How to build a restaurant website: Your recipe for online success  

Did you know that over 70% of restaurants in the US have a website? Even well-known chains like McDonald’s and Burger King rely on websites to promote their brand and enhance ordering services Did you know that over 70% of restaurants in the US have a website? Even well-known chains like McDonald’s and Burger King rely on websites to promote their brand and enhance ordering services through platforms like DoorDash and UberEats.  

A restaurant website isn’t just an online presence; it’s a tool to showcase your menu, your style, and your story — all in one place. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a restaurant website that truly reflects your brand. From designing an appetizing online menu to sharing your restaurant’s unique personality, we’ll cover what you need to get started.    

Let’s make your website as unforgettable as your food! 

Why your restaurant needs a website 

Today, a restaurant website isn’t optional; it’s a must. It gives you full control over your brand and lets you connect with customers directly, without solely relying on third-party platforms. 

While social media and third-party food delivery services are helpful, they come with limitations. It’s like renting space in a busy mall. You may have your own store, but the entire area is shared with your competitors and restricted by mall rules and hours.  

A website, however, is your own digital space where you set the rules. With it you can customize your menu and other visual elements. You can also showcase your activities all while making it easier for customers to engage with your brand. 

Here are other reasons why your restaurant needs a website: 

• Build credibility and trust. Having a website shows you’re professional and trustworthy. It makes key information like your address, hours, and contact details easy to find. 

• Offer convenience and transparency. Browsing a website is far easier than navigating store pages in social media and delivery apps. With restaurant websites, you can give diners clear, interactive menus with details about pricing, dietary restrictions, serving size etc. This makes it easier for them to plan their visit, place their order, make reservations or sign up for updates. 
   

• Share your story and promotions. A website is the perfect place to feature your restaurant’s unique story, highlight seasonal promotions, or run contests — without extra costs. 

How to create a restaurant website: Step-by-step 

Now that you understand why a website is important, it’s time to build one that works for your restaurant. Think of it as crafting a digital space where your story, menu, and features come together to connect with customers. 

Here’s your recipe for success: 

1. Define your goals and audience 

2. Choose your domain 

3. Choose a reliable hosting plan 

4. Find a user-friendly website builder   

5. Build a visually stunning website 

6. Keep your website and payments secure 

7. Test, launch, and keep it fresh 

8. Optimize for search engines and all devices 

9. Share your story and promote your website 

Each step will bring you closer to creating the ideal restaurant website — one that connects with customers and grows your business. 

Step 1: Define your goals and audience 

Your restaurant website needs a clear purpose. What’s your goal? More reservations, online orders, or better visibility in search results?  

Determining who your target audience is just as important. Are you serving families, foodies, or professionals? Understanding who you’re serving helps shape your site’s design and theme. 

Let’s say you’re a farm-to-table restaurant aiming to attract health-conscious foodies. Your goal might be to increase online orders for delivery or curbside pickup. Knowing this, you could design your website to feature vibrant images of fresh dishes, include detailed nutritional information, and ensure a simple, intuitive ordering system for ease of use. 

Tailor your content and functionality to meet these specific needs, ensuring your website speaks directly to the audience you want to engage. 

Step 2: Choose your domain  

Your domain name should match your restaurant’s name as closely as possible. This makes it easy for customers to find and remember your website. Use your exact name if the domain is available (e.g., [YourRestaurantName].com). 

If the .com domain is taken, try these alternatives: 

• Add your location. This is a good option to consider if you’re working in one locale. Take [YourRestaurantName]NYC.com as an example. 

• Include a keyword. You can also use a culinary term related to your types of dishes you serve, like [YourRestaurantName]Bistro.com 

• Consider other extensions like .net, .biz, or .restaurant. 

Once your domain is secured, choose a website builder that suits your needs and budget. 

Step 3: Choose a reliable hosting plan 

Web hosting is where your restaurant website lives online. It’s essential to choose a hosting plan that can accommodate eCommerce capabilities, such as online ordering or reservations. A reliable plan keeps your site fast and functional giving a smooth experience no matter how many website visitors your restaurant website gets. 

Step 4: Find a user-friendly website builder 

Your chosen site builder is the backbone of your restaurant’s website. It determines how easy it is to create, manage, and update your own website. Choosing the right platform helps you build a great restaurant website that impresses your site visitors and serves your business goals. 

Here’s what to look for in a website builder or platform: 

• AI-powered design tools. Imagine a tool that not only helps you design your website but does the thinking for you. AI-powered builders take the guesswork out of creating your site. They recommend layouts, features, and even design elements based on your restaurant’s style and goals. Want to showcase your menu? Done. Need an online reservation system? It’s ready to go. These tools adapt to your needs, making it effortless to build a site that’s as professional as it is personal. 

• Restaurant website templates. Ready-to-use templates designed for restaurants make it easy to create a site that matches your brand without needing technical skills. You can personalize layouts, colors, and fonts to reflect your restaurant’s unique vibe. 

• Customization tools. As a restaurant owner, having customization options allows you to build a site that truly represents your brand. Enhance your site further by adding add-ons like online ordering and reservations, which improve the customer experience by allowing them to place orders or book tables directly on your website. 

• Analytics. A platform with built-in analytics lets you track how site visitors interact with your site. This valuable data helps you make informed decisions to optimize the user experience and improve overall performance. 

Step 5: Build a visually appealing website 

A restaurant website design doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it’s best when it’s simple, straightforward, and focused. You don’t need dozens of pages; just the essentials to make it easy for your customers to find what they’re looking for. 

To make your site both beautiful and functional, focus on these key elements: 

• Brand consistency. Stick to colors, fonts, and logos that match your restaurant’s style for a cohesive, memorable experience. 

• Visual appeal. Use high-quality images of your dishes, drinks, and ambiance to invite visitors in. 

• Intuitive navigation. Make your site easy to navigate with clear menus and key sections like Menu, Order Online, and Reservations. 

Other must-have features for your restaurant website: 

• Online menu. Your menu should be easy to find and full of mouthwatering details. Include dish descriptions, prices, and dietary labels to guide your customers. If your state requires you to show calorie or allergen info, be sure to add that too. This helps customers make informed choices and ensures you’re following local regulations. 

• Online ordering system. Sure, third-party services like DoorDash or UberEats are great, but offering online ordering directly from your website makes it more convenient for customers. It’s faster and ensures that you keep more control over the order experience. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage repeat business! 

• Reservation system. Allowing customers to reserve a table directly from your website helps take the hassle out of planning. No more phone calls or waiting in line—just a smooth, convenient process. Customers appreciate the convenience, and you can manage your bookings more efficiently. 

• Contact details. Make sure your customers can reach you easily. Display your address, phone number, and hours clearly on a dedicated contact page. It’s not just about sharing information — it builds trust and makes it easier for customers to reach out with questions or to confirm details. 

• Contact form. Feedback is gold! A simple contact form gives your customers a way to share their thoughts, ask questions, or make suggestions. It shows that you care about their experience and are always looking to improve. Plus, it’s a great way to resolve any issues quickly, keeping customers happy and coming back for more. 

Step 6: Keep your website and payments secure 

When customers visit your restaurant website, they need to feel confident that their info is safe. After all, they’re sharing their payment details, and trust is key to getting their order. 

Here’s how to keep your site secure: 

• SSL certificates. Think of an SSL certificate as a lock on your website. It encrypts sensitive info like credit card numbers and personal details, so it stays protected. Plus, Google rewards secure sites with better rankings! 

• Secure payment methods. Make sure your online ordering system uses trusted payment gateways. This keeps transactions smooth and safe, so your customers can place their orders worry-free. 

• Regular backups. Things can go wrong at times, like accidental site changes or crashes. But with automatic backups, you can quickly restore your site without losing any customer data or online orders. 

Step 7: Test, launch, and keep your content fresh  

Before you launch, test your restaurant website to make sure everything works smoothly. Double-check your contact page, menu, and ordering system. Once everything’s in place, it’s time to go live and start sharing your site with the world! 

To stay competitive, keep your site fresh with updated content, seasonal promotions, and regular updates. Use analytics to track how your site is doing. This will help you understand which areas you need to tweak to improve your site’s performance. 

Step 8: Optimize for search engines and all devices 

To make sure your restaurant website performs well, it’s advisable to optimize it for all search engines and devices. Many customers will visit your site from smartphones and tablets, so ensure it’s easy to navigate on any screen size. 

Here’s what to focus on: 

• Mobile optimization. Make sure your website works seamlessly across all devices, providing a smooth experience for site visitors on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. 

• Search engine optimization (SEO). Use relevant keywords like “family-friendly restaurant” and “order online” naturally throughout your site, especially in your menu, titles, and meta descriptions. This helps improve your visibility on search engines like Google and makes it easier for customers to find your restaurant website. 

• Local SEO. A more targeted approach to SEO is to optimize for local searches (e.g., restaurants in Brooklyn) by adding location-based keywords. Pair this with registering your restaurant in directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to reach more local diners. This increases your chances of being found when potential customers search for restaurants nearby or in more specific locations, making it easier for them to discover your restaurant. 

Step 9: Share your story and promote your website  

Your restaurant website is more than just a place for your menu — it’s where you tell your story and show what makes your restaurant special. Share your history, highlight seasonal promotions, and spotlight unique dishes to keep customers engaged and excited. 

But don’t stop there! Promote your site on your social media channels to drive even more traffic and keep your restaurant top of mind. Here’s how: 

• Engage on social media. Encourage website visitors to follow you on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use them to post about daily specials, event announcements, and seasonal promotions. 

• Hashtags for reach. Add relevant hashtags (e.g., #veganrestaurant, #newyorkpizza etc.) to expand your audience and attract local foodies or new customers to your site. 

• Local advertising. Run targeted Google Ads and Facebook Ads aimed at people in your neighborhood, so you can connect with those most likely to visit. 

• Email marketing. Send out updates to subscribers. Announce new menu items, exclusive offers, or special events to keep them coming back for more. 

By keeping your online presence fresh and connected with your audience, you’ll drive more traffic to your site and keep customers excited about what’s next. 

Your recipe for digital success 

Now that you know why your restaurant needs a website, it’s time to take action. Web.com has everything you need to create a restaurant website that works for you. We’ll help you get started. From buying a domain, to building and hosting your site, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also help you acquire an SSL certificate for secure payments to a reservation scheduler and scalable options as your business grows. Plus, our support team is here to assist with your marketing efforts, helping your restaurant thrive online. 

Frequently asked questions