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

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

Safra brought in Juan Santa Cruz, a dapper banker turned restaurateur, to oversee the project, which includes a co-working space called Colette.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

For restaurateur Will Guidara’s wife, chef and cookbook author Christina Tosi, Meghan packs her homemade reindeer chow in a tall jar adorned with a festive bow.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025

When Apu became a restaurateur, he called his restaurant Curry in a Hurry. rhythm.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner