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What Does the Word “Restaurant” Mean In French and How Did the Word For Dining Room Originate?

By Karen Hill

Up until 1765, diners were offered only what innkeepers chose to serve.

what does the word restaurant mean

But then, a Paris chef named Boulanger began offering a choice of nourishing soups to passersby and on a board hanging over the door he painted the word “Restaurant,” meaning “to restore.”

Boulanger was so successful that throughout the world dining rooms still display his original sign, “Restaurant,” a promise to restore energy.

The word restaurant is still used today for an establishment where meals are served to customers.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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