In the current digital age, your website is generally the start of your customer’s dining experience. It’s often the first taste customers get of your establishment. Like a perfect dish, let’s look at the ingredients that make the ideal website.
Mobile-Optimised Menus
PDF menus are outdated and frustrating for users. The downloading of a menu uses data and takes the user off your website to read it. We use some of the best practices for displaying menu items, the importance of high-quality food photography is as important as how you plate a dish. Like a good chef uses the highest of techniques to provide a breath-taking dish, we use the highest quality mobile-friendly menu navigation techniques to provide the best experience for your potential customers.
Booking Systems
Through one of your marketing techniques, like SEO or social media, you have got the customer onto your website. How long would you wait to be seated before you go to the restaurant next door? Having a real time booking system function is essential to capturing the potential customer as effectively as possible. This function needs to be able to handle special occasion/large party booking options and automate confirmation and reminder systems.
Location and Hours
Having all the information in one place is great for potential customers. Here are some things we suggest:
- A prominent display of multiple locations if applicable
- Interactive map integration
- Clear breakdown of different service hours (lunch, dinner, happy hour)
- Holiday hours and special events calendar
- Parking information and directions
Storytelling
Telling the story of your restaurant starts here, from that first click you only have seconds to engage with that customer. These are some points we want you to think about when telling your story:
- Professional food and atmosphere photography
- Virtual tour of the space
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of kitchen/staff
- Social media integration for fresh content
- Brand story and restaurant history
Contact Information
- Clear call-to-action buttons for phone calls
- Email contact forms
- Social media links
- Private event inquiries
- Catering information
Performance Optimisation
Things to consider about the performance of the website in summary:
- Fast loading times for hungry customers
- Compressed images without sacrificing quality
- Mobile-first design approach
- Easy navigation between sections
- Quick access to crucial information
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Health department ratings
- Awards and any PR
- COVID safety measures or relevant health protocols
- Allergen information and dietary requirements if any
A well-designed restaurant website should make customers hungry and make it easy for them to satisfy that hunger. Focus on these essential elements to create a website that serves both your customers and your business goals.
