A restaurant website should have plenty of information to get you excited about coming in. Whether it be sales hours, menus, or even pictures of the restaurant inside and out, there are a plethora of ways a site can keep visitors interested. If a restaurateur doesn’t include all these things in their site, it’s only going to hurt their business and put them at risk for failing.

Many restaurants nowadays have websites through which potential customers can learn more about what they offer. Talk about what your restaurant offers, what their mission is, and all the various ways they can serve in a more personal way. Create a site that appeals to both your existing customers and those who might be interested in your restaurant. (The latter is especially essential, as bad reviews get around faster these days than ever before.)

If you’re thinking “Why should I spend time on my website?”, here are the top answers:

1. You’ll get more visitors – If your website doesn’t look good and keep people interested enough to click through, you won’t get the amount of traffic you think you need. You could be losing out on business by not having your site up to par.
2. You can make more money – If you’re interested in making money with your restaurant, having a website will help get people to give you their information for sending them a menu. The access you’ll have to these people is purely through the internet, whereas before they may have taken the time to choose from your phonebook or an online directory.
3. You’ll be better liked by other people – When someone likes your restaurant on Facebook or Instagram, the feed is filled with “likes” and comments about how much they enjoy your establishment. It shows that other people like it too, which will encourage others to visit it.
4. It’s easier to keep your customers – The average person stays in a restaurant for only 1.1 hours, so you want to ensure that you have a website somebody can visit and give them the information they need about what’s happening at your restaurant.

One of the most important parts of a restaurant website is the content and design that can keep your visitors interested enough to come back again and again. If there isn’t enough information on your site, or it looks very unprofessional, people will assume that the food must be very bad too.

If you don’t know where to get started with your restaurant website design, look at what similar restaurants in your area are doing. Take notes about how they handle their menus, information, and photos of the restaurant, and combine it all with a well-designed site that is easy to navigate.

If you have a lot of information – such as more pages than just your menu – make sure that you keep the texts short so readers can get the essential information they need. Research what other people are saying about you online, and respond positively or negatively as you see fit.

A restaurant website could have these following components:

1. Home page with an overview of the restaurant and its cuisine
2. Menu with descriptions and pricing of dishes
3. Online ordering or reservation system (if applicable)
4. Information about the restaurant’s location, hours of operation, and contact details
5. About Us page with the restaurant’s history, vision, and mission
6. Reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers
7. Photo gallery of the restaurant’s interior, exterior, and dishes
8. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) page with answers to common customer queries
9. Social media links to the restaurant’s profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
10. Special offers and promotions page with discounts and deals for customers.
11. Blog with articles about food, wine, cooking tips, and other related topics
12. Events calendar with information on upcoming events, such as live music or special menus
13. Careers page with job listings and information on how to apply for positions at the restaurant
14. Press page with links to articles, reviews, and other media coverage of the restaurant
15. Gift card sales page where customers can purchase gift cards for themselves or as presents for others
16. Accessibility information for customers with disabilities, including details about wheelchair accessibility, service animals, and accommodations for people with hearing or visual impairments
17. Loyalty program sign-up page where customers can join a rewards program and earn points or discounts for their purchases.
18. Catering services page if the restaurant offers catering services for private events or parties.
19. Health and safety information page, detailing the restaurant’s cleaning and safety procedures.
20. Chef’s corner or chef’s blog page, featuring recipes, cooking tips, and other content from the head chef or kitchen staff
21. Newsletter sign-up form, where customers can enter their email address to receive updates on specials, events, and other news from the restaurant
22. Online store, where customers can purchase branded merchandise, such as t-shirts or hats, or packaged food items, like sauces, spice blends, or coffee.
23. Video content, such as behind-the-scenes footage of the kitchen, interviews with the staff, or cooking demonstrations.
24. Virtual tour of the restaurant, allowing customers to explore the interior and ambiance of the establishment before visiting in person.
25. Sustainability information, describing the restaurant’s commitment to sustainable practices, like sourcing local and seasonal ingredients or reducing food waste.

Do you need a guide to creating a restaurant website?

If you’re looking at putting up your own website for your restaurant, then you’ll probably be more than familiar with the amount of work and research required. If you want to create a website without any real experience at all, then there are plenty of guides out there to help you along the way.

However, seek professional help when it comes to completing these three main tasks:

• Choose a theme for your site and add it to your theme library.

• Design your website.

• Upload the site to a web hosting service.

Want help with your restaurant website? Let us create your restaurant website for you. Contact us now for more information.