FORKED: A New Standard for American Dining offers an insider's view of the highest—and lowest—scoring restaurants for worker pay and benefits, and with it, a new way of thinking about how and where we eat. It provides actionable ways for restaurant owners, employees, and diners to positively implement change in this massive sector of the U.S. economy.
Take the High Road Pledge
Learn how you can support the restaurant industry in taking the high road to success.
Take the PledgeShort Films
Join Saru Jayaraman, best-selling author of Behind The Kitchen Door, as she meets restaurant employers all over the country who are taking the 'high road' to profitability, and who are featured in her latest book Forked: A New Standard for American Dining.
Episode 1: Florida Avenue Grill ›
Episode 2: Danny Meyer ›
Episode 3: Vimala's Curry Blossom Cafe ›
The High Road
What does it mean for a restaurant owner to choose the “high road” to profitability?
If restaurants meet ROC United’s standards on wages, benefits, and promotion practices, we consider them “high road” restaurants. Many of these restaurants have joined RAISE, an association of restaurant industry leaders committed to high road principles.
Check this list and find out which restaurants are doing right by their employees!
This guide isn’t about boycotting certain restaurants. We want you to continue to dine at all your favorite restaurants, but if they don’t score well in the guide (or are absent altogether), we want you to tell the restaurant owners that fair wages and good working conditions are important to you.
How are we grading restaurants?
We see the High Road as a journey not a destination and with this spirit in mind we seek to provide recognition to those that have made clear commitments to improving wages and working conditions. At a minimum, this means operating above the minimum expectations mandated by law and committing to improving operations with respect to wages and working conditions. Those that are on the Low Road have not made a clear commitment at scale, meaning they do not have a standard above mandated laws that matches their financial ability to do so. Simply stated, they often do the minimum required by law.
Book Events
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