Restaurant websites look simple at first: add photos, post the menu, and publish the address. In practice, the details determine whether a guest can quickly find what they need.
Start with the four things a guest is likely to need: the menu, opening hours, directions, and an ordering or reservation link.
The Menu Has to Be Readable, Not Just a PDF
A scanned menu PDF can be difficult to read on a phone, especially when it was designed for print. Google can index PDFs. The reason to prefer an HTML menu is usability: real page text can resize and reflow on a phone, and individual sections can be linked directly.
Whenever practical, publish the menu as real page text in a clean, skimmable, mobile-friendly layout. You can still offer a downloadable PDF for guests who want one. Give it a clear label, file type, and revision date, and keep it consistent with the page. A photo of a menu should not be the only way to read it.
Photos Should Be Clear and Accurate
Clear, accurate photos help guests understand the food and atmosphere. A professional shoot is not always necessary; a modern phone can produce useful images with good lighting, careful framing, and light editing.
Choose images that represent the dishes and atmosphere honestly. Avoid photos that are outdated, heavily misleading, or unrelated to what a guest can order.
Contact Info on Every Page
Phone number, address, and hours should be easy to find and tap, especially on mobile.
Think about a guest checking the site while they are out. The fewer steps it takes to confirm hours, location, menu, and availability, the better.
Hours That Are Actually Up to Date
Outdated hours can send a guest to a closed restaurant. Keep regular and holiday hours current, and make it clear where guests should confirm last-minute changes.
A Reservation or Ordering Link That Works
If you take reservations or offer online ordering, make the approved provider link easy to find rather than burying it on a contact page. Test the destination periodically so a changed provider URL does not become a dead end. Name the provider before the guest leaves your site, distinguish pickup from delivery, and avoid promising that a request is a confirmed reservation.
Common Restaurant-Site Problems
Prioritizing aesthetics over usability is a common mistake. Autoplay media and heavy full-page animation can slow the experience or distract from the information guests came to find. Speed and clarity matter.
The second mistake is publishing a site and never updating it. Seasonal menus, changed hours, and holiday schedules need an owner and a reliable update process. Outdated details can send guests to the wrong place or time.
Run a Guest’s Journey on Your Phone
- Find tonight’s hours, including any kitchen or last-order cutoff that differs from closing time.
- Read a menu item and its price without zooming into an image.
- Open directions and confirm they lead to the correct entrance or location.
- Follow the ordering or reservation link through to the correct restaurant and service. Stop before placing a real order.
- Find a phone number for questions the menu cannot answer.
Assign someone to check the website, ordering provider, and Business Profile whenever hours or menu details change. This is often more useful than a full redesign.
For layout examples and project scope, see restaurant websites. For a wider check, use our phone usability test and accessibility first checks.