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

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Restaurant Associates

Part of Compass Group USA

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 category

4.1

Diversity & inclusion

3.9

Career opportunities

3.7

Culture & values

3.7

Work/Life balance

3.7

Compensation and benefits

3.3

Senior management

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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

683 reviews

5.0

Mar 22, 2024

Outstanding Company

Vice president

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great leadership & core values. Delicious food & warm hospitality at incredible venues.

Cons

None that I can think of

Restaurant Associates Response

Thank you for rating R/A 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 R/A Family. Our leadership strives to promote our CARE Culture. If you have any further feedback please email us info@restaurantassociates.com

3.0

Feb 22, 2024

Very Corporate

Server/waiter

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

nice people, good training, good career opportunities

Cons

Everyone was super friendly and nice but there was always a lack of communication between managers, RA, and their client MCRA and it led to a lot of mismanagement. Very heavy corporate presence too

Restaurant Associates Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience about R/A. 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

4.0

Feb 20, 2024

Life at RA

Director of operations

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- outstanding growth opportunities - diverse clients and locations - weekly pay - compassionate and understanding leadership - large company that feels small in a close community sense

Cons

- limited bereavement time - benefit packages could be more competitive in price and coverage

Restaurant Associates Response

We are especially happy to hear that your experience exemplifies our Core Values of Premium Quality and Caring for our People that are at the heart of what we believe in. We strive to provide a culture where associates feel they are valued and have growth opportunities. Our aspiration goal is for all of our associates to be emotionally and intellectually committed to the company’s success. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such a thoughtful review that can continue to make us a better company.

Viewing 91 - 93 of 683 Reviews

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Outstanding Company

Very Corporate

Life at RA

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