Restaurants

The first modern restaurant opened in Paris in 1765, serving individual dishes to order.

While taverns and food vendors existed for millennia before, this marked the birth of restaurant dining as we know it.

The industry expanded worldwide over the next two centuries, developing from formal French establishments into today's diverse landscape—from fast food chains of the 1950s to local farm-sourced kitchens.

‍

EARLY HISTORY (ANCIENT TIMES - 19TH CENTURY)

‍

Restaurants evolved from simple street vendors in ancient Rome to taverns serving medieval merchants.

In 1760s Paris, dedicated dining rooms with menus transformed eating out into an event.

By 1850, American restaurants elevated dining into an art form, with trained chefs and elaborate service.

Ancient Times

‍

512 BC: First recorded public eating establishment in Ancient Egypt.
79 AD: Remains of thermopolia (fast-food counters) found in Pompeii.

Middle Ages

‍

1100s-1200s: Song dynasty China sees rise of restaurants catering to merchants.

Renaissance and Early Modern Period

‍

1582: Café La Bottega del Caffè opens in Venice, Italy.
1686: Café Procope opens in Paris, considered one of the world's oldest operating restaurants.

8th Century

‍

1765: Boulanger opens what is often considered the first modern restaurant in Paris.
1782: La Grande Taverne de Londres opens in Paris, pioneering luxury dining.
1797: Fraunces Tavern established in New York City.

19th Century

‍

1803: Delmonico's opens in New York City, America's first fine dining restaurant.
1820: Union Oyster House opens in Boston, oldest continuously operating restaurant in US.
1847: First Parisian café-concert, Café des Ambassadeurs, opens.
1876: Harvey House restaurant begins along Santa Fe Railroad it becomes an early famous chain restaurant.

THE RISE OF CHAIN RESTAURANTS (EARLY - MID 20TH CENTURY)

‍

Today's restaurant industry revolves around star chefs creating bold flavors, casual dining spots serving quality food quickly.

Digital tools are now shaping how we order, eat, and pay.

Early 20th Century

‍

1901: Horn & Hardart opens first Automat in Philadelphia.
1916: Nathan's Famous hot dog stand opens on Coney Island.
1919: A&W Root Beer stand opens in California.

‍
1921: White Castle founded in Wichita, Kansas.
1930: Howard Johnson's founded in Massachusetts.
1940: McDonald's Bar-B-Que restaurant opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald.

Mid 20th Century

‍

1950: Dunkin' Donuts founded in Quincy, Massachusetts.
1952: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) founded by Colonel Sanders.
1953: Burger King founded as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida.
1954: Ray Kroc opens first franchised McDonald's restaurant.
1958: Pizza Hut founded in Wichita, Kansas.

‍
1962: Taco Bell founded by Glen Bell in Downey, California.
1965: Subway founded as Pete's Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
1967: Domino's Pizza founded in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
1971: Starbucks opens first store in Seattle's Pike Place Market.

MODERN ERA (LATE 20TH CENTURY - PRESENT)

‍

The modern era of restaurants is characterized by the rise of famous restaurateurs / chefs and innovative cuisines, the emergence of fast-casual dining concepts, and the transformative impact of technology on every aspect of the dining experience.

Late 20th Century

‍

1981: Wolfgang Puck opens Spago in Los Angeles, pioneering California cuisine.
1984: Outback Steakhouse founded in Tampa, Florida.
1986: First Panera Bread (then St. Louis Bread Company) opens.
1991: The French Laundry purchased by Thomas Keller, becoming a culinary destination.
1993: Chipotle Mexican Grill founded in Denver, Colorado.

‍
1995: OpenTable founded, pioneering online restaurant reservations.

21st Century

‍

2004: Yelp launched, revolutionizing restaurant reviews.
2009: Uber Eats launches, part of the food delivery app revolution.

2011: Celebrity owned casual burger restaurant, Wahlburgers, is founded.
2020: COVID-19 pandemic causes widespread restaurant closures and pivots to takeout/delivery.