The top-level domain (TLD) .restaurant is an internet domain name extension that falls under the category of “generic” TLDs (gTLDs). It is part of the new domain extensions that have been introduced to expand the existing pool of TLDs, like .com, .edu, or .org. Unlike country-specific TLDs, such as .us or .ca, .restaurant is internationally recognized and can be used by any entity around the world that’s connected with the restaurant business in some way.
The .restaurant TLD was approved by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the non-profit organization responsible for managing the internet’s domain name system. It gives businesses, organizations, or individuals involved in the food and restaurant industry a chance to own a domain name that clearly marks them as part of this industry.
Domains with .restaurant are primarily used by businesses related to the restaurant industry like food bloggers, restaurant suppliers, review sites, online marketplaces for restaurant equipment, restaurant chains, local eateries, restaurants, cafés, food delivery services, and even food festivals. Using this TLD helps these businesses and individuals distinguish themselves in the highly competitive online space.
In terms of examples, www.michaelsgenuine.restaurant is a domain used by Michael Schwartz, a James Beard Award-winning chef. The domain simplifies and clarifies the connection between the famous chef and his restaurant. Similarly, www.lamauvaiseadresse.restaurant is used by La Mauvaise Adresse, a restaurant based in France.
While the .restaurant TLD might not directly impact SEO ranking, Google has confirmed that it treats new gTLDs the same as older ones like .com, .org, among others. Hence, having this extension could potentially help a site appear more relevant to people searching for restaurants, thereby attracting more traffic.
While purchasing a .restaurant domain, one vital thing to remember is that .restaurant domains are more expensive than a typical .com, .org, or .net domains. Pricing can depend on the registrar you choose, including GoDaddy, .restaurant domain names can cost anywhere between $40 to $100 per year.
In conclusion, .restaurant is a unique, industry-specific top-level domain that can help businesses and individuals in the hospitality sector stand out in the digital world. Whether it’s for branding, marketing, or overall image, the .restaurant TLD is a valuable tool.
For sourcing, the following resources were used:
- ICANN (https://www.icann.org/)
- Google Webmaster Central Blog (https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2015/07/googles-handling-of-new-top-level.html)
- GoDaddy (https://godaddy.com/domain)
- Case studies from website of .restaurant domain owners (https://www.michaelsgenuine.restaurant, https://www.lamauvaiseadresse.restaurant)
