Restaurateurs are the individuals who own and operate restaurants professionally. Restaurants are the business establishments where meals and refreshments are prepared and served to customers. The attractiveness of running a restaurant lies in the wide variety of opportunities it offers. There are many types of restaurants—they may specialize in a single offering or serve multi-cuisine, they may have seating arrangements for customers or strictly provide takeouts, they may be budget eateries or posh restaurants. Many enterprising individuals enter into this business as they can open a setup with features those are most suitable to them. Operating a successful restaurant is a challenging job. The restaurateur is responsible for the smooth functioning of the restaurant and has to ensure the satisfaction of customers. They have to appoint and train the chefs and waiters, hire interior designers to design the décor, manage the financial and accounting aspects, and ensure food quality and adherence to food storage standards. Since restaurants directly serve customers, it is vital to ensure that the waiting staff provides optimum customer service. Restaurateurs operating small restaurants also have to perform promotional and marketing duties. Read on to know about the life and works of various famous restaurateurs from all over the world through their biographies and timelines.
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
Ray Kroc was the man who helped expand McDonald's into a global franchise, eventually turning it into the most successful fast food corporation. Not surprisingly, he was mentioned in Time magazine's Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century list. He was also the owner of the popular baseball team San Diego Padres.
Colonel Sanders is the man who revolutionized the American fast food industry by founding the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Establishing a style trademark by wearing a white suit and black string tie, Sanders went on to become a symbol of the KFC brand. Such is the popularity of the brand, the symbol is recognized all over the world.
Primarily a restaurateur, Guy Fieri is a testimony to the fact that any professional can become famous if they are passionate enough in doing what they do best. From being a restaurateur, he went on to become a TV personality, hosting shows for Food Network channel. By mid-2010, he had become the face of the network.
Antoni Porowski is a Polish-Canadian TV personality, actor, author, and chef. He served as the food and wine expert in the Netflix series Queer Eye. He is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. He is a self-taught cook. He was named the Sexiest Reality Star on People's annual list in 2019.
As a member of the popular South Korean boy band BTS, Kim Seok-jin is idolized in Korea and drooled over by girls across Asia. One of the most popular singer-songwriters in Korea, Kim Seok-jin is popular for his falsetto voice. Also a well-known philanthropist, Kim is a UNICEF Honors Club inductee.
Jamie Oliver is an English restaurateur and chef who gained international recognition after appearing on popular TV shows, such as Jamie's Kitchen and The Naked Chef. In 2005, his Feed Me Better campaign helped introduce several children to healthier foods. He also established a charity restaurant called Fifteen, which employs disadvantaged young people.
Olivia Culpo is an American social media personality and fashion influencer. She gained international recognition after winning the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2012. As a fashion influencer, she has collaborated with many fashion and beauty brands, such as Kipling and L'Oréal. She also owns a restaurant in Rhode Island.
Mario Batali is an American chef, restaurateur, writer, and media personality. He started hogging the limelight after appearing on some of Food Network's shows, such as Iron Chef America and Molto Mario. Also a well-known philanthropist and social activist, Batali established the Mario Batali Foundation in 2008, which funds pediatric disease research and various children's educational programs.
David Chang revolutionized the culinary world with his brand Momofuku, which owns several noodle bars across the world, including a 2-Michelin-star restaurant. He has produced the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Several issues of his food magazine Lucky Peach have been NYT bestsellers.
Wilson Bethel is an American actor known for playing important roles in popular TV series, such as The Young and the Restless, Hart of Dixie, and All Rise. Apart from being an actor, Wilson Bethel also contributes as an executive producer and writer every now and then.
Celebrity chef Rick Stein has managed the U.K.’s Stein Hotel and Restaurant with his first wife, Jill Stein. He later became the head chef and co-owner of Rick Stein at Bannisters in Australia, with his second wife, Sarah. He has authored cookbooks and presented culinary shows such as Seafood Odyssey.
Heston Blumenthal is a British celebrity chef whose unusual recipes, such as Scotch eggs and triple-cooked chips have been widely imitated. He is considered a pioneer of multi-sensory cooking and his scientific approach to cooking has earned him honorary degrees from several universities. In 2004, he won the prestigious Chef Award, joining the likes of Phil Howard and Gordon Ramsay.
Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian-American restaurateur. In 1973, Puck moved to the US and opened a restaurant named Spago in 1982. He then established himself as a respected restaurateur by opening several other restaurants. In 2013, he was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Also an actor, Puck has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Cynthia Germanotta is an American activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She is credited with co-founding Born This Way Foundation, for which she also serves as the president. She also plays an important role as an advocate for mental health; in 2019, she served as the World Health Organization's ambassador for mental health.
