Top 12 Best Restaurants to Work For in 2025

Lola Lin

Lola Lin

August 11, 2025

5 min read

Finding the best restaurants to work for can make a big difference in your career and daily life. The best restaurants to work for offer fair wages, great benefits, and a supportive work environment. No matter if you're a chef, server, or manager, working at one of the best restaurants to work for can level up your job satisfaction. In this article, we’ll dig in to the top 12 best restaurants to work for in 2025, highlighting what makes them special and why employees love them.

Happy restaurant staff working together

1. JuneBaby – Seattle, WA

JuneBaby is one of the best restaurants to work for, known for its inclusive culture and competitive benefits. Chef Edouardo Jordan pays living wages and offers health insurance and paid vacation.

  • Key perks:
    1. Living wages well above minimum wage.
    2. Health insurance coverage for full-time staff.
    3. Paid vacation for employees working 30+ hours.

Learn more about JuneBaby's workplace culture.

Use Assembo.ai to Create Custom Backgrounds

2. Use Assembo.ai to Create Custom Backgrounds

Assembo.ai is a great tool for restaurant owners to showcase their workplace culture. You can use it to create professional images of your restaurant for job postings.

  • How it works:
    1. Upload photos of your restaurant.
    2. Choose from AI-generated backgrounds.
    3. Create eye-catching images for recruitment.

Check out Assembo.ai for restaurant marketing.

Biscuit Love – Nashville, TN

3. Biscuit Love – Nashville, TN

Biscuit Love stands out as one of the best restaurants to work for with its unique employee wellness programs, including on-staff therapists.

  • Why employees love it:
    1. 80% health insurance premium coverage.
    2. On-site therapists for mental health support.
    3. 87% employee retention rate.

Read more about Biscuit Love's benefits.

Cala – San Francisco, CA

4. Cala – San Francisco, CA

Cala offers affordable health insurance to all employees, making it one of the best restaurants to work for in California.

  • Employee benefits:
    1. Full medical/dental/vision at 20+ hours.
    2. Mental health services included.
    3. House service fee replaces tipping.

See Cala's innovative benefits.

Patachou Inc. – Indianapolis, IN

5. Patachou Inc. – Indianapolis, IN

With 13 locations, Patachou Inc. has been setting standards as one of the best restaurants to work for since 1989.

  • Standout policies:
    1. Zero-tolerance harassment policy.
    2. Matched 401(k) plans.
    3. Paid parental leave.

Learn about Patachou's long-standing policies.

Hell's Backbone Grill – Boulder, UT

6. Hell's Backbone Grill – Boulder, UT

This remote restaurant proves location doesn't matter when you're one of the best restaurants to work for.

  • Unique advantages:
    1. Staff housing provided.
    2. Zero-tolerance harassment policy.
    3. Internal promotions only.

Discover Hell's Backbone Grill's culture.

Zingerman's – Ann Arbor, MI

7. Zingerman's – Ann Arbor, MI

Zingerman's employee aid fund and cross-training make it one of the best restaurants to work for in Michigan.

  • Employee perks:
    1. Emergency financial assistance.
    2. Intensive cross-training programs.
    3. Open-book management.

Explore Zingerman's unique approach.

Ardent – Milwaukee, WI

8. Ardent – Milwaukee, WI

Ardent's regular schedules and parental leave make it one of the best restaurants to work for in the Midwest.

  • Work-life balance:
    1. Set weekly schedules.
    2. One month paid parental leave.
    3. Cross-training opportunities.

Read about Ardent's scheduling policies.

Mei Mei – Boston, MA

9. Mei Mei – Boston, MA

Mei Mei's open-book management makes it one of the best restaurants to work for in Massachusetts.

  • Transparent practices:
    1. Monthly financial meetings.
    2. Tip pooling system.
    3. Health insurance contributions.

See how Mei Mei involves employees.

Barrio Café – Phoenix, AZ

10. Barrio Café – Phoenix, AZ

Barrio Café proves the best restaurants to work for go beyond just paychecks.

  • Holistic benefits:
    1. Interest-free employee loans.
    2. Set schedules.
    3. No-tolerance harassment policy.

Learn about Barrio Café's approach.

Dinette – Pittsburgh, PA

11. Dinette – Pittsburgh, PA

Dinette's mentorship program makes it one of the best restaurants to work for aspiring chefs.

  • Career development:
    1. Doubles minimum wage for cooks.
    2. 80% health premium coverage.
    3. Nine alumni opened businesses.

Read Dinette's success stories.

Giant – Chicago, IL

12. Giant – Chicago, IL

Giant's talent incubator approach makes it one of the best restaurants to work for career growth.

  • Professional development:
    1. Funded stage trips for staff.
    2. $100/month health insurance.
    3. 96% employee participation in benefits.

Discover Giant's incubator program.

Final Thoughts

The best restaurants to work for in 2025 prove that the industry can offer great jobs with fair pay, benefits, and respect. No matter if you're looking for health insurance, regular schedules, or career growth, these restaurants show what's possible. The best restaurants to work for create environments where employees thrive, which leads to better service and happier customers. If you're looking for restaurant work, consider these top employers who value their staff.

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