Restaurant Website Design Guide: Planning and Setup for Success
Restaurants can establish a powerful online presence through a well-designed website that showcases menus, accepts reservations, and promotes special offers. Here's how to create an effective restaurant website:
Essential Website Elements:
- Menus displayed in searchable text format (better for SEO than PDFs)
- Operating hours and location information
- Reservation system integration
- Online ordering capabilities
- High-quality food and venue photography
- Contact information for phone/email orders
Location marker on a map
Menu Display: Create clear, stylish menus using dedicated menu blocks or sections. Multiple menus can be organized in dropdown navigation for easy access.
A Squarespace menu
Reservations and Orders: Integrate with platforms like:
- ChowNow for online orders
- OpenTable for reservations
- Tock for both reservations and orders
Marketing Features:
- Display high-quality images in gallery sections
- Create engaging content for social media
- Use background images/videos to showcase atmosphere
- Add a notice bar for special offers
- Include social media icons
E-commerce Options:
- Set up product subscriptions for regular items
- Create regional shipping zones
- Offer gift cards
- Display stockist information
SEO Optimization:
- Verify with Google Search Console
- List business on Google Business Profile
- Include complete contact information
- Ensure all menu text is searchable
- Maintain updated location details
Additional Pages to Consider:
- Private Events
- Press Coverage
- About Us
- Contact Information
- Special Offers
Focus on making essential information easily accessible while maintaining an attractive, brand-consistent design that showcases your culinary offerings and venue atmosphere.