Middle Eastern restaurant names

Tips for naming a middle eastern restaurant

• Names that reference an old city, market, or caravan route signal the region's long tradition of hospitality.
• Spice and herb words like sumac, saffron, or za'atar tell guests the flavors before they open the menu.
• Keep the name easy to say, since guests often search by sound before they search by spelling.
• Warm, generous words like table, house, or kitchen suit a family-style restaurant built around shared plates.
• If the menu focuses on one country, name it clearly so guests know whether they are getting Lebanese, Persian, or Egyptian food.

What to avoid

• Avoid using religious or sacred words as decoration, since they can feel disrespectful to many guests.
• Avoid lumping several countries together in a name that suggests one unified menu.
• Avoid stereotyped desert or harem imagery, which reads as caricature and turns guests away.

Before you commit to a name

Search the name with your city on Google and Maps, check your state's business registry and the USPTO trademark database, and confirm the domain and social handles are free. These ideas are starting points; any of them may already be in use near you.

Once it's yours, put it on a free menu template and give it a home guests can order from directly with commission-free online ordering.