How to Create a Restaurant Website in 10 Steps

Why Your Restaurant Needs a Website

1. Own Your Digital Space: Relying only on third-party apps means paying commissions and losing control. A website keeps your traffic—and revenue—in your hands.
2. Direct Reservations & Orders: Let customers book a table or place an order without calling. Online convenience leads to more bookings and fewer no-shows.
3. Stronger Brand Identity: Your site reflects your vibe—cozy and rustic, modern and chic, or family-friendly. A great website sets the mood before guests walk in.
4. Better Local SEO Visibility: A website optimized for “Italian restaurant in [city]” brings in search traffic from people actively looking to eat nearby.
5. Menu Control & Updates: Update your dishes, prices, and specials instantly without relying on outdated PDFs or third-party sites.
6. Increased Credibility: A beautiful, professional site makes people trust your food before they taste it.

Key Features to Include on Your Restaurant Website

1. Mobile-Friendly Design: Over 70% of restaurant website visits come from phones. Make sure it’s fast, functional, and beautiful on mobile.
2. Online Menu: Showcase your menu with prices, photos, dietary info, and clear sections for appetizers, mains, desserts, and drinks.
3. Reservations or Online Ordering: Add integrations with OpenTable, Resy, or Toast—or use your own simple form or system.
4. Photos & Ambience: Feature high-quality images of dishes, your dining area, and team. This builds appetite and trust.
5. About Us Section: Share your story, your chef’s background, or the inspiration behind your cuisine.
6. Location & Hours: Add a map, parking tips, delivery radius, and up-to-date business hours.
7. Contact Page: Include a form, phone number, email, and links to your social media profiles.
8. Specials & Events Page: Promote happy hours, seasonal menus, and live music events.
9. Online Reviews & Testimonials: Display reviews from Google, Yelp, or TripAdvisor to build trust.

How to Create a Restaurant Website in 10 Steps

This isn’t just about having a website—it’s about creating a high-performing one that brings people through the door and keeps them coming back.

1. Pick a Restaurant-Friendly Website Builder

Choose a platform like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress that supports restaurant-specific features like online menus, reservations, and ordering. Look for templates tagged under "food & drink" with integrations for tools like ToastTab or OpenTable. Avoid builders that lack ecommerce or mobile flexibility, as 70%+ of traffic is mobile.

2. Choose a Template Designed for Restaurants

Prioritize a template that includes built-in menu sections, call-to-action buttons for reservations or ordering, and homepage image sliders. Look for layouts that highlight daily specials or seasonal dishes—these convert better and help keep your site fresh.

3. Upload Your Brand Assets

Upload your high-resolution logo in .SVG or .PNG format, define a consistent color palette (e.g., wine red, cream, charcoal), and pick 1–2 readable fonts. Add real images of your food, staff, and restaurant interior. Studies show custom photos perform 45% better than stock.

4. Create a Mouthwatering Homepage

Use a full-screen hero photo or background video of your signature dish or dining experience. Place a one-line value proposition like “Modern Greek Cuisine in the Heart of Chicago” above the fold, followed by a bold “Book a Table” or “Order Now” button.

5. Build a Menu Page That Sells

Create separate sections for each category: starters, mains, desserts, drinks. Include dish descriptions, prices, and dietary labels (V, GF, etc.). Add food photography for 4–5 of your top-selling dishes. Restaurants that use visual menus see up to 30% more engagement.

6. Add Reservation or Online Order Functionality

Integrate with systems like OpenTable, Resy, or GloriaFood—or embed ToastTab for seamless POS-to-kitchen integration. If you prefer simple forms, use tools like Jotform or Tock with calendar syncing. Make sure buttons are easy to tap on mobile.

7. Tell Your Story on the About Page

Describe what inspired your restaurant, how long you’ve served the community, and what sets your food or service apart. Include a short video tour or quote from your head chef. This builds emotional connection and improves local brand loyalty.

8. Optimize for Mobile & SEO

Make sure your site loads in under 3 seconds on mobile. Use city-specific keywords in headers (e.g., “Best Thai Takeout in Austin”). Compress images under 300KB, write descriptive alt text, and test Core Web Vitals using Google PageSpeed Insights.

9. Link Social Media & Review Sites

Embed Instagram feeds or TikTok clips to showcase daily dishes and behind-the-scenes content. Link your Google Maps, Yelp, and TripAdvisor profiles with review badges. Include clear CTAs like “Leave Us a Review” near your footer.

10. Publish & Promote

Before launching, QA your site on different screen sizes, test forms, and check all CTA buttons. Then update your Google Business Profile, link the site on Instagram, post a launch announcement on social media, and ask regulars to share the site. Restaurants that launch with a promotion (like 10% off your first online order) get higher traffic in the first 30 days.