Eating at restaurants has always been a thing since long ago! In the past, it began when people bought snacks from street vendors or had meals at inns and other public eateries. At the time, these types of establishments did not have specific policies on their service or a variety of menus yet, but they were considered the foundations of today’s restaurants.
However, those early forms of restaurants weren’t referred to as “restaurants” yet, as the term was first coined and popularized in the late 1800s. Meanwhile, basic forms of public eateries can be traced back to around 500 BC, which is much older than the term itself!
As the long and unique history of restaurants makes it an attractive topic to learn about, we decided to take you back in time on a journey to discover the birth of restaurants through this article!
The Birth of Restaurants
According to historic findings, thermopolium was a public place where people could buy cooked food in the Ancient Greece while popinae (plural of popina), became a popular spot to serve people snacks and wine in the Roman Empire. The thermopolia and popinae were the two kinds of eateries that somehow resembled today’s restaurants in the ancient times and they date back to about 500 BC, making them the earliest forms of restaurants that we know of.
Public eating places continued to bloom and evolve in terms of service. For instance, hundreds of years later in China (around the 1100s), noodle and dumpling shops that offered full service and seats started to develop nationwide. Afterwards, in the late 1600s in Paris, traiteurs (someone with legal status to cook, serve, and deliver food) started offering what they called a table d’hôte, where people could sit and dine.
It wasn’t until the year 1765 that Mathurin Roze de Chantoiseau established the first public eating space that was referred to as a “restaurant”, which is the term we use to this day. Mathurin’s restaurant specialized in restorative broths and offered a wide range of dishes with an elegant interior.
An illustration of a French restaurant in the 1840s. (via Shannon Selin)
Fast forward to 1898, the renowned chef Auguste Escoffier invented a brigade system to break down tasks and assign them to specific stations or chefs to make the kitchen operate more efficiently. To this day, this brigade system is used in many restaurants around the world.
In the following years, restaurants developed along with hotels’ rapid expansion and evolution into bigger and more luxurious establishments. Some restaurants even joined or were created by the hotels themselves. A variety of restaurants with franchises started to grow in popularity as well, such as the famous fast food restaurants KFC and McDonald’s.
Now, restaurants are common venues that can easily be found anywhere around us. A restaurant is not merely a place to order and enjoy our food anymore. Rather, it also serves other purposes that encompass more than dining, such as a spot for social gatherings or to show status in some cultures. In this modern era, more restaurants are competing to provide different kinds of services, which promise distinct eating experiences unlike any other!
Types of Restaurants
Ever since first restaurants were introduced, restaurants have evolved and expanded in various forms and shapes that offer different services, specialties, and even customer experiences. While there are many that are worth mentioning, we have compiled a list of common restaurant types that you can easily find anywhere in the world these days!
Fast Food Restaurants
An A&W restaurant, the oldest fast food restaurant chain. (via A&W Restaurants)
Also known as quick-serve restaurants (QSR), fast food restaurants are statistically the most common type of restaurant worldwide preceded by casual restaurants, of course. Fast food restaurants are distinguished by their quick preparation of food and standardized menus with usually fixed prices.
KFC and McDonald’s are two of the most popular fast food restaurant chains, both of which were founded in the United States in 1930 and 1940. However, historical records show A&W (1919) as the oldest and first fast food restaurant chain in the world that continues to exist up until today!
Fine Dining Restaurants
Table setting in a fine dining restaurant.
This restaurant type is characterized by its superb menus that are prepared by highly professional staff using high-quality food ingredients, and the luxurious experience is enhanced by sophisticated features that decorate fine dining restaurants.
Fine dining restaurants are considered to be the most competitive businesses in the restaurant sector, as they rely more on the amount of money their customers spend than on the number of customers they regularly host.
Casual Dining Restaurants
Applebee’s, a casual dining restaurant. (via Nation’s Restaurant News)
If you are looking for a slightly more elevated dining experience at a cheaper price, the casual dining restaurant is your best option! The casual dining restaurant offers table service and a wider option of menus with varying prices.
Usually, a casual dining establishment is equipped with comfortable seating and thematic decor that adds to its ambience. Olive Garden and Applebee’s are a few examples of casual dining franchises that offer excellent services and various menus.
Fast Casual Restaurants
A fast casual restaurant. (via CNBC)
The fast casual restaurant is a combination of fast food and casual dining restaurants. They use better-quality ingredients than fast food restaurants, while their prices are slightly lower than those of casual dining restaurants.
Customizable meals and alcoholic drinks are also offered at fast casual restaurants, which is another reason why their prices are more expensive than fast food restaurants. However, keep in mind that they do not provide full-table service for customers!
Cafés
Interior of a café.
Another popular restaurant type nowadays is the café! Most cafés sell breakfast or light food like sandwiches, pastries, and drinks like coffee or tea in various styles. The price is usually standard—not too cheap or too expensive.
Many cafés offer indoor eating experiences for their customers, but some also have outdoor seating that provides a more enjoyable experience. The unique atmosphere of cafés often makes them a perfect place for socializing!
Famous Restaurants with Michelin Stars
Plenty of well-known restaurants exist in the industry, but how many of them are granted the prestigious Michelin star? Before we go further, let’s get to know the history of this famous rating system for restaurants!
The history of Michelin stars is rather unique. It originated from the Michelin Guide, a travel guide created in the 1900s by the Michelin tire company. In 1926, the Michelin brothers, the people behind this guide’s creation, changed its focus to fine dining by deploying a team of “inspectors” to visit and review fine dining restaurants across France. This change led to the birth of the Michelin star, an esteemed rating system for fine dining restaurants that people know today.
The Michelin guide, the origin of the Michelin stars. (via Ultimate Driving Tours)
The Michelin star gives up to three stars as the highest rating, and only the world’s greatest restaurants can obtain the third star. To earn a Michelin star, a restaurant must meet specific criteria, including the use of high-quality ingredients, the chef’s mastery of flavor as well as cooking techniques, and the consistency of customer visits to the restaurant.
The privilege of Michelin-starred restaurants is an attraction to customers, especially if they are located within hotels. Now, we are going to show you some famous hotel restaurants that were able to obtain the legendary Michelin star!
Aqua (3 Michelin Stars)
A dish from Aqua restaurant. (via Michelin Guide)
Located in one of The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Wolfsburg, Germany, Aqua is a 3-Michelin-starred restaurant that is considered a gourmet’s heaven! With elegant decor, a high-end team of experts, and top-notch dishes, this restaurant is worth a visit!
Alain Ducasse (3 Michelin Stars)
The exterior of Alain Ducasse restaurant at The Dorchester hotel. (via Michelin Guide)
This restaurant successfully attained 3 Michelin stars thanks to its exceptional cuisine! The Alain Ducasse restaurant is a part of The Dorchester hotel in London, where you’ll also be able to try its signature, Rum Baba!
La Brezza (2 Michelin Stars)
A dish from La Brezza restaurant. (via Michelin guide)
La Brezza takes place within the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Switzerland, which is perched at 1,800 meters above sea level. This restaurant puts freshness and quality of dishes as a top priority, so it’s no wonder that it was granted 2 Michelin stars!
La Yeon (2 Michelin Stars)
A dish from La Yeon restaurant. (via Michelin guide)
You will discover traditional Korean cuisine with a contemporary touch here! La Yeon offers the stunning scenery of Namsan Park, fine tableware, and attentive restaurant service that will satisfy customers to the fullest. You can visit this 2-Michelin-starred restaurant on the 23rd floor of The Shilla Hotel in Seoul, South Korea!
LeMontBlanc (1 Michelin Star)
A sky view from LeMontBlanc restaurant. (via Michelin guide)
LeMontBlanc is a 1-Michelin-starred restaurant located in the LeCrans hotel in Switzerland. Its panoramic view of the Swiss Alps, added to its high-quality cooking and professional service, make the dining experience at this restaurant worth it!
How do restaurants impact hotels?
The existence of restaurants in hotels is essential as food and beverages are necessities for hotel guests. Restaurants’ role is to provide that necessity through their service, whether by serving the guests in place or delivering the food to guests’ rooms. Any type of restaurant may fit in a hotel, but luxurious 5-star hotels often opt for fine dining restaurants as the provider of food and beverage service.
A well-managed restaurant with quality dishes and services will undoubtedly attract guests and leave them with positive memories about both the hotel and the restaurant. Thus, restaurants have a big impact on hotels, as they are one of the pieces that keep the hotel’s operation running smoothly.
Wrapping Up
The long history of restaurants has undoubtedly impacted and shaped the food and beverage industry as we know it today. The invention of various restaurant types also transitioned these establishments into something more than just public eateries. Their contribution to our daily lives has become more important than ever before as they function as places of socializing, display of status, cultural heritage, and more.
Additionally, restaurants are one of the important aspects of the hospitality industry as they improve guest satisfaction by providing exceptional dining experiences along with exclusive delicacies! Since RMC Asia has been collaborating with 5-star hotels and resorts across Asia, we know that their high-end restaurants are always on the lookout for F&B and culinary talents to join their team. Therefore our mission is to simplify the process for both hotels and young professionals through our internship and management training programs and allow them to achieve their goals smoothly!
Our programs combine a practical work environment with exceptional cultural exchange experience to provide participants with opportunities for self-development and valuable skills for their future careers! The variety of our program destinations will also be a great choice for students and recent graduates looking for challenges in exciting and dynamic settings across Asia.
Join us to kickstart your career in Michelin-starred hotel restaurants now!
Recommended: The Luxurious History of 5-Star Hotels
