Known for its progressive politics, Busboys and Poets pays well and offers paid sick leave. Photo by LaTur

Via BoingBoing, we find a report by the Restaurant Opportunities Center United that ranks eateries across the country based on not only how good their food might be, but also how good they are to their workers.

The 30-page report, the Consumer Guide on the Working Conditions of American Restaurants, ranks restaurants based on whether they pay their workers — both tipped and non-tipped — above minimum federal standards, offer paid sick leave and allow professional advancement.

According to the report, the majority of the restaurant industry’s 10 million workers live in poverty, and few restaurants offer opportunities for them to escape it. The median wage for restaurant workers is $8.90 an hour — $2.13 for tipped workers and $7.25 for non-tipped — and 90 percent of restaurants offer no paid sick leave.

Locally, the sample of restaurants is small — only eight restaurateurs representing around 15 restaurants — responded to the group’s survey. Still, there were a few standouts.

Standing atop all competitors was Adams Morgan bar Jack Rose, Andy Shallal’s Busboys and Poets and Eatonville, and Jose Andres’ Zaytinya, Oyamel, Jaleo and America Eats Tavern. According to the report, the restaurants paid more than $9 an hour for non-tipped workers, offered sick leave and are members of the group’s Industry Roundtables. They all received gold prizes.

At the bottom of the ranked restaurants in the District? Clyde’s, which doesn’t seem to pay tipped or non-tipped workers very well, doesn’t offer paid sick leave for its underpaid workers and isn’t keen on advancement.

Standing somewhere in the middle, Ben’s Chili Bowl isn’t great on pay but offers paid sick leave, FreshII is the only place to offer advancement, and Yola and Inspire BBQ pay non-tipped workers more than $9 an hour.