Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Daniel Boulud Sued By Servers For Wage Theft
By
Nell Casey
Published Jun 12, 2014
Modified Jun 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nell Casey
Published Jun 12, 2014
Modified Jun 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Restaurant mogul and celebrity chef Daniel Boulud is the subject of a new multimillion dollar lawsuit, filed by servers who claim they were robbed of their rightful tips and wages. The civil suit filed in Manhattan alleges that servers were tasked with duties above and beyond their job parameters and were not fairly compensated, reports the Post. It also claims servers were forced to share tips with back of house staff in the kitchen.
Servers Carlos Cruz Cacildo, Edison Lopez and Justin Wands say they compelled to perform activities such as taking out the garbage, vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms but were not duly compensated for the work. Instead of the required $8-per-hour minimum wage rate, they were paid at the $5-per-hour rate allowed for workers who earn tips at their jobs. "Workers deserve to be treated fairly," said their attorney Brian Schaffer. "The law is very clear about this." Tip pooling is technically legal in New York State, though the specifics of the lawsuit's claims are unclear.
Coincidentally, on Monday Schaffer reached a settlement for 88 other Boulud employees in a separate federal lawsuit filed with similar allegations. Workers hinted at a greed angle, saying Boulud was unwilling to share the rewards of his success—including accolades to celebrity visitors to fundraising gigs—with his employees.
A request for comment from Boulud's publicist has not been returned.
The recent wage theft narrative has focused on fast food workers and their plight for fair treatment under the law, but these alleged shady practices are also common in the fine dining arena. Recently, Michelin-starred Dovetail was sued under similar circumstances; other eateries have been accused of other wage theft actions like stealing delivery worker's gratuities.
Tagged
daniel boulud
lawsuits
wage theft
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .