restaurateur

American  

[res-ter-uh-tur, res-taw-ra-tœr] / ˌrɛs tər əˈtɜr, rɛs tɔ raˈtœr /

Sometimes restauranteur

noun

plural

restaurateurs

1. the owner or manager of a restaurant.

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restaurateur British  

/ ˌrɛstərəˈtɜː /

noun

1. a person who owns or runs a restaurant

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Spelling

The English word restaurateur , borrowed from French, still exists in modern French in the same form and with the same meaning. The variant spelling restauranteur , influenced by the more familiar English word restaurant , is gaining some currency, but has traditionally been considered erroneous.

Usage

Although the spelling restauranteur occurs frequently, it is a misspelling and should be avoided

Etymology

Origin of restaurateur

1790–1800; < French; Middle French: restorer < Late Latin restaurātor, equivalent to Latin restaurā ( re ) to restore + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Brian Langley, a 66-year-old restaurateur, said the tax is bad timing for him because he just sold his lobster restaurant and some small adjoining buildings for more than $1 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Chef and restaurateur Ramsay, 59, has completed a number of Ironman and ultramarathon events in recent years.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

"You can have Japanese food, you can have Austrian food, you can have always the best steak," the Austrian-born restaurateur told AFP, as he seared a juicy tomahawk at a Tuesday press preview event.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

She eventually went to an abbreviated culinary school and managed restaurants for Danny Meyer, a renowned restaurateur.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

She certainly was a lucky woman: a respected restaurateur, wife of a state official, and mother of the cleverest kid who ever lived.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin