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 13% 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?

"Good benefits when in union unit" ((in 66 reviews)); "Great people to work with" ((in 38 reviews)); "The pay is good and reliable." ((in 36 reviews)); "Great leadership and systems in place to succeed." ((in 17 reviews)); "Lots of overtime, great team to work with" ((in 10 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)); "Little to no work life balance" ((in 14 reviews)); "Long hours and you pay for parking" ((in 14 reviews)); "Long hours are expected, sometimes no support." ((in 10 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

5.0

Apr 21, 2017

Good place to work

Senior cafe manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Monday to Friday and free parking and holidays off. Managers are nice and the company has multiples locations to grow

Cons

Being in the food service is though. Some times the learning process is difficult and managers make you figure out by yourself

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. And Congratulations on 8 years with the RA Family. Because taking care of associates is one of our core values, we are always looking for ways to ensure our associates have equal access to growth and development opportunities. Please reach out to our member of the HR Team who can assist you in training options on our internal systems. Our associates are encouraged to provide further feedback, please email us info@restaurantassociates.com.

5.0

Apr 20, 2017

It's a catering company

Butler/bartender

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Team work, rarely stressful, interesting venues

Cons

Some managers can be very stressed and strict.

Restaurant Associates Response

8y

We appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience 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

3.0

Feb 22, 2017

Executive Chef

Executive chef

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Strong benefits, great hours and flexibility for a chef position. Lots of resources to expand and grow, and many other opportunities within the company.

Cons

Like all large companies, the job can be very numbers focused. Your position is only as good as the GM you work with.

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. We care very deeply for our associates and always looking for ways to improve. If you have any further feedback please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

Viewing 583 - 585 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)