Your website hasn't been updated in three years, loads slowly, and requires zooming to read on phones. I've built and optimized websites for restaurants across the Pacific Northwest, and most restaurant sites actively lose customers instead of attracting them. Here's how to create a site that actually drives business.
Make your phone number and address visible on every single page. People visit restaurant websites for two reasons—to find your location and to call you. If they have to click through three pages to find your phone number, they're calling your competitor instead. Header and footer of every page, click-to-call on mobile, always visible.
Put your menu directly on the site, not as a PDF download. PDFs don't work on mobile, can't be indexed by Google, and feel outdated. Your menu should be HTML text that loads instantly, works perfectly on phones, and can be updated easily. Individual menu items should be linkable and searchable by Google for maximum visibility.
Load time under two seconds is mandatory, not optional. Every additional second of load time costs you ten percent of visitors who bounce before seeing anything. Compress images, use fast hosting, minimize plugins, enable caching. Test your site speed on Google PageSpeed Insights and fix everything it flags.
Mobile-first design isn't optional anymore. Seventy-five percent of restaurant website traffic comes from phones. If your site doesn't work perfectly on a phone—easy navigation, readable text, working buttons—you're losing three-quarters of potential customers. Test everything on an actual phone, not just desktop.
Include high-quality photos of actual food from your restaurant. Stock photos of generic food signal that you're not proud enough of your actual dishes to photograph them. Customers want to see what they'll actually get. Eight to ten current photos of popular dishes, professionally shot if possible, amateur if necessary—just real.
Make online ordering prominent if you offer it. "Order Online" button in the top navigation and homepage, not buried under three clicks. Every friction point loses orders. Direct ordering through your site is better than sending people to third-party apps where you pay commission and lose customer data.
Show current hours prominently and update them immediately for holidays. Outdated hours generate angry one-star reviews from people who drove over to find you closed. Special hours for holidays, temporary closures, or events should be updated on your site the same day you make that decision.
Include a Google Map embedded on your contact page. People need to see exactly where you are and get directions easily. "123 Main Street" means nothing to someone unfamiliar with your area. An embedded map they can click for directions removes friction from finding you.
Add customer reviews directly from Google on your homepage. Social proof matters—showing that other people loved your restaurant reduces risk for new customers. Pull in your best Google reviews automatically using a review widget. Fresh reviews signal an active, popular restaurant.
Create simple, clear navigation with five pages maximum. Homepage, Menu, About, Contact, Order Online. Complicated navigation with dropdown menus and ten pages confuses visitors. Make it obvious where to click for what they need. Simple always wins.
Use clear calls-to-action throughout. "Make a Reservation," "Order Pickup," "View Menu," "Call Now"—every page should have an obvious next step. Visitors shouldn't wonder what to do. Tell them explicitly with visible buttons and links.
Keep content concise and scannable. Long paragraphs about your restaurant's philosophy bore people. Short paragraphs, bullet points, clear sections—make it easy to scan and find information quickly. People don't read restaurant websites, they scan them. Design for scanning.
Managing a website with proper design, fast hosting, mobile optimization, menu updates, and ongoing maintenance while running daily operations is why most restaurant websites never get updated after launch. RestaurantDestinations.com directories provide additional visibility and up-to-date information, but your own website is still the foundation of your online presence and needs to work perfectly.
Quick Action Checklist
Essential Pages (Keep It Simple):
- Homepage (hero image, clear value proposition, CTAs)
- Menu (HTML text, not PDF, mobile-friendly)
- About/Story (brief history, chef bio, photos)
- Contact (address, phone, hours, map, contact form)
- Order Online (if applicable, direct ordering preferred)
Homepage Must-Haves:
- Clear restaurant name and cuisine type (above fold)
- Large hero image of food or restaurant
- Phone number and address visible (header/footer)
- Primary CTA buttons (Order, Reserve, Menu, Call)
- Current hours of operation
- Brief description (1-2 sentences max)
- Recent Google reviews or testimonials
- Social media links
Menu Page Requirements:
- HTML text menu (not PDF, not images)
- Organized by category (appetizers, entrees, desserts)
- Clear descriptions for each dish (under 15 words)
- Prices clearly shown
- Dietary indicators (GF, V, VG icons)
- Photos of 5-10 signature dishes
- Last updated date shown
Mobile Optimization:
- Responsive design (adapts to all screen sizes)
- Click-to-call phone number
- Easy tap targets (buttons at least 44px)
- Readable text (minimum 16px font)
- No horizontal scrolling required
- Fast load time (under 2 seconds)
Contact Page Essentials:
- Full address with neighborhood/area
- Click-to-call phone number
- Email address (for inquiries)
- Embedded Google Map
- Current hours (update for holidays immediately)
- Parking information
- Public transit directions if applicable
Performance & Technical:
- Load time under 2 seconds (test with PageSpeed Insights)
- Compressed images (under 200kb each)
- Fast hosting (avoid cheap shared hosting)
- SSL certificate (https://)
- Mobile-friendly (passes Google mobile test)
- SEO basics (title tags, meta descriptions, alt text)
Content Updates:
- Update menu whenever items change
- Update hours immediately for holidays/closures
- Add seasonal specials or promotions
- Refresh photos annually
- Update chef bio when changes occur
- Add new Google reviews monthly
Calls-to-Action:
- "Order Online" (if available)
- "Make a Reservation" (link to reservation system)
- "View Menu" (from homepage)
- "Call Now" (click-to-call on mobile)
- "Get Directions" (to Google Maps)
Professional Touches:
- High-quality food photos (8-10 minimum)
- Professional logo
- Consistent branding (colors, fonts)
- Brief chef bio with photo
- Social proof (reviews, press mentions)
- Social media links (active accounts only)