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restaurant

/ˈɹɛst(ə)ɹɑːnt/
noun★Beginner— place where meals are served
formal

A place where meals are prepared and served to customers.

The restaurant offers vegan options on its menu.

The dining establishment provides plant-based dishes.

We reserved a table at the restaurant for 7 PM.

We booked a dining seat at the venue for 7 PM.

💡

Often used with qualifiers like 'fast-food restaurant' or 'fine-dining restaurant' to specify type.

Collocations

fast-food restauranta restaurant serving quick, inexpensive mealsfine-dining restauranta restaurant offering high-quality, gourmet mealsrestaurant chaina group of restaurants owned by the same companyrestaurant ownerthe person who manages or owns a restaurantreserve a table at a restaurantto book a seat in advance

Synonyms

eaterydinercafébistrodining establishment

💡Pro Tip

Ordering in a restaurant

Use phrases like 'Can I see the menu?' or 'What do you recommend?' to navigate dining customs. Tipping is customary in many English-speaking countries (e.g., the U.S.), typically 15-20% of the bill.

⚡Gold Rule

Countable vs. uncountable

'Restaurant' is a countable noun. Use 'a' or 'the' before it (e.g., 'a restaurant', 'the restaurant').

📖Word Origin

From French 'restaurant', originally meaning 'restorative food' (from 'restaurer' meaning 'to restore'), referring to the restorative properties of soups served in early Parisian restaurants.

📝Usage Notes

In English, 'restaurant' can refer to any establishment serving meals, regardless of price or cuisine. The word is often shortened to 'resto' in informal contexts.

Word Breakdown

restaurant
from French 'restaurer' (to restore)
root
English Dictionary

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