Restaurants are food establishments where customers eat prepared food sold in retail. There are different kinds of restaurants based on concepts, size and food prepared. Eating in restaurants has become a way of life for many of us because it means celebrating special occasions, meeting friends, getting business opportunities and spending quality time with our loved ones. Restaurants have come a long way from their humble beginnings as eateries on the streets of Ancient Rome and other ancient civilizations. Nowadays, restaurants have evolved into different types of establishments that serve both food and drinks.

Restaurants can be traced back from the public eateries in ancient Rome but the public dining rooms in France have been considered to be the ancestors of the modern restaurant. A soup vendor named A. Boulanger is credited to be the first restaurant businessman who opened his establishment in Paris in 1765. However, other countries also have their own history of restaurants such as China where food establishments similar to what we know as restaurants have been in existence since the 11th century. In the United States, the first restaurant only emerged in the 18th century with Jullien's Restarator which opened in Boston in 1794. Eventually other types of restaurants were established such as cafeterias, coffeehouses and pubs among many others. YWCA of Kansas City, Mo. established the first cafeteria in 1891 while the first drive-in restaurant opened in 1936 in Glendale, California.


However, it was Ray Croc's fast-food restaurant that made a difference on how many Americans eat out. Croc established the first McDonald's in 1954 which revolutionized the restaurant industry in the United States. McDonald's fast-food restaurants were first to use strict regulations on producing hamburgers, French fries and milk shakes. Nowadays, you will find a McDonald's restaurant in every corner of the world.


There are different types of restaurants according to category, concept and style. The major categories of restaurants include:


Fast-food restaurant - service is fast and food which are served and eaten from disposable containers are more affordable


Fast casual-dining restaurants - similar to fast-food restaurants but provide higher quality food for a higher price; food are served in non-disposable containers


Family style restaurants - offer fixed menus and fixed prices where you will be seated on bench seats; popular in many themed restaurants and amusement parks


Casual dining restaurants - serve food with moderate prices and provide table services; usually have a full bar where you can order wine and beer


Fine dining restaurants - provide full restaurant services and high quality food


Cafeterias - restaurants that provide ready-cooked food arranged behind a serving counter


 Cafés - informal restaurants where hot meals, made-to-order sandwiches and hot & cold beverages


Coffeehouses - casual restaurants where coffee and other beverages are served with pastries and sandwiches; preferred by those who would like to relax and socialize for long periods of time


Pubs - mainly serve drinks such as beer and liquor but also provide simple food and mostly pica-pica


Bistro and brasserie - cafes doubling as restaurants; categorized under fast casual-dining restaurants from a quick bite to eat to a gourmet, candlelit dinner, whatever your preference might be, enjoy the convenience and good food at a restaurant.