The Restaurant Website Guide: What to Include (and What to Skip)

Most restaurant websites are either too sparse (a phone number and a photo) or way too complicated (a full CMS, online ordering, a blog, and a loyalty program that nobody set up correctly). Let's talk about what actually moves the needle.

Must-Haves (Non-negotiable)

• ▸Your menu — with prices. Hiding prices loses customers.
• ▸Your address with a Google Maps embed or link.
• ▸Your hours — including holiday hours, lunch vs. dinner service.
• ▸A phone number. People still call restaurants.
• ▸Real photos of your actual food. Not stock photos.

Strong Additions (High ROI)

Once the basics are covered, these additions have the highest return on effort:

• ▸An online reservation link (use OpenTable, Resy, or a direct form).
• ▸A short "About" paragraph — customers want to know who you are.
• ▸Your story — was this a family recipe? A neighborhood institution? Tell it.
• ▸A few customer reviews pulled from Yelp or Google.
• ▸Your social media links (especially Instagram if you post food photos).

What to Skip

Unless you have a team to maintain it, skip these:

• ▸A blog (nobody is reading your restaurant's blog)
• ▸A custom online ordering system (use Uber Eats or Toast instead)
• ▸A loyalty points portal
• ▸An elaborate photo gallery with 40 images that slows your site down

The One Thing Most Restaurants Get Wrong

They don't put their hours and address above the fold. When someone Googles "restaurants near me" and clicks your site, they need your hours and address in the first 3 seconds. Not after they scroll past your hero image, your About section, and three testimonials. First thing, every time.

""My favorite restaurant website moment: I'm deciding where to take my parents tonight. I check a place — can't find the menu or hours in 10 seconds. I go to the next one." — Every restaurant customer, all the time."