Before visiting a restaurant, customers usually research it on Google, from their phones: what's on the menu, how are the prices, where is it, is it open? A good restaurant website wins at all these moments; a bad one — or none at all — loses. And your own site also frees you from the high commissions of third-party ordering platforms.
The essentials of a good restaurant website
- An editable menu: You should be able to change prices and items yourself; it shouldn't be fixed like a printed menu. A menu with photos whets the appetite and boosts sales.
- Online ordering / takeaway: Customers should be able to order directly from the site — without paying commission to a third-party platform.
- Reservations: Table reservations should be taken online, reducing phone traffic.
- Location, hours, contact: The map, opening hours and one-tap calling should appear immediately on mobile.
- Mobile-first: Almost all visitors arrive on a phone; the site must be fast and flawless on mobile.
- Visual emphasis: Professional food photography and the restaurant's atmosphere — the first impression starts with the appetite.
A third-party platform, or your own site?
Food ordering platforms provide visibility but take a high commission on every order. On orders that come through your own website, that commission stays in your pocket — and the customer data stays with you. The healthiest approach: use both, but also build your own site strongly. We explain this logic in our How to Build an E-Commerce Website article.
Being found on Google
To appear for searches like "restaurant near me" or "[neighborhood] [cuisine] restaurant," your site needs to be technically solid and fast. You'll find all the criteria of a good site in our What Makes a Good Corporate Website? checklist; for the process, our How to Get a Website Made guide is a good start.
For a website / e-commerce solution tailored to your restaurant — with menu, online ordering and reservations — get in touch. Let's plan the setup that best fits your business together.