Naming a Health-Conscious Restaurant

Trendy healthy would be the way to go. Like "Mr Toads' Wild Rice" (from mr toads wild ride at disneyland)
"The Skinny Chicken"
"Shh, The Salad's Dressing"

I'd go with something trendy or cutesy. Even though I desperately wish there were more health conscience restaurants I would be a put off by a name that was too blatant. I'd wonder if it was *too* crunchy-granola for me.

I'd do something that sounds healthy unless you do a two part name, like book titles. The first part the modern name followed something that reveals what its about. The restaruant will only get called the first part of the name, but there's an explanation for those who need it.
We have place here that sells healthy and vegitarian fair. I always heard it called Captian Mauries and never went because it sounded like some salty dog chips and fries place. Then I read it was called Captain maurries counterculture. I would have tried it sooner had I not only heard it called Captain Mauries. We also have a vegan restaruant called Naitive Foods But in these Yelp days, I'm sure you can get away with a modern name. I'd think your bigger problem is not attracting those interested in healthy options than to turn off those who were looking for greesy spoon. That said, i always wanted to open a trendy healthy dinner restaurant called Density (for nutrient density). But since I'll never get around to that, feel free to take my idea.

I would personally like a modern/classy name that hints at healthy food, but does not do that directly.

I remember there was a healthy cafe here called "Greens".

I never got a chance to eat there, but it looked great. I loved the name.

I think overall most people would love a healthy option, and even people that may not consider themselves health conscious would probably be intrigued to give it a try. If its good, people will come back! I have always said if someone opened a healthy restaurant with a drive thru option I would be there a LOT! I will drive several miles further to a starbucks with a drivethru even tho there is one a few blocks from my house! Getting out of the car with 2 or more kids is so hard sometimes, although now that I type it it kind of sounds lazy,lol.

I think the name should definetly let people know how you're trying to be different, yet not sound so healthy that it sounds like all you sell is sprouts.

I know their used to be a healthy place in Wheaton that had really good food (like 10 years ago) I think it was called Fit Cafe or something like that. Its gone now tho, maybe people werent ready for healthy yet!

Good luck!

I don't think the name matters so much as how you promote it. For example, we follow a very specific way of eating, but one that follows several diets, so there are specific websites I look at to see if there are local restaurants that serve food we can eat.

Make sure you list your restaurants on those websites, so you come up in a search when people are looking for what you have to offer :) A great website for your place is also key- make sure your address and phone number are front and center, and there is a link to your menu. If you offer local, organic, seasonal, low-fat, gluten-free, raw, vegan/vegetarian, wild-caught, grass-fed, etc. all of that is really important to list, along with the farmers if local and links to their farms. If you cook with specific oils, list those and some links to their benefits. If you donate any profits, list that as well. Making sure people have ingredient lists for allergies (peanut free, for example) is even better. Do you use HFCS? Hydrogenated oils? Artificial colors/flavors? What are your thoughts on GMOs? Those are all things I would include, because those are hot topics for people looking to eat better.

Putting your personal philosophy on the site is also nice- I love to know why people decided to start a business, especially with my food, and it shows you really care about what you are doing, which makes me feel safer/more confident eating there.

Examples of sites you can list on:

For organic/local:
www.eatwild.com
www.localharvest.com

For gluten-free:
www.glutenfreeregistry.com

There are also many raw/traditional/primal/Atkins, etc groups on Yahoo and Meetup and Facebook that love learning about new local eating places- join them! It's usually free and great for networking.

I write a food blog and would be happy to come and review your restaurant for my blog too :) www.chickiepea.wordpress.com

Some of the names of local restaurants we eat at that are more healthful are:

Honey Cafe- in Glen Ellyn
Cellar Bistro- in Wheaton
Two Brothers Brewery- in Warrenville
The Bank- in Wheaton
Prairie Grass- in Northbrook
Glen Prairie- Glen Ellyn
Borrowed Earth- Downer's Grove
Nickson's - LaGrange
and one on vacation in Lake Geneva, WI was named "Simple," which I loved and thought was to the point :)

Let me know if I can help. I network a lot w/farmers and am in loads of local healthy eating groups.

-M.

Lettuce Eat

This is not McDonalds (ok, that one is just me being silly)

Freshens

Waterfalls

The Green Cafe

Full of Nuts

I like Grandma T's Shhh...suggestion! Cute!

What about "The Lunch Rush" ?

I love "Shh, the salad's dressing."

@ Beth: I think the name's funny, but I would NEVER go into a restaurant named "Rabbit Food." I'd assume everything was vegan and although I like veggies, I still like meat with my salad and veg.

There is a local place in Dallas that sells pre-made meals called Fit Foods. Maybe a play on that...
Health-U (make it sound like a college campus)

Depends on what type of meals you will be serving. If it is a quick in out place how about "Health Nut" if it is something a bit fancier then I would go with a classy/trendy name.