noun
A general term for a restaurant; slightly more formal than レストラン, often used in names or signs.
駅前に新しい料理店ができた。
A new restaurant opened in front of the station.
食堂 often implies a more casual, cafeteria-style or traditional dining hall, whereas 料理店 is a broader term for a restaurant.
Compound of 料理 (cooking, cuisine) and 店 (shop, store).