Restaurant and café websites: what guests look for

Guests often decide within seconds whether to eat at your place. Usually on their phone, often already on the way. The website then has to answer exactly the questions that matter at that moment.

Four questions every restaurant website answers

• Are you open now? Opening hours clearly visible, including closing day and when the kitchen closes.
• What is on the menu? The menu with prices.
• Where are you, and can I park? Address, a link to the map, notes on parking or public transport.
• How do I get a table? A phone number to tap or a reservation option.

If a guest has to search for one of these answers for long, they quickly end up next door.

Menu as text instead of PDF

Many restaurants upload their menu as a PDF. On a phone that means: load the file, zoom, swipe. A menu as normal text on the page is better:

• It adapts to the screen and is instantly readable.
• Search engines and screen readers capture text on a normal page more reliably than a PDF, especially if it is just a scanned menu.
• You change a price in a minute, without a new file.

You can offer the printed menu as an additional download.

Mandatory information

If you offer food online for ordering or delivery, additional information obligations apply, for example regarding allergens. What exactly applies to you is best clarified with your chamber, the hospitality association or a legal adviser. This article is not legal advice.

Reservations: phone, form or system

• Phone: a tappable number is completely sufficient for many small businesses.
• Form: a simple request that you receive by email and confirm.
• Reservation system: providers with a table plan and automatic confirmation. Check where the data is processed and name the provider in your privacy policy.

In your Google Business Profile you can also add a link to your menu and to reservations.

Photos that make people hungry

Real photos of your dishes and your dining room have more impact than stock images. Take photos in daylight by the window, from an angle or directly above, without flash. Five good photos are better than twenty mediocre ones.

Keep your Google Business Profile up to date

For restaurants, the Google profile is almost as important as the website. Keep opening hours current and add special hours for public holidays. Website and profile should show the same hours, the same address and the same phone number.

Frequently asked questions

Isn't an Instagram profile enough?

Instagram is great for atmosphere and photos. Opening hours, the menu and directions are hard to find there, though, and without an account you often cannot see everything. A lean website complements it well.

Do I need an English menu?

In areas with many tourists or international guests, it pays off. A simple second language version of the menu is usually quick to make.