History of the TLD

The .restaurant top level domain was launched in 2014 as part of the ICANN new gTLD program. It was introduced to provide a clear and descriptive namespace specifically for restaurants and dining related businesses. Since its release it has been adopted globally by independent restaurants and larger hospitality brands seeking industry specific domain identity.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .restaurant TLD is used primarily by restaurants, hospitality groups, chefs, and dining focused brands. It holds a strong descriptive position within the food service industry and is often used for official websites, menus, bookings, and branding that directly communicates the nature of the business.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to .com, .restaurant offers stronger semantic clarity but less universal recognition. When compared to .rest, .restaurant is more explicit and formal though longer in length. It is often preferred by businesses that want maximum clarity over brevity.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Extremely clear and descriptive for restaurant businesses

• Strong branding alignment with the hospitality industry

• Reduces ambiguity about the website purpose

Cons

• Longer domain length compared to alternatives like .rest

• Limited use outside the restaurant industry

• Lower consumer familiarity than legacy TLDs
  
  

Registration Criteria

The .restaurant TLD is open for general registration with no eligibility restrictions. Domains are allocated on a first come first served basis to individuals and organisations worldwide.

Summary

The .restaurant TLD is a highly descriptive and industry focused extension best suited to restaurants and hospitality brands that want their domain name to clearly reflect their business type. It trades brevity and broad recognition for clarity and relevance.