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
The hotel recently welcomed Aviv Restaurant by James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Solomonov and restaurateur Steve Cook (best known for Philadelphia’s iconic Zahav and Brooklyn’s trendy Laser Wolf); open as of March 2025, with reservations available here).
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Jamel Toppin for Forbes Despite challenges from prediction markets, Ozempic and rising costs, the restaurateur owner of the Houston Rockets seeks to add 50 locations, and a mountain of debt, to his existing empire.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The location, behind the Sheraton Hotel, already hosts the likenesses of restaurateurs Lina Fat, Biba Caggiano and Randy Paragary, and food connoisseur Darrell Corti.
—Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
In 1993, Dallas restaurateur Bob Clements bought Culpepper’s and turned it into a steakhouse for the following 30 years.
—Ella Gonzales
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for restaurateur
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Jamel Toppin for Forbes Despite challenges from prediction markets, Ozempic and rising costs, the restaurateur owner of the Houston Rockets seeks to add 50 locations, and a mountain of debt, to his existing empire.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The location, behind the Sheraton Hotel, already hosts the likenesses of restaurateurs Lina Fat, Biba Caggiano and Randy Paragary, and food connoisseur Darrell Corti.
—Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
In 1993, Dallas restaurateur Bob Clements bought Culpepper’s and turned it into a steakhouse for the following 30 years.
—Ella Gonzales
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 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 4 Jun. 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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