Michelle Carpenter. Photo courtesy Kate Voskova
After a three-year journey, Restaurant Beatrice in Oak Cliff will be the first restaurant based in Texas to be B Corp Certified and one of just six full-service restaurants based in the United States to attain full certification.
A Certified B Corp is a for-profit corporation that has been certified by B Lab, which is a non-profit company that measures a company’s social and environmental performance against global standards found in their B Impact Assessment. B Lab’s goal is to build “a global community of Certified B Corporations who meet the highest standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.”
B Lab’s certification process requires several levels of audits from different analysts and often adjusting of operations to meet these environmental, community, and governance parameters. The process uncovers every corner of business from financial records, employment practices, the community the business is located in, the quality of engagement with this community, and it requires data tracking.
“Restaurant Beatrice’s B Corp Certification is a tremendous accomplishment that showcases their dedication to the highest standards of social and environmental performance,” said Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. “This certification underscores their leadership in using business as a force for good, setting a powerful example for the entire restaurant industry. We at the Texas Restaurant Association are incredibly proud of Restaurant Beatrice for this remarkable and well-deserved recognition.”
Located in North Oak Cliff, Restaurant Beatrice is woman-owned led and garnered acclaim including finalist for “Best New Restaurant” in 2023 by the James Beard Foundation and Dallas Eater’s “Restaurant of the Year” in 2022.
“With 36 years of industry experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the post-pandemic landscape has presented unprecedented challenges,” said Restaurant Beatrice Executive Chef/Owner Michelle Carpenter. “We are dedicated to this journey of benchmarking ourselves and exploring innovative ways to align our values with our operations. As an independent, chef-driven restaurant, getting fully certified has been very hard. Our determination stems from a desire to inspire others in profession to embrace greater intention, reduce waste, minimize harm, and reconnect with the meaning of hospitality for everyone involved.”
