You wouldn’t expect to eat a fantastic cheeseburger at The Victory Teahouse. Nor are you likely to eat a stack of pancakes at The French Fry Warehouse.
What’s in a name? Everything. One important thing to keep in mind is that restaurants need names that sum up the dining experience your customers will have. For example, your name may tell people that you’ve chosen a Middle Eastern or Italian restaurant, or a Mexican steakhouse.
What is a good name for a restaurant?
Some of the best restaurants have a couple of things in common in their names:
The name of the owner or chef.
The type of food/type of cuisine
The location
You can put those key elements together in one name, like Suzie’s Main Street Tea Scones. That tells customers everything they need to know.
But are they likely to remember that name easily? Or are they more likely to remember a name like Sconehenge?
How do you create a restaurant name
The best way to create names for a restaurant is to use business name generators, or brainstorm with friends and family, or both.
In this article, we’ll give you all the specific tips you need to create a business name.
18 ideas for choosing the perfect restaurant name and getting noticed
These restaurant name examples should get your creative juices flowing.
1. Keep it short
Short names are easy to remember and suit apps, logo and social media. They show up easily in searches.
Here are some examples:
Spago (name of an Italian restaurant, Spago means spaghetti in Italian).
Burgrill (grilled hamburgers)
Indulge (all desserts)
Fruce (fruit and juice)
Kebabsville
2. Include puns in restaurant names
Puns are great names for restaurants and are one of the top restaurant name ideas. Puns are memorable. Using a pun in a name also conveys that the restaurant may have a certain relaxed atmosphere. As far as name ideas go, using a pun is one of the best options:
Dalai Lomo
The Sistine Chapel
The Codfather
Veider Bar
Brian’s beer
3. Make restaurant names memorable
Some restaurant names are truly unforgettable. They are unique and convey ambiance. What would you expect in New York from Lox Stock and Bagle?
Here are some other memorable names:
Diverxo
Solocroquetas
Yakitoro
Blue Plate
Spoonik
4. Add some humor
The whole world needs more humor, not just restaurants. Restaurateurs obviously get a kick out of that concept:
Sconehenge
Churrasic park
It’s not here
Asadero and barbecues my cock
Humgry Birds
5. Use a unique spelling
Using a unique spelling can be effective, but it can also be tricky. You don’t want to make it difficult for your customers to find you.
But using a unique spelling can make restaurants stand out from the crowd:
Thaitonic
Phobidden Fruit
Food Garden
Pita Pan
6. Use a unique symbol for your restaurant
Unique symbols work well as derivations of restaurant names. They are also memorable as logos on the side of a food truck.
For example, the restaurant name can easily «become» the symbol. The unique symbol is easily recognized and becomes part of the restaurant’s identity:
The Red Door
The sloth bear
The Feathered Horse
The Full Moon
Coyote Coffee
7. Promote brand identity and name recognition of your restaurant
Brand recognition is important. There are restaurant names that lend themselves to branding. Being easily recognizable as a brand also means that the name is something that lends itself to a seamless franchise venture. In other words, the restaurant name can easily become a brand:
The Great Impasta
Wok This Way
Bite Me Sandwiches
Crabby Hut
Snacksbar
8. Add a rhyme to your restaurant’s name
Rhymes in a name make a dining establishment easy – and fun – to remember:
Oh Dough
Feet & Thighs
Chops N Hops
Cork and Fork
Rice and Spice
9. Name your restaurant with the name of the food you serve
If you name your restaurant after the name of the food, you give people the assurance that their expectations will be met. Before they even arrive at your door, they’ll know whether to expect a barbecue meal or an Italian restaurant, for example.
Here are some restaurant names that hint at the type of cuisine inside:
Nim Com Soup
Sushi Jackies
Backyard Bowls
Pitaburg
The Chocolate Log
10. Naming your restaurant after a nearby place or thing
Naming a restaurant after a geographic element makes your location memorable. For example, stand out from other pizzerias by letting your customers know where you are: Bleeker Street Pizza or Montgomery Park Pizza.
You can use a street, neighborhood or area name, such as Banker’s Hill Deli or Fog Harbor Fishhouse.
Maybe you’re a fan of a national sport, such as baseball, or a movie buff. You could choose a name like Starting Lineup or Reel to Real Food. And the restaurant concept would continue with the interior decor.
11. Make sure the restaurant name is inclusive
The word «inclusive» can be used to describe your restaurant. It means that the entire meal is included in your bill, with no additional charges. This is often done by resorts and, of course, cruise ships.
Here’s how it usually works. The diner orders a la carte from a menu. The meal may include salad, soup, main course and dessert.
Items that are not always included are drinks, tips and taxes. If a restaurant offers an inclusive meal, any additional expenses diners may incur should be clearly stated. Otherwise, customers may dine and complain.
12. Use family names in your restaurant
Using a family name or nickname for your restaurant can give people a sense of familiarity with it. Like business names, a family name can help establish a family tradition of restaurant ownership. Customers may return for generations as the restaurant is run by successive generations. Here are some solid family restaurant names that have been around for decades:
Mario’s
Poole’s Diner
Duke’s Seafood
Norma’s
Tiny’s
13. Try restaurant names based on location
Los Angeles, California, Washington D.C., North Carolina, New York or Providence, Rhode Island? Customers can easily determine where restaurants are located by direct reference to a location in their names:
Hudson River Eats (New York New York).
Helms Bakery District (Los Angeles, California)
Busboys and Poets – 14th and V (Washington DC)
Providence Oyster Bar (Providence, Rhode Island)
14. Using a different language name
Using a different language can be a mistake in restaurant naming ideas. How long will it take for customers to learn and remember the name? A well-placed article in the local media can help when opening your doors.
However, by the same token, unique restaurant names can be a key to your identity. Here are a few to give you ideas and whet your appetite:
Sur un Arbre Perche – Diners sit on swings while eating.
Pot Au Feu – French cuisine
Cibo Matto – Translates as «crazy food» in Italian.
Le Parfait – Desserts are the specialty.
15. Evoke emotions in your customers
Restaurant names can reveal the owner’s personality and values. Restaurant names can be more than a clue as to the type of establishment you will be dining in:
Chill Out Kitchen
The Tipsy Cow
Rich Table
Barefoot Grill
16. Play with words for a unique restaurant name
While you shouldn’t play with food, you can play with words when choosing your restaurant name. Play with words as you play with restaurant name ideas:
16 Handles
Tequila Mockingbird Grill
Brew’d Awakening
Egglectic Dish
Wild Thyme Cafe
17. Reflect your restaurant’s personality
Use descriptive words in your restaurant name to give people an idea of what to expect from the dining experience. What kind of place is it? Family values? Or a noisy bar and grill?
Descriptive words are an important part of a restaurant’s name.
For example, a diner expects different experiences from a «kitchen» versus a «Gourmet Boutique.» Restaurants can be bistros, taverns, inns, cafes, grills, delis, inns and more.
When you are mulling over restaurant name ideas, remember that a descriptive word can give you an idea of what your restaurant is like. There’s a big difference between Henry’s Inn, where you expect a fancy menu, and Henry’s Kitchen, where you expect comfort food.
18. Ask people in the local community and beyond.
Think of it as free marketing. Having trouble with your restaurant name? Involve your future customers and the local media in the search for the perfect name for your restaurant:
Hold a contest and advertise it in a local media article
Organize an open house
Have people choose their favorite among several restaurant names.
Use the Internet, social media and a newspaper article to promote the contest.
Test several restaurant names
How to use restaurant name generators
Using restaurant name generators can yield surprising results. The result of a restaurant name generator can be a jumble of letters, but many successful establishments have gotten their restaurant names from a generator.
It’s a good place to start, and it’s a good place to end when you’re running out of restaurant name ideas for your business.
There are many restaurant name generator sites you can try:
Namelix
Buzztime Restaurant Name Finder
Fancy Name Generators
Kopywriting Kourse
BizNameWiz Restaurant Name Generator
The naming process
Let’s review. Make a list of the things that make your restaurant stand out from others. Then use that list and compare it to the names you are considering.
Make sure the name reflects the vision of your restaurant
Do you want your business to be like a home kitchen, where traditional fare is the norm, and diners are comfortable in their jeans?
Or do you want linen tablecloths, fancy china, a wine list, a gourmet plate?
Think carefully about your target audience
Will your restaurant appeal to all age groups or will it only target one? What hours will you be open?
Having «Bar and Grill» in the name may cause families to choose another destination.
Make sure the name is original
Check the USPTO database to make sure your restaurant name is not already taken.
Make sure the name is easy to pronounce
If the name is not easy to pronounce, it will not be easy to remember.
Make sure the name is marketable
A good name makes it easy to spread the word about your business. Make sure the name is short and conveys the type of cuisine you offer.
Steps to take before deciding on your restaurant name
You already have your top 5 names – now what?
Brainstorm ideas
Now it’s time to involve friends, family and the local community. You may have a favorite, but you should keep in mind what most people prefer.
Test your final names
Before you test your final names, make sure they are available (see below). Now it’s time for the restaurant owner to test the finalists. Have a contest, get social media involved. It’s all part of building hype for opening day.
Check the availability of your favorite name
Check domain name availability
You can use online services like Namecheckr and NameChk to see if your name is taken. You can also do a search on Google and social media.
Check the availability of the brand name
Once you’ve checked with the USPTO that your trademark is available, register it quickly.
Do a competitor analysis
Research the history of restaurants in your area: those that are in business and those that have failed. What type of cuisine is offered? What is the style of the venue and locations? Keeping an eye on competitors is an important step before you open, and it’s an important step as you run your business.
Marketing your restaurant
You should make sure your restaurant is present on several search engines, such as Yelp and Expedia. Some restaurants pay more to be listed first.
Search engines have categories that can help customers decide where to go. For example, categories include bargain, good for groups, has TV, good for kids, reservation required (or not), wheelchair accessible, dog friendly, military/senior discounts.
Popular adjectives for restaurants (h2)
This is a list of 10 common adjectives and phrases for restaurants:
Fine, best, gourmet, gourmet, tasty, homemade, generous portions, cuisine, fine dining, unique….