--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Very few restaurant workers could even…" description: "\"Very few restaurant workers could even dream of eating in the restaurants they work in. Many do not make a living wage.\" — Anthony Bourdain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/anthony-bourdain-649_dream_very-few-restaurant-workers-could-even-d_361649.jpg" --- # Very few restaurant workers could even dream of eating in… ![“Very few restaurant workers could even dream of eating in the restaurants they work in. Many do not make a living wage.” quote by Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/anthony-bourdain-649_dream_very-few-restaurant-workers-could-even-d_361649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/anthony-bourdain-649_dream_very-few-restaurant-workers-could-even-d_361649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/anthony-bourdain-649_dream_very-few-restaurant-workers-could-even-d_361649.jpg) > “Very few restaurant workers could even dream of eating in the restaurants they work in. Many do not make a living wage.” [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Low wages keep restaurant staff from affording meals at their own establishments, highlighting systemic inequities. **In simple terms:** Workers often can't afford to eat where they work. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair pay. Themes labor rights income inequality hospitality industry Mood concerned empathetic Type social commentary advocacy When to use this quote - restaurant staff budgeting - policy advocacy - union organizing Key Concepts minimum wage living wage employee rights Questions to Reflect On - How can diners support fair wages? - What policies could ensure living wages? A Different Perspective Higher wages may increase operating costs for owners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Eating Restaurants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-restaurants-3215401/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-wage/) [Restaurant Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurant-workers-333890/) [Restaurants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurants/) [Restaurants Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurants-work-367124/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Workers Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers-dream-3320471/) ## Related quotes > [I think as a moral question, restaurant workers should get paid more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-think-as-a-moral-question-restaurant-workers-should-get-paid-more/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [There are certain things that make restaurants work and a certain kind of DNA that people who excel in restaurants need. 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The energy, the pace, and the idea of working under budgetary restraints reminds me a lot of sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/i-love-how-restaurants-work-the-energy-the-pace-and-the-idea-of/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) > [The peculiar dignity of men seen eating alone in restaurants on national holidays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/the-peculiar-dignity-of-men-seen-eating-alone-in-restaurants-on/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [I spend my weekends sleeping and watching DVDs, and eating at restaurants within a 2-block radius of my apartment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-spend-my-weekends-sleeping-and-watching-dvds-and-eating-at/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If anything is good for pounding humility into you permanently, it's the restaurant business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-anything-is-good-for-pounding-humility-into-you-permanently-it-s/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > ['Kitchen Confidential' wasn't a cautionary or an expose. 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One option is for a quiet life with honest work amongst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-richards/strax-gave-a-snort-of-amusement-it-is-surely-a-very-simple-choice-one/) [Justin Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-richards/) > [You can't receive a living wage unless you work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-winne/you-can-t-receive-a-living-wage-unless-you-work/) [Mark Winne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-winne/) ## More by Anthony Bourdain > [Everything important I learned, I learned as a dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/everything-important-i-learned-i-learned-as-a-dishwasher/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I'm at my most productive before I even have my first cup of coffee. I only get slower and stupider as the day progresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-at-my-most-productive-before-i-even-have-my-first-cup-of-coffee-i/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [The Italians seem to have a better attitude with kids and the food is great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/the-italians-seem-to-have-a-better-attitude-with-kids-and-the-food-is/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Just because I like sushi, doesn't mean I can make sushi. 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But you sink your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/imagine-there-s-a-roast-goose-in-hong-kong-mongkok-near-the-outskirts/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-i-m-an-advocate-for-anything-it-s-to-move-as-far-as-you-can-as/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“The essence of cool, after all, is not giving a fuck. And let’s face it: I most definitely give a fuck now. I give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/the-essence-of-cool-after-all-is-not-giving-a-fuck-and-let-s-face-it/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) [Explore all 428 Anthony Bourdain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. 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