It’s settled: the famous American fine-dining and casual restaurants group owned by chef Thomas Keller, the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a federal lawsuit connected to alleged sexual harassment and retaliation at one of its venues.
Long Investigation
Bouchon, the group’s famous French restaurant found inside The Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas Strip, was put into the spotlight as, says the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), its employees were subjected to repeated sexual harassment dating back to at least 2018.
The settlement, approved by a federal judge in Nevada on July 8, 2026, finally brings a years-long investigation to an end.
EEOC has alleged that male supervisors and co-workers engaged in inappropriate behavior on an almost daily basis. The behavior included sexual comments, unwanted advances, explicit conduct, and unwelcome physical contact involving both female and male employees.
While workers raised concerns internally, the company did not take the necessary measures to properly address the disturbing complaints, said federal investigators. Some of the employees who reported the bad conduct also said they faced retaliation.
“Sexual harassment is illegal and continues to be a problem in the restaurant industry,” said Beatriz Andre, acting regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District, in a statement announcing the settlement.
The agreement has established that the group, which is known for its 3-star Michelin locations like French Laundry in California and Per Se in New York, will need to distribute the $2 million among eligible current and former employees who worked at Bouchon Las Vegas between 2018 and July 2026.
More Than Money
The company has also agreed to assess and improve its anti-discrimination policies, extend employee harassment-prevention training, and appoint an independent monitor approved by the EEOC to keep a close eye on compliance efforts for the next four years.
In response, the group criticized the EEOC’s characterization of the case while emphasizing its commitment to improving workplace conditions.
“Bouchon Las Vegas continues to prioritize evaluating and improving workplace health and welfare initiatives, and elected to resolve these nearly decade-old claims to dedicate resources to our staff and guests instead of litigation,” the company said in a statement.
The timing of the new development could not have been worse for the hospitality group, which was already facing multiple lawsuits filed in 2026 by former employees of The French Laundry for alleged labor and workplace violations.
Chef Thomas Keller, one of the most recognizable names in American fine dining, was not personally named in the EEOC lawsuit.