FILE: The exterior of the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, Calif., on Nov. 26, 2016.

A former French Laundry employee has accused the three-Michelin-starred restaurant of failing to pay full wages to her and over 50 other employees, among other work violations.

A complaint filed at the Napa Superior Court on Thursday alleged that Elena Flores Beteta, a former dishwasher at French Laundry in Yountville, did not receive full payment during her tenure from 2022 to 2025. Beteta filed the lawsuit against the Michelin-starred restaurant and the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

Article continues below this ad

The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group denied the allegations in an email to SFGATE, calling it a “baseless claim” and denying that Beteta’s allegations represented the views of other employees.

“Beyond this one employee, no other employee at the French Laundry has raised any issues about underpayment,” the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group said in a statement. “The fact is that the French Laundry complies fully with all California employment laws. We look forward to proving that this lawsuit from a single employee has no basis whatsoever.”

Beteta was not joined by any other plaintiffs in the lawsuit but said that she believed other workers were treated similarly. 

Don't let Google decide who you trust.

According to the lawsuit, which was first reported on by the Press Democrat, Beteta and other staffers regularly worked after they clocked out of their shifts but were never compensated for post-shift tasks. Supervisors allegedly made Beteta and other staff members mop and wipe walls at the restaurant workstations, as well as clear accumulated food from the dishwashers, after they were off the clock about three to four times per week, the lawsuit said. 

Article continues below this ad

“Plaintiff and aggrieved employees frequently worked off the clock and were routinely subjected to periods wherein they were under the Defendants’ control but not compensated for their time,” the lawsuit alleged. 

Lunch breaks were also shortened as a result of workers queuing up to clock out, and the long lines usually shaved off five minutes from Beteta’s 30-minute lunch breaks, the lawsuit continued. About once a week, Beteta’s lunch was allegedly interrupted by supervisors who asked her to perform work tasks like “cleaning buckets or disposing of trash.” The lawsuit also said that employee breaks were “not scheduled into daily shifts” due to “staffing and business practices” at the restaurant. 

Beteta is asking for a trial and a judgment of $35,000 that includes attorney fees and lost wages.

Article continues below this ad

The March lawsuit comes weeks after French Laundry chef-owner Thomas Keller made headlines for his harsh criticism toward an affordable housing project that was proposed near his famed restaurant. The Yountville Commons project was recently put on hold.

— Why the Bay Area's holy grail of soft serve ice cream has vanished— Struggling Bay Area chain shutters prominent SFO location— City investigates fight between SF firefighters, Marin deputy at Original Joe's— Former President Bill Clinton just ate brunch with Gavin Newsom at SF restaurant

For all things fascinating in Bay Area food, sign up for our Eat the Bay newsletter here. 

© SFGate