A simple, brightly colored storybook illustration of the exterior of a cozy restaurant building with large windows and a welcoming entrance.

restaurante

rre-stow-RAHN-teh

NounmA1

restaurant?public place for eating

Also:eatery?informal name for a dining spot,dining establishment?formal or business term

📝 In Action

¿Conoces un buen restaurante de comida mexicana cerca de aquí?

Do you know a good Mexican restaurant near here?

El camarero nos dio una mesa al lado de la ventana del restaurante.

The waiter gave us a table next to the restaurant window.

Abrimos un nuevo restaurante de tapas en el centro de la ciudad.

We opened a new tapas restaurant in the city center.

Word Connections

Synonyms

bodegón (traditional/rustic restaurant (regional))
cafetería (cafeteria/casual eating spot)

Common Collocations

ir a un restaurante – to go to a restaurant
reservar una mesa en el restaurante – to book a table at the restaurant
dueño del restaurante – restaurant owner

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though 'restaurante' ends in '-e', it is a masculine word, so you always use the masculine article 'el' before it: 'El restaurante es caro' (The restaurant is expensive).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "La restaurante."

Correction: El restaurante. Remember to use 'el' for this word, even though many words ending in '-e' can sometimes be feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Ordering the Check

In a Spanish-speaking country, when you are ready to leave, ask for 'La cuenta, por favor' (The check, please) rather than using the word 'restaurante' itself.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: restaurante

Question 1 of 1

Which article must be used before 'restaurante'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

restaurar(to restore, to repair (verb)) - verb

restauración(restoration (noun)) - noun

restaurador(restorer / restaurateur (noun)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'restaurante' related to the Spanish verb 'restaurar' (to restore)?

Yes, absolutely! They share the same root meaning 'to restore' or 'to refresh.' Early restaurants were places that literally promised to 'restore' your health with specific foods and broths.