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BY Jude Cramer

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For many consumers, “private equity” has become a four-letter word. Private equity firms have acquired the unpopular reputation of purchasing food establishments that then notoriously decline in quality, as new owners cut costs in search of new avenues to profit. They’ve also been criticized for displacing mom-and-pop shops in the process.

But beyond noticing the stereotypical signs of private equity backing—sudden spikes in new franchise locations and sleek, minimalist branding, to name two—consumers are often left guessing at a business’s ownership. That’s especially true in metropolises like New York City, where grabbing a bite means choosing from a whopping 31,000-plus food establishments.

That’s where a trending new website steps in. On isitownedbyprivateequity.com, users can find the answers to the site’s titular question.…