restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 

variants or less commonly restauranteur

ˌre-stə-ˌrän-ˈtər 

: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

Did you know?

Restaurateur Has French Roots

Restaurateur and restaurant are French words from Latin restaurare, meaning "to restore." Of the two words, restaurant is more common—a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling restauranteur for restaurateur. Some people consider restauranteur to be an error, but it is still on the menu as an acceptable word choice.

Examples of restaurateur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fort Lauderdale restaurateurs Dan and Lise-Anne Serafini (GG’s Waterfront Bar & Grill, Tiki Tiki), who bought Le Tub in late 2022, consider this event an overdue coming-out party. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025

Resilient restaurateur Chef Katie Voong of Ktea Café and Mayan Kitchen embodies the relentless drive of a survivor. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 25 May 2025

Chef and restaurateur Gaston Riveira opened the first La Cabrera in 2002 at the corner of Cabrera and Thames in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires with the idea of reimagining the use of the Argentine parrilla (a metal or iron grill grate over hot coals or wood embers). —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025

Dale Peterson, also a stockbroker turned restaurateur, died in 2009 at the age of 72. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French restaurateur, from Late Latin restaurator restorer, from Latin restaurare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for restaurateur

• entrepreneur
• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• saboteur
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur

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Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant