Restaurant website: what you can't miss

Does your restaurant need a website?

Without a doubt. 90% of customers research a restaurant online before visiting it. They check the menu, read reviews, look up hours and find the location. If your restaurant doesn't have a website, you're losing customers to competitors who do.

1. Updated digital menu

The menu is the first thing customers look for. It should be:

• Easy to read on mobile (no heavy PDFs)
• Organized by categories (starters, main courses, desserts, drinks)
• With updated prices
• With photos of the most popular dishes
• Available in Portuguese and English (for tourists)

Tip: Never use a PDF as your menu on the website. It's slow, hard to read on mobile and impossible for Google to index.

2. Hours and location

It seems basic, but many restaurant websites don't clearly show opening hours. Include:

• Hours by day of the week
• Closing days
• Full address
• Integrated Google Maps
• Directions (transport, parking)

3. Reservation system

A "Book a table" button at the top of the site makes life easier for customers. It can be a simple link to WhatsApp, phone, or integration with platforms like TheFork or Zomato.

4. Professional photos

Food is first eaten with the eyes. Invest in quality photos of dishes, the restaurant interior and the team. Real images convey authenticity — avoid generic stock photos.

5. Reviews and social proof

Integrate Google or TripAdvisor reviews directly on the site. Social proof is one of the most influential factors in choosing a restaurant.

6. Visible contacts

Phone, email, WhatsApp and social media should be accessible on all pages. On mobile, the number should be clickable to call directly.

7. SEO for "restaurant in [location]"

Optimize the site to appear when someone searches "restaurant in [neighborhood/city]". Use these keywords in the page title, meta description and site content.

How GenDomain helps

GenDomain creates professional restaurant websites with all these elements included. Digital menu, integrated map, visible contacts and responsive design come as standard. Everything ready in 5 minutes, from €29/month.

Conclusion

Your restaurant's website is its digital business card. With the right elements, it turns online searches into real reservations. Don't let customers choose the competition just because they had a better website.