Restaurant Name Ideas

Before you open your restaurant, you'll want a really cool restaurant name that people will be drawn to, they'll remember and that they'll love to say, share and frequent. How do you find the perfect name for your restaurant? Is it really that important?

Won't customers just come when there's a new business opening?  How do others do it successfully? Where do you start? These are probably some of the questions you have right now about naming your restaurant, right? We know since we've been there too, over 20 years ago when we first opened our restaurant so we can help you.

     Your restaurant name is something you better love yourself since you'll be stuck with it for the long haul or you'll have to start all over again if you decide to rename your business. Think of all the places that your restaurant name will show up: the outside of your business, inside on the menus, the flyers, on business cards, on your stationary and bank and checking accounts and hopefully on your website and social media sites. That's a lot of places to put your restaurant name so choosing the right one is very important.Your restaurant name will become your brand - what people think of when they want the perfect place to dine and share time with friends and family. Take it seriously and get the right restaurant name the first time. There are ways to change a bad restaurant name too, so keep reading if that's where you find yourself right now.

Use our tips for the best restaurant name ideas for your new business right here. 

First things first:
     When you're setting up your restaurant with the federal and state governments, you'll most likely be using your own legal name first and then a D.B.A. (doing business as) for your business. This is important to know since your business name probably won't be john smith or the john smith restaurant most likely. Unless your name is already synonymous with success, such as if you're a celebrity or well known sports figure, that type of name won't be the most successful.

Next, let's look at some successful restaurant names and try to determine what makes them successful:

     Here's a few at the top of my head that I can think of. Let's see if we can find a pattern for these names that may help them with their success. Add your own ideas to the list too.

          McDonald's
          Wendy's
          Arby's
          Subway
          Hooter's
          Domino's
          Pumps
          Campiello
          Olive Garden
          Peppercini's
          Perkins
          Burger King
          Outback Steakhouse
          Texas Roadhouse
          Ditka's
          Papa Johns
          Pizza Hut
          China Wok
          Little Caesar's
          Hungry Howie's
          Red Lobster
          Steak Frites
          Hula Grille
          Crabby Bills
    

     We could keep going right? Sure we could. There are lots of successful restaurants. Study the list and determine what you think makes these restaurants successful. It's not just their name but, the name is surely part of it. What is common to most of them is simple. A simple name with one or two words and almost always never more than three words. Simple to say, simple to remember and usually the name helps the customer know what they serve.

     Successful restaurants also have a successful tag line. The second part of the restaurant name that helps to describe what it is they do or offer. Look at the list above and I'll bet you can name their tag lines too, right?

     When you're trying to find restaurant name ideas for your own business, use the simple idea that others have used and find one name or up to two, at the very most three words and a tag line. Make sure that when you choose your restaurant name, you stay true to what you want to convey to customers. Make it easy for them to say and remember.

     Something like these ideas: (I have no idea if any of these names are taken, just trying to help you put on your own thinking cap).
               Keep reading and below we'll share how to secure the perfect restaurant name you want.

     Louigi's Italian Cafe
     Trattoria 13
     Better Beer House
     Specialty Brew House
     Frederick's Franks
     Mystic Martini's
     Pomodoro's
     Fish and Chips

     You could try using culinary terms for your restaurant name such as:
          Porterhouse Grill
          T Bones Grille
          Chops
          Chops Grillhouse
          Delmonico Steakhouse
          Sharks Seafood Grill
          Pasta Primos
          Ahi House
          Marlin's
          Crawfish House
          Crab Shack
          House of Shrimp
          Firehouse Burgers
          Hunter's Lodge
          House of Crab 
          Langostinos
          Pepper Palace
          Crusty Crab (ha,ha from the Sponge Bob series)
     ** For restaurant names such as these, you'll want to make sure that you focus your main meals based on the name of your business otherwise, it won't make sense, it will confuse customers and they won't ever return as well as they'll talk badly about your business. 
   
     Sometimes, successful restaurant names are based on their location such as:
          Union Square Cafe
          Boardwalk
          Broadway
          Fifth Avenue
          Park Avenue
          Park Place
          Central Park
          Times Square
          Boulevard of the Allies
          Sunset Boulevard
          Hollywood Vine
          Marina District
     Think of your own location and determine if your restaurant name wouldn't benefit from a name showcasing the famous street or road. Oftentimes, your location can help with your success if you think about it in advance. Many times, restaurant owners will re-open their business under a new name and have a brand new Grand Opening to help with the kick off.

   Try using a color and give it a Spanish, German, Italian or French twist for your restaurant name such as these:
          Cafe Azure
          Verdes
          Rosas
          Oranjos
          Blancos
          Kleiner Deutchman

What to do when you have a restaurant name idea?

Once you found a restaurant name that you'd like for your own, you need to find out if it's available or you'll be in trouble with copyright and trademark laws later down the road.

Do a simple search on google for the name of the business you want and see what comes up in the search results. Then check other search engines online such as yahoo, bing, duckduckgo, ask, info and even publishers clearing house search.  If it looks like no one else is using that name, write it down and contact your attorney so that he/she can help you register your new business name with the proper agencies.

Once you know that your new name is legally yours, you can start using it on your business, your business cards, flyers, menus and make sure to start a Facebook page and twitter account to help your marketing efforts.

Should you Rename your Restaurant to a More Successful Name?

     Yes, you can definitely rename your restaurant if you think that the current one is too long or not effective at sending the right message to your customers. Oftentimes, restaurant owners will try to re-brand their name and business with a new Grand ReOpening. It could be the one item that you can do to get a jump on re-establishing your business. Consider the possibilities!
          Don't miss Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names that Stick for a worthwhile read and lots more info on the power of your business name and brand. 

     I hope this list of restaurant name ideas has sparked your own imagination to help you choose the right name for your business so that you will be successful. The name is only one part of the equation for success, so we invite you to continue reading more of our tips and ideas at successfulrestauranttips.
  Best wishes and as always, Cheers, friends!