Brief history of the modern restaurant.

Restaurants are public, sit-down establishments that serve food and drink, often with menus dedicated to particular cuisines. Public dining can be traced back to ancient civilizations, though the earliest analog to the modern restaurant is China in the 12th century, where chefs catered to travelers seeking food from their native regions.

The word "restaurant" comes from the Latin for "restore," an association that some believe was thanks to the Parisian soup chef Boulanger, who claimed to make "restorative broths," though scholars suggest the story is a myth. Regardless, France's 19th-century restaurant culture established many of the industry's norms—including table service and menus—and quickly spread across Europe and the United States.

Today, restaurants are integral to cultural life, serving as meeting places for everyday citizens and presidents alike. Seven in 10 Americans dine at a restaurant at least once a month, though only 28% of Americans believe the prices are fair.