Restaurant Website Must-Haves
5 Things Your Restaurant Website Can't Serve Without
We’ve all been there: hungry, scrolling through your phone, hoping to find the perfect spot for a bite, but when you land on a restaurant’s website, it’s a total letdown. Clunky design? Hard to navigate? Missing key info? No thanks. It’s giving…nothing. The truth is, your website is the first impression you make on potential customers, so why not make it count? Here are 5 things your restaurant website must have to keep your customers coming back for more.
1. High-Quality Photos
Let’s face it: If you’re not showcasing your dishes in the best light (literally and figuratively), you're doing yourself a disservice. In today’s Instagram-driven world, people eat with their eyes first. So make those photos drool-worthy!
Vibrant, mouth-watering photos of your food, perfectly plated dishes, shots of your signature cocktails, and the ambiance of your restaurant are all must-haves.If it’s well-lit and visually appealing, they’ll be craving your dishes.
Bonus points: Don’t just snap some pics with your phone. A bad photo might just be worse than no photo. Invest in a photographer who knows how to capture food in its most delicious form. People are hungry for more than just a menu, so give them an experience.
2. Call to Action Buttons
What’s the point of a beautiful website if it doesn’t get customers to take action? Turn your clicks into reservations! You need clear, obvious call-to-action buttons that guide your customers seamlessly to the next step: make a reservation, order online, or check out your menu.
Choosing where to eat is a battle already. Make it easy to make decisions and get what they want fast. Make sure buttons like “Order Now,” “Reserve a Table,” or “See Menu” are bold, visible, and strategically placed. It is most helpful if you make them easy to find on both desktop and mobile.
3. The Menu: Make It Easy, Make It Tempting
Your menu isn’t just a list of food, it’s a sneak peek into the dining experience you offer. So, don’t bury it on some random page or hide it behind a clunky PDF. Make it easy to find and even easier to navigate. And when it comes to descriptions? Go beyond the basics! Paint a picture of each dish, help your customers imagine how the flavors will pop, the textures will surprise, and the bites will leave them craving more.
Let’s be real: If you’ve got something that’ll make taste buds tingle, you want people to know about it. So, highlight your best sellers, include drool-worthy photos, and keep the format clean and simple. People are hungry for both great food and easy access to your menu.
4. Location and Hours Info (Because, Where and When, Right?)
It may sound basic, but you’d be amazed at how often this one gets overlooked. Make sure your customers know exactly where you are and when you’re open. It’s a no-brainer, but having to dig through google to find out where to go, and when to get there, is not the work your potential customers are looking to do. Make it easy for them, and yourself!
Pop your address, phone number, and business hours in a place that’s super easy to find (ideally in the header or footer of every page). And don’t forget a map! Most people rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps to get around these days, so make sure they can find you without any extra stress.
5. Reviews (The Social Proof is Real)
If you’ve got them, flaunt them. Positive reviews are gold—and you’d be wise to showcase them front and center. Potential diners want to know what others think before they commit to a meal, so make sure your best reviews are easy to find.
Consider adding a review widget or a testimonial section to your homepage. Real customer feedback builds trust and lets new visitors know they’re making the right choice. Plus, if you’re lucky enough to snag a great review, show it off!
So, there you have it—5 essentials your restaurant website needs to stay relevant and make an unforgettable first impression. High-quality photos, clickable CTAs, an easy-to-read menu, accurate location and hours info, and a dash of positive reviews are all key ingredients for success.
Don’t let your website serve up anything less than stellar. Now, go ahead and upgrade that site, and watch the hungry customers roll in. Hungry for more? We’re ready when you are.
