The Slow Food NYC Snail of Approval award.

This certification recognizes and celebrates exemplary restaurants, bars, and food and beverage artisans based in New York City that emphasize good, clean, and fair food for all New Yorkers.

Are you interested in becoming Snail of Approval certified?

Snail of Approval Criteria

For an establishment to join our Snail of Approval list, it must meet standards set by Slow Food USA, be a leader in the “good, clean, and fair” criteria below, and successfully go through an appraisal process with the Slow Food NYC team after submitting an application.

  • LOCAL - Embodies the food products and traditions of the New York region

    QUALITY - Provides delicious, excellent products

    HERITAGE - Sustains heirloom and historically important products and cuisines

  • HEALTHY - Focuses on nutrition and human health

    STEWARD - Environmentally responsible, minimizes impact, focus on sustainability

    HUMANE - Very high standards for animal sourcing

  • JUST - Great labor standards and practices and/or ownership is notable

    ACCESSIBLE - Enables access to good, clean, and fair food for all

    EDUCATION - Emphasizes teaching about food systems and cultures to the public

    ACTIVIST - Advocates for good, clean, and fair across the community

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the Snail of approval community?

To join our community, the staff of the establishment are asked to submit an application. We welcome submissions from food or beverage businesses based in New York City including restaurants, bars, retail stores, food producers, wine/beer/spirits producers, and caterers.

We encourage applications from establishments that may not fit a stereotypical “farm-to-table restaurant” model — there are many ways to be committed to good, clean, and fair values.

What are the benefits of being recognized?

Establishments that are recognized as meeting the Snail of Approval standards will receive a variety of benefits, including:

  • Promotion across the Slow Food NYC audience, reaching tens of thousands of Slow Food enthusiasts

  • Slow Food assets to use on menus, in windows, and across your social platforms

  • The opportunity to attend and host Slow Food NYC events

  • Participation in the Slow Food NYC Snail of Approval community

What does the application process look like?

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Fill out an application form

  2. Meet with members of the Slow Food NYC Snail of Approval committee

  3. The Slow Food NYC board confirms approved awardees

When completing the application, please expect to spend 15 to 30 minutes entering information, though feel free to be brief in your answers or note if there are areas that you’d like to discuss in more detail at a later time.

What about establishments outside NEW YORK city?

The Slow Food Snail of Approval award is a recognition given to food and beverage establishments that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their business, and many Slow Food chapters across the country participate in this program. For information about the national Slow Food USA program and other chapters doing this work, please click here.