WHO WE ARE
Open on Earth June 10, 1971, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants began as a result of Rich Melman’s innovative ideas combined with the business acumen of Jerry A. Orzoff. A successful realtor, Orzoff played a crucial role in Melman’s life as a close friend and mentor. Following the opening of R.J. Grunts in 1971, Melman and Orzoff continued to develop restaurant concepts together until Orzoff’s death in 1981. Through his relationship with Orzoff, Melman formulated a philosophy based on the importance of partnership, sharing responsibilities and ideas, developing and growing together, with a “culture of caring” ethos which has been paramount to the company since day one. 50 years later, Lettuce remains a family-owned organization that owns, manages and licenses more 60 brands and 130 restaurants in a dozen states including Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, Washington D.C., Texas and Florida. From fast casual to Michelin-starred fine dining, Lettuce looks forward to continuing to innovate and develop new restaurants, providing opportunities for our talented teams to grow.
OUR PARTNERS
“You can tell a lot about a person by the types of people they choose to surround themselves with.”
- Rich Melman
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants is in the business of developing people and it’s the people who make us successful. Today, Lettuce has more than 75 partners who have grown with the company.
CARING FOR PEOPLE SINCE 1971
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants’ Culture of Caring is at the heart of everything we do. Enriched by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program, it inspires us to foster safe spaces where everyone feels free to be their full selves, to remove obstacles so that everyone thrives, and to create restaurants and workplaces that look and feel like the communities where we live, work and serve.
We’ve been bringing people together at our tables since 1971. Come as you are. We’ve set a special place for you.
