Restaurant name ideas with examples.

Finding restaurant name ideas using a restaurant name generator.

A lot of restaurant owners will want to come up with their names and why not, naming your own restaurant is part of the fun. But if need help you could always try an online restaurant name generator or speak to a local hospitality consultant (of which there are many on Linkedin).

It may help to brainstorm restaurant name ideas that describe your restaurant’s cuisine or atmosphere. For example, if you specialise in seafood dishes, you might consider using related words such as “ocean,” “sea,” or even “sushi” as part of your name. You can also refer to a comprehensive restaurant name ideas list to get inspired by a variety of creative naming options.

If you’re known for serving delicious pastries and desserts, then restaurant names like “treat” or “sweet” could work well or if you’re a french restaurant then you could use a french word - you get the picture. Finding the perfect restaurant name involves aligning it with your restaurant's concept, ensuring it is memorable, and resonates emotionally with your target audience.

This is often the best place to start because restaurant names for a fine dining restaurant need fancy restaurant names which communicate the level of food and price point I should expect (as opposed to something you would pair with a food truck or casual restaurant).

Brunch restaurant names should communicated something more laid back, something which tells me the business is a coffee shop and a restaurant.

Creative restaurant name ideas could include your mission and values. For example, if you have a strong commitment to sustainability or supporting local businesses, then you might consider incorporating these ideas into your restaurant name. Similarly, if your menu focuses on dishes that are free from certain ingredients like gluten or dairy, then you could use those words as part of your name as well.

Another trick is to think of restaurant name ideas that communicate something about your restaurant’s atmosphere or the restaurant’s location. You can include detail-oriented descriptions like “hungry” or “modern.” Or you could share some information about where your restaurant is located by including geographic place-names such as “near the pier,” “in the park,” or “on High Street.” Engaging with local residents around the restaurant’s location through social media polls and surveys can also help ensure the chosen name resonates with potential customers in the immediate area.

How to check restaurant names aren't taken.

When you have a list of cool restaurant names, it's also important to check that the restaurant name you have in mind isn't already taken by someone else. To do this, you can use online resources like domain registrars and social media handles search tools. 

If your restaurant name ideas exist as a domain name, or there already social media handles with the name of the restaurant in the title, it likely means someone else has already claimed it. This may lead to some brand confusion, unless there’s a significant distance between the restaurant that shares the name.  If you're “Fat Pig” in Swansea and there’s another one in Shanghai, it’ll probably not be too much of a big deal but you never know, consider speaking to a business intellectual property lawyer.

Do a quick search to see what restaurants tare in your area and see if there's any overlap between their names and yours. If you find potential conflicts, try to come up with a different name or choose a variation of the one you've already decided on. This is especially important if your restaurant has a similar name as an existing place because it could potentially cause confusion for customers and lead them to believe they're at the wrong location.

There are plenty of great resources online that can help. Sites like Namechk and Knowem offer tools that allow you to see if a particular name is available across various social media platforms and domain names, making the process of choosing a name much simpler.  You may also want to check Companies House.

It goes without, don’t pick a restaurant name which risks putting you in direct conflict with a big franchise.  Whilst the Irish chain “Supermacs” were able to win a European court case against the McDonalds, you may find it difficult to find a solicitor willing to risk reputation by representing you for a similar perceived transgression!

Marrying up social media handles with your name.

Once you've found a great restaurant name, make sure to follow best practices when it comes to promoting and marketing your business on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others – after all, having a fantastic restaurant name won't mean anything if no one knows about your business.

You’ll want to set up accounts for the restaurant if its newly opened, or rename the existing accounts to reflect the restaurant names change.  Consider creating posts which announce this name change, or have a competition for a bar/restaurant tab.  You could even have customers vote for a restaurant name change, or make suggestions.  Though it is worth noting, if the wider British public get involved, you may end up calling your restaurant something as silly as Boaty McBoatface! (If you know, you know.)

Visibility is king, after all, this is how potential customers will find you – both online and in real life – so it's important to get it right! Make sure that your restaurant's name is written clearly on all marketing materials so customers can easily identify it, including signage in front of your building, menus at table level, branded t-shirts for employees, etc. The more attention you put into this step and the better job you do promoting your new name, brand, and identity online and offline, the higher the chances are of gaining popularity with customers.

Examples of great restaurant names.

A crucial part of choosing a great restaurant name is getting inspiration from other successful establishments, both online and offline. There are countless examples out there that can provide valuable insights into what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to naming a restaurant. Memorable restaurant names play a crucial role in establishing a restaurant's identity and creating a lasting impression on customers.

A well named restaurant either perfectly informs the customer of the type of cuisine or ambience involved, or has a great pun in its title.

“The Noodle House” is a quirky, playful name which perfectly conveys the type of food offered at this popular London eatery. You’re not likely to find roast dinners or French cuisine here.

“Da Poke Shack”: This Hawaiian-inspired restaurant has built up quite a following with its fun, tongue-in-cheek name and delicious poke bowls.

“The Fat Duck”: This is a rather surprising name as it sounds like a fairly run-of-the-mill pub, but in fact, it’s renowned for its exquisite food and breathtaking location, this three Michelin star venue is the perfect choice if you’re looking to elevate your eatery to the next level. Unique restaurant names can inspire new restaurant owners by reflecting the restaurant's spirit and offering guidance on brainstorming and naming strategies.

OK, those are are arguably a little bit boring.  Let’s go straight to the Dad-joke-level puns.

Lord of the Fried: from the William Golding novel, Lord of the Flies)

Life of Pie: you can probably guess what they serve here, you might be able to guess the name came from the book Life of Pi)

Filled of Creams: a desert shop that uses the movie title Field of Dreams to sound slightly risqué)

Jambon Jovy: pastry shop that pays tribute to the famous rock band)

Lord of the Wings: from the book and movie Lord of the Rings)

Grillenium Falcon: based on Han Solo’s ship in the Star Wars movies)

Pita Pan: from the book and Disney franchise Peter Pan)

Earth, Wind and Flour:  the 70’s soul/disco band Earth, Wind, and Fire

Wok This Way: the song Walk This Way by Aerosmith

The Notorious P.I.G.: referencing my favourite late, great rapper the Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)

Planet of the Grapes: A wine bar which references the movie Planet of the Apes, alternatively, “The Grapes of Wrath

License To Grill: From the James Bond film License to Kill

Conclusion

Overall, there is no single "right" way to choose a restaurant name – ultimately, what matters most is finding something that sticks in the mind and appeals to your target audience, while also avoiding common pitfalls like sounding too generic or contrived.

So whether you're looking for something clever, distinctive or memorable, remember that choosing the right name is an important step in establishing your restaurant as a successful brand. With research, creativity and a little bit of luck, you're sure to find the perfect fit for your business!