Restaurant Website Design: 10 Must-Have Features

Why Restaurant Websites Matter

Your website is often a customer's first impression of your restaurant. They're deciding whether to visit based on what they see online.

What customers want:

• Menu with prices
• Location and hours
• Photos of food and atmosphere
• Easy way to make reservations
• Online ordering (if available)

What kills conversions:

• Outdated menus (especially PDF menus that don't work on mobile)
• No photos or bad photos
• Hard to find location/hours
• Slow loading
• No mobile optimization

Essential Website Features

1. Menu

Requirements:

• Current menu with prices
• Mobile-friendly format (not PDF)
• Easy to update
• Dietary information (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)

Best practices:

• Organize by category
• Include descriptions
• Highlight popular items
• Show photos of signature dishes

PDF menus are outdated. They don't work well on mobile, aren't SEO-friendly, and are hard to keep current.

2. Online Ordering

Post-pandemic, online ordering isn't optional for most restaurants.

Options:

• Third-party platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
• Integrated website ordering (lower fees)
• Both (meet customers where they are)

Key features:

• Mobile-optimized
• Easy customization
• Clear pricing with fees
• Order tracking
• Integration with your POS

3. Reservations

Options:

• OpenTable integration
• Resy
• Direct booking through your site
• Simple contact form for smaller restaurants

Best practices:

• Make booking prominent
• Show availability
• Send confirmation emails
• Allow easy modifications

4. Location and Hours

Must include:

• Full address
• Embedded Google Map
• Current hours (including holidays)
• Parking information
• Public transit options

Pro tip: Use schema markup so Google shows your hours and location directly in search results.

5. Contact Information

• Phone number (click-to-call on mobile)
• Email
• Social media links
• Contact form for inquiries

6. High-Quality Photos

Photos sell food. Poor photos drive customers away.

What to photograph:

• Signature dishes
• Interior atmosphere
• Exterior/entrance
• Staff (optional but humanizing)

Photo tips:

• Hire a professional food photographer
• Use natural lighting when possible
• Show dishes from appetizing angles
• Update photos regularly

7. About/Story

People connect with stories, not just food.

Include:

• Restaurant history
• Chef background
• Philosophy/values
• What makes you unique

Keep it concise—a few paragraphs, not an essay.

Design Best Practices

Mobile-First Design

Over 60% of restaurant searches happen on mobile. Your site must work perfectly on phones.

Mobile requirements:

• Touch-friendly navigation
• Click-to-call phone number
• Easy-to-read menu
• Fast loading
• Clear CTAs (Order, Reserve, Directions)

Simple Navigation

Restaurant websites don't need complex navigation. Essential pages:

• Menu
• Order Online
• Reservations
• Location/Hours
• About
• Contact

Visual Focus

Let your food be the star. Use:

• Large, high-quality food photography
• Clean, uncluttered design
• Colors that complement your branding
• Minimal text (people scan, not read)

Speed Optimization

Hungry customers won't wait for slow sites.

Optimization tips:

• Compress images
• Use fast hosting
• Minimize plugins
• Enable caching
• Use CDN for images

Clear Calls to Action

Make it obvious what to do:

• "Order Online" button prominent
• "Reserve a Table" easy to find
• Phone number visible
• Directions accessible

Technical Requirements

Local SEO

Most restaurant traffic comes from local searches.

Essentials:

• Google Business Profile (claimed and optimized)
• Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) everywhere
• Local keywords in content
• Reviews on Google

Schema markup for:

• Restaurant type
• Location
• Hours
• Menu
• Reviews

Website Platform Options

WordPress + Restaurant Theme

• Pros: Flexible, affordable, SEO-friendly
• Cons: Requires maintenance

Squarespace

• Pros: Beautiful templates, easy to use
• Cons: Limited functionality

Restaurant-Specific Platforms

(BentoBox, Popmenu, etc.)

• Pros: Built for restaurants, integrated features
• Cons: Higher monthly cost

Custom Development

• Pros: Exactly what you want
• Cons: Higher upfront cost

Integrations to Consider

• POS system
• Online ordering
• Reservation system
• Email marketing
• Review management
• Gift card sales
• Loyalty programs

Content Strategy

Blog Ideas

If you have time for content marketing:

• Behind-the-scenes posts
• Chef recipes
• Seasonal menu updates
• Event announcements
• Food and wine pairings

Social Integration

• Link to Instagram, Facebook
• Embed Instagram feed (if active)
• Share reviews and testimonials

Email List

Collect emails for:

• Special offers
• Event announcements
• New menu items
• Holiday reservations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. PDF Menus

They don't work on mobile and hurt SEO. Use HTML menus.

2. Auto-Playing Music

Please don't. Ever.

3. Outdated Information

Wrong hours or old menus frustrate customers. Keep it current.

4. No Mobile Optimization

This loses over half your potential customers.

5. Stock Photos

Generic food photos look fake. Use real photos of your actual food.

6. Buried Contact Info

Phone, address, and hours should be immediately visible.

7. Complicated Navigation

Keep it simple. People want menu, hours, and how to visit.

8. Slow Loading

Optimize images and hosting. Speed matters.

Website Checklist

Before launch:

• [ ] Mobile-responsive design
• [ ] HTML menu (not PDF)
• [ ] Online ordering or reservation link
• [ ] Google Maps embedded
• [ ] Current hours displayed
• [ ] Click-to-call phone number
• [ ] High-quality food photos
• [ ] About section
• [ ] Contact form
• [ ] Social media links
• [ ] Fast loading (under 3 seconds)
• [ ] SSL certificate (HTTPS)

After launch:

• [ ] Google Business Profile claimed
• [ ] Submit to local directories
• [ ] Set up Google Analytics
• [ ] Request customer reviews
• [ ] Plan regular content updates

Your restaurant website doesn't need to be complicated. It needs to be functional, fast, and focused on what customers actually want: your menu, your location, and how to eat your food.