restaurateur
noun
res·tau·ra·teur
ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 
variants
or less commonly restauranteur
: 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
Young restaurateur David Foulquier took inspiration from his Persian and French roots when imagining this downtown spot.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Around the same time Good Food on Montford debuted, a pair of other young restaurateurs was just getting started.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Founded in Barcelona in 2003, with locations in Madrid and Zaragoza, El Ñaño is the first restaurant outside Spain for Ecuadorian chef, founder and restaurateur Eloy Mera.
—Connie Ogle
april 10, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
The restaurateur is looking to do a reconstruction of the front entrance along Washington Street as well as install a new pergola for an outdoor patio, officials said.
—Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restaurateur
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Around the same time Good Food on Montford debuted, a pair of other young restaurateurs was just getting started.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Founded in Barcelona in 2003, with locations in Madrid and Zaragoza, El Ñaño is the first restaurant outside Spain for Ecuadorian chef, founder and restaurateur Eloy Mera.
—Connie Ogle
april 10, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
The restaurateur is looking to do a reconstruction of the front entrance along Washington Street as well as install a new pergola for an outdoor patio, officials said.
—Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restaurateur
Cite this Entry
“Restaurateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restaurateur. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
restaurateur
noun
res·tau·ra·teur
ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər
variants
also restauranteur
: a person who owns or runs a restaurant
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