Frankly, I had no idea what's a restaurateur . Does this word even exists in the first place ?
Is it a word merely coined by flashy celebrity chefs who would rather be recognized as a restaurateur rather than a restaurant manager ?

According to the ever reliable and accurate Wikipedia :
"A restaurant owner is called a restaurateur; both words derive from the French verb restaurer, meaning to restore. "

Ah ha. That's the difference. A restaurateur owns it. A restaurant manager runs it. Simple enough to understand. ?

For me, I'm kind of both. A partial restaurateur as the restaurant was built on a partnership and as a restaurant manager who oversees the restaurant operation.

I just love how French words seems so classy,sexy and flamboyant.