Restaurant Naming Guide: Choose a Name Diners Remember

Your Restaurant Name Sets the Table

Before a single plate is served, your name tells potential diners what to expect. "The Golden Fork" promises a different experience than "Taco Loco." Your name shapes expectations about cuisine, price point, and atmosphere.

Start With Your Concept

Your name should align with three things:

• Cuisine type: Italian, fusion, seafood, barbecue
• Price point: Fine dining names feel different from fast-casual names
• Atmosphere: Cozy, upscale, fun, family-friendly

A mismatch confuses diners. A high-end sushi restaurant named "Sushi Dude" sends the wrong signal. An expensive French bistro named "Le Château" sets the right expectation.

Restaurant Naming Patterns That Work

Location-Based

"Brooklyn Fare," "Nobu Malibu," "Per Se" (from the French, referencing its New York City location). Tying your name to a place creates a sense of belonging and local pride.

Ingredient or Dish-Focused

"The Avocado Show," "Salt & Straw," "Flour Bakery." These names hint at what's on the menu without being too literal.

Founder or Family Names

"Chez Panisse," "Momofuku," "Jiro." Using a personal name adds story and authenticity. It signals that a real person stands behind the food.

Evocative Words

"Ember," "Harvest," "The Butcher's Table." These words create imagery and emotion. They suggest flavors, textures, and experiences.

Playful or Punny

"Pho King Delicious," "Thai Tanic," "Wok This Way." These work for casual restaurants where personality is part of the brand. Use with caution — what's funny once can feel tired on the hundredth visit.

Google Maps and Local SEO

Most diners find restaurants through Google Maps. Your name matters for search:

• Unique names rank better — "The Olive Garden" is impossible to compete with, but a unique name can own search results
• Don't keyword-stuff your Google Business listing — Google penalizes names like "Best Pizza NYC Joe's Restaurant"
• Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across all platforms helps rankings

Check Before You Commit

Before printing menus and designing signage:

1. Search Google for your exact name + your city. Any conflicts?
2. Check domain availability — you need a website for online ordering and reservations
3. Search social media — claim handles on Instagram (essential for restaurants), Facebook, and TikTok
4. Verify no trademark conflicts in the restaurant category

Use BrandScout to check domain and social availability instantly.

The Signage Test

Your name will appear on a sign, often from a distance. Consider:

• Can it be read from across the street?
• Does it work in a long, horizontal format and a stacked format?
• How does it look in the font style that matches your concept?

Shorter names are easier and cheaper to put on signage. "Raku" costs less to illuminate than "The Neighborhood Kitchen & Bar."

Domain Strategy for Restaurants

Many restaurants skip the website. Don't. You need a domain for:

• Online ordering
• Menu display
• Reservation links
• SEO and Google Business verification

If yourrestaurantname.com is taken, try .restaurant, .kitchen, or .cafe TLDs. But always aim for .com first.

Names to Avoid

• Hard to pronounce — If servers have to spell it for every phone caller, it's a problem
• Too similar to nearby restaurants — Causes genuine confusion with deliveries and reservations
• Culturally insensitive — Research the meaning and connotations of words from other languages
• Too generic — "American Grill" is unmemorable and impossible to own in search

Your Restaurant Naming Checklist

1. Define your concept, cuisine, and audience
2. Brainstorm twenty names across different patterns
3. Test pronunciation with staff and friends
4. Check Google Maps for local conflicts
5. Verify domain and social availability with BrandScout
6. Test on signage mockups
7. Register domain and social handles before announcing

Your restaurant name is the appetizer. Make it irresistible, and diners will come hungry for more. Start checking availability with BrandScout.