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?

"Good benefits when in union unit" ((in 70 reviews)); "Great people to work with" ((in 40 reviews)); "The pay is good and reliable." ((in 37 reviews)); "Great leadership and systems in place to succeed." ((in 21 reviews)); "The dedication to training and development is like none I've witnessed and the" ((in 8 reviews))

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

"Poor management; corner" ((in 33 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 15 reviews)); "Little to no work life balance" ((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

Aug 17, 2021

Great Place to Work

Director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Very FOOD forward company. The upper management is great. My peers are caring and diligent. The hourly team members are heard are just as food focused. All around great place to work. The company is very dedicated to having a diverse team. They strive to be ahead of the curve with culinary trends, hospitality and HR.

Cons

Zero. Nothing negative to say. If there is an issue and you bring it to someone's attention, it is handled professionally and quickly.

Restaurant Associates Response

4y

We cant wait either! We are so excited that you took the time to let us know that your 8-10 years with the R/A Family has been so positive. We are especially happy to hear of your confidence in R/A’s leadership; We strive to promote a culture that engages our teams through enthusiasm and excitement around the business. Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know that your experience has been so positive. See you at the Annual Meeting!

5.0

Aug 17, 2021

Amazing Company

Pantry lead

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

You are treated like family in this company. Great benefits and they provide a lot of information for you to be successful in your career within the business.

Cons

I have yet to see a downside!

Restaurant Associates Response

4y

Thank you for rating RA a 5! We appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience. We strive to provide a culture where associates feel they are valued and have growth opportunities. R/A’s leadership is committed in promoting a collaborative culture that engages our teams through enthusiasm and excitement around the business. Continue to let us know how you feel.info@restaurantassociates.com

5.0

Aug 17, 2021

Commitment to Quality, Excellent Resources and Culture

Regional director operations

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Value individual contributions, room for growth, exception food and hospitality to be proud of.

Cons

No cons to mention, this is a great company with great leadership. It's what you put into it.

Restaurant Associates Response

4y

We are so excited that you have chosen Restaurant Associates and took the time to let us know that your 8-10 years experience has been so positive. We are especially happy to hear of your confidence in valuing your contributions and room for growth. At R/A food is our inspiration; we continue to be passionate around creating enthusiasm and excitement in our business. Please continue to let us know how we are doing! email us info@restaurantassociates.com

Viewing 292 - 294 of 683 Reviews

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Jobs at Restaurant Associates

FOOD SERVICE UTILITY (FULL TIME)

CATERING ATTENDANT (ON CALL)

CONCESSIONS SUPERVISOR (SEASONAL)

LINE SERVER (PART TIME)