Why Your Restaurant Website Still Matters in 2025

Guests decide fast. A clear website makes that decision easier—and protects your brand from outdated third-party listings.

1) What guests actually need (in under 30 seconds)

• Accurate hours & location. Holiday exceptions and special hours should be obvious.

• Menu at a glance. Prices, dietary labels (vegan, GF, contains nuts), and dish notes.

• One-tap actions. Call, Directions, Reserve, Order ahead. Big, thumb-friendly buttons.

• Today’s updates. Sold-out items, waitlist status, happy-hour times.

2) Why your own site beats only using platforms

• Control & consistency. Third-party apps can show old menus and wrong hours. Your site is the source of truth.

• Lower support load. Fewer “Are you open?” calls and fewer confused guests.

• Own your data. Track what people click: calls, bookings, directions—so decisions come from numbers, not guesses.

3) Mobile UX basics that lift conversions

• Short pages with anchored sections (Menu, Hours, Location).

• Large tap targets (44px+), readable type (16–18px), strong contrast.

• Fast images (WebP, compressed). Avoid PDF menus on mobile.

4) Accessibility is good business

• Real text (not images) for menus.

• Alt text for dish photos.

• Clear focus states, logical heading order, labels on form fields.

5) Local SEO foundations

• Match Name, Address, Phone across your site and Google Business Profile.

• Add a simple schema markup (LocalBusiness, Menu).

• Publish short weekly updates (specials/events) and link them on your map listing.

6) What belongs on a modern homepage

• Hero with a single promise (cuisine/experience) + two primary actions.

• Menu highlights (3–6 items), a specials teaser, hours, map, and a short “About.”

• Optional: gallery (light), reviews snippet, private-dining teaser.

Takeaway: Your website is the front door guests visit before the real one. Keep it accurate, fast, and easy—and make every tap lead somewhere useful.

CTA: Reserve a table • See today’s menu