Humble Pie, Atlanta’s neighborhood restaurant offering chef-driven American dishes from 2023 James Beard Award Best Chef Southeast semifinalists and partners Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips, announced its Sensory Inclusive Certification from KultureCity. Opened in January 2023, the restaurant joins sister concept Lazy Betty in being the only two sensory inclusive restaurants in Atlanta.
KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs. The new certification promotes an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with a sensory issue, no matter their age or ability.
Conducted annually, the restaurants’ team trainings are led by medical professionals and teaches staff how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. KultureCity Sensory Bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones provided by Puro Sound Labs, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and KCVIP lanyards, are now available to all guests who may feel overwhelmed by this new environment.
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which can be a major part of the environment at a location like a restaurant. With this certification, Humble Pie’s and Lazy Betty’s teams are now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.
Prior to visiting either restaurant, families and individuals can download the free KultureCity app and view what sensory features are available at each restaurant as well as a Social Story, which provides a visual preview of what to expect while enjoying a visit to Lazy Betty or Humble Pie.
"We strive to make all feel welcome at each of our restaurants,” says Ron Hsu, Culinary Director & Chef-Partner at Lazy Betty. “We’re honored to work with KultureCity to give more people the chance to enjoy dining out.”
Additionally, Chefs Ron and Aaron are also advocates for equitable pay in the industry. Humble Pie gives all hourly kitchen staff 3.14% of all sales, and Lazy Betty’s pricing includes a 20 percent service fee, of which a portion is allocated to the entire back-of-house team regardless of position or status. These initiatives help level the pay disparity typically seen in restaurants between the front- and back-of-house, and ensure everyone on the team receives more consistent pay and a liveable wage.
Since the program’s inception, KultureCity has created over 1,000 Sensory Inclusive public and private services, organizations, events and venues in six countries. This includes special events such as the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, MLB World Series and MLB All Star Weekend.
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