"Patronize a restaurant" means to visit or dine at a restaurant. The term "eat out" refers to the act of eating a meal at a restaurant rather than cooking or eating at home. Therefore, "eat out" is synonymous with "patronize a restaurant."
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Patronize a restaurant. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.