77% of diners visit a restaurant's website before deciding to eat there. Your website isn't just a digital brochure — it's often the deciding factor between you and the competition.
Essential Features Every Restaurant Website Needs
1. Menu (Easily Accessible)
The #1 reason people visit restaurant websites. Make it:
For more insights on this topic, see our guide on Websites for Musicians and Bands: EPK and Booking.
- Easy to find: One click from homepage
- Mobile-friendly: No PDFs that require pinching and zooming
- Current: Nothing worse than showing up for a dish that's no longer served
- Priced: People want to know before arriving
2. Location and Hours
Sounds obvious, but often buried or wrong:
- Full address with link to maps
- Clear hours for each day
- Holiday hours prominently noted
- Parking information
3. Online Reservations
People expect to book online. Options:
- OpenTable, Resy, or similar integration
- Simple contact form for reservation requests
- Phone number prominently displayed as backup
4. Online Ordering (If Applicable)
Direct online ordering saves you third-party fees (DoorDash, UberEats take 15-30%).
- Toast, Square, ChowNow integration
- Clear pickup vs delivery options
- Easy menu navigation and checkout
5. Appetizing Photography
Food photography makes or breaks restaurant websites. Invest in:
- Professional photos of signature dishes
- Interior ambiance shots
- Photos of real people enjoying your space
Bad photos are worse than no photos. Generic stock food images are a red flag.
6. Contact Information
- Phone number (clickable on mobile)
- Email address
- Social media links
- Private event inquiry form
Nice-to-Have Features
- About/Story page: Your history, team, philosophy
- Private events info: If you host events, make it easy to inquire
- Gift cards: Online gift card purchasing
- Email signup: Capture customers for promotions
- Reviews/testimonials: Or links to Yelp/Google reviews
Common Restaurant Website Mistakes
PDF Menus
PDFs are terrible on mobile. They require downloading, zooming, and often don't load. Use HTML menus that visitors can read instantly.
Autoplay Music or Video
Nothing makes people close a tab faster. Just don't.
Outdated Information
Old menus, wrong hours, discontinued specials. If you can't keep it current, simplify.
Buried Contact Info
Phone and address should be visible without scrolling on every page.
Slow Loading
Especially with image-heavy restaurant sites. Optimize those food photos.
No Mobile Optimization
Most people are looking up restaurants on their phones. Mobile experience is critical.
SEO for Restaurants
Local SEO matters enormously for restaurants:
- Google Business Profile: Claim and optimize it completely
- Local keywords: "Italian restaurant in [city]" on your pages
- Consistent NAP: Name, Address, Phone same everywhere online
- Reviews: Encourage Google reviews from happy customers
What a Restaurant Website Costs
- Template/DIY: $500 - $2,000 (Squarespace, Wix)
- Custom design: $3,000 - $10,000
- With online ordering: $5,000 - $15,000+
Consider the lifetime value. If your website brings 10 extra covers per week at $50 average, that's $26,000/year in additional revenue.
The Bottom Line
Your restaurant website should make people hungry and make it dead simple to visit or order. Focus on great photos, easy menus, and clear information. Everything else is secondary.
Related Reading
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- Websites for Auto Dealerships: Inventory and Lead Management
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