increase the living wage. $15 is not cutting it to live in New York. Our client google makes over 90 billion dollars revenue and after that is 19 billion in profits. RA, something is not adding up....

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

We also appreciate you taking the time to provide thoughtful advice that can continue to make us a better organization. From the top down our commitment is to our associates; We are continuously reviewing and making improvements striving to ensure our associates have equal access to growth and development opportunities and to provide a competitive salary. In addition Compass Group received a Silver Award for its commitment to improving associate health and productivity. This marks the 6th year, Compass Group has received a Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® award. Please check out: www.compass-usa.com/national-business-group-health-honors-compass-group-usa-best-employers-healthy-lifestyles-award We encourage you to provide further feedback, so that we can better understand your individual concerns, please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

3.0

Mar 7, 2018

Solid company, but corporate structure can use a refresh

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Job security Autonomy Benefits package Workplace policies that encourage safety and fairness

Cons

Lacking teamwork Work-life balance non-existent They value tenure over talent Corporate structure is extremely limiting to professional growth Inflexible and working environments

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience about RA. We also appreciate you taking the time to provide thoughtful advice that can continue to make us a better organization. From the top down our commitment is to our associates. We strive to promote an environment and create a culture where associates feel they are valued and being heard. I would truly appreciate you reaching out to me directly rcerrati@restaurantassocites.com

5.0

Mar 5, 2018

It’s a company that allows you to learn to grow and climb up the ladder.

Cafe manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

This is a World class organization with many job locations offered worldwide that provide you with competitive and fair opportunities.

Cons

Unlike many organizations this one sets the bar pretty high and their expectations far exceed what most companies seek but at the same time this is great if your seeking the ultimate challenge.

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

Thank you for rating RA a 5! and taking the time to provide such a thoughtful review. We appreciate your input and are so happy to hear how much you are enjoying being part of the RA Family. We strive to provide a culture where associates feel they are valued and have growth opportunities. Did you now our internal promotion rate averages 67%! If you have any further feedback please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

Viewing 547 - 549 of 683 Reviews

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Jobs at Restaurant Associates

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (PART TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)