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 66 reviews)); "The pay is good and reliable." ((in 40 reviews)); "Great people to work with" ((in 39 reviews)); "Great leadership and systems in place to succeed." ((in 20 reviews)); "staff is great, laid back and easy" ((in 11 reviews))

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

"Poor management; corner" ((in 32 reviews)); "Managers are horrible, they look for a reason to fire you before you get into the union" ((in 18 reviews)); "Long hours and you pay for parking" ((in 14 reviews)); "Little to no work life balance" ((in 13 reviews)); "Long hours are expected, sometimes no support." ((in 9 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

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

4.0

Nov 13, 2017

Great Opportunities for Advancement

Catering service manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent growth potential, company always looks to promote from within. Good pay. Generally good people to work with/for.

Cons

Sometimes too much red tape to make changes/fix issues in a timely fashion. Could be more opportunities for feedback on performance.

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

We appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience of 5 years with the RA Family. We strive to promote a collaborative culture that engages our teams through enthusiasm and excitement around the business. We appreciate your feedback on streamlining communication channels and process as this is a Top Priority in our People Matters Strategy. If you have any further thoughts or ideas please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

5.0

Nov 13, 2017

General Manager

General manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Restaurant Associates is the premium hospitality provider for premiere clients. RA consistently delivers delicious food and a superlative guest experience. Senior leadership is inspiring and innovative. High potential, hard working employees are afforded with the resources necessary to foster steady career growth.

Cons

None that I can think of at this time. RA is the gold standard in contract food service on the east coast and has a client list to match.

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

We appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience of 10 years with the RA Family. We strive to promote a collaborative culture that engages our teams through enthusiasm and excitement around the business. If you have any further feedback please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

5.0

Nov 13, 2017

Great transition from restaurants

General manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of room for growth in NYC, excellent work-life balance, CEO is amazing

Cons

Sometimes it feels like a huge company

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience about RA. We are excited that your first 3 years with us have been so positive. We strive to provide a culture where associates feel they are valued and have growth opportunities. If you have any further feedback, please email us info@restaurantassociates.com .

Viewing 580 - 582 of 683 Reviews

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Jobs at Restaurant Associates

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)

DISHWASHER (FULL TIME)