Having a website for your restaurant is essential. It allows restaurant owners reach a wider audience, create an online presence, and provide important information to potential customers.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of building a professional and effective restaurant website.
From choosing a domain name to designing and organizing your content with a restaurant website builder with pre-built templates and free web hosting, we will provide you with the tools and tips you need to succeed.
Key takeaways
- Enable Online Ordering: Setup your website with an online ordering system that allows your customers to place orders directly online.
- Showcase with Images: Use high-quality photos to highlight your restaurant and dishes.
- Include Key Information: Display essential details like the menu, location, hours, and contact info.
- Convenient Features: Offer online reservations and options for takeout or delivery.
- Use Paid Ads: Use paid advertising platforms like Google and Facebook.
- Keep Updated: Regularly update your website with promotions, events, and new offerings.
Are you thinking about hiring someone to build a new website? UpMenu offers tailored restaurant website development services.
Step 1: Register your account on UpMenu
To create a restaurant website, start by registering for a free account at UpMenu in a few simple steps:
1. Go to the registration page.
2. Enter your email address and password and click the ‘Create an account’ button.
3. Enter your business details and tap ‘Finish’.
4. Go to your email inbox and confirm your registration and login to your dashboard.
Step 2: Choose your website template
Choose from 50+ restaurant website templates and select one that perfectly fits your brand or type of cuisine.
Looking to build a site from scratch? Simply delete all of the elements from chosen theme and start building a new website using the UpMenu web builder.
If you are not familiar with building websites, you can customize a template that has already been built.
Find the template that fits your restaurant branding, select the Preview option to have a look at the demo and click Activate and start editing it.
Step 3: Customize the template to fit your brand
Start from the Design section and adjust the website colors. You can set 7 main colors for elements like headers, text, background, frames, buttons and links or pick a ready made color palette for your entire site.
The font settings are right below the color settings. Select your font that best suits your current branding. You can set various fonts for headers and text or choose a pre-made combination of fonts.
To upload and edit your restaurant’s logo, favicon, and footer logo, simply drag and drop your logo image or upload it as pictured in the steps below.
To customize your navigation and footer sections, simply go to ‘Advanced’ and change them to match your preferences. This is also where you can edit button design, upload your background image, and implement on-page animations.
Step 4: Setup navigation
Default page navigation is provided on the template, however you can add as many pages as you need. Pages about promotions, news, special events, and even your contact page can be included.
In the Settings tab you can set your Meta Title and the Description of each web page to improve your restaurant local SEO (Search Engine Optimization – website ranking in Google search results), so clients can easily find your business on Google and Google maps.
If you are not familiar with basics of restaurant SEO, simply add this to the meta section:
Meta Title: Restaurant Name – Type of cuisine + Restaurant City
Example for Home page: John’s Pizza – Pizzeria Manhattan
Example for Menu page: Menu – John’s Pizza – Order Online
Meta Description: We’ve been serving the best pizza in Manhattan since 1980. Visit John’s Pizza or order online with delivery.
Step 5: Add content (text & images)
This is the most creative part of designing your new website. Replace the text and images from the template or create a restaurant website on your own using the Editor option.
Use pre-made content or a blank page canvas to make eye catching visuals that’ll help attract new customers.
When creating a website for your restaurant business, make sure you don’t make spelling mistakes as this will make your site look unprofessional and give a bad first impression to potential and new customers.
A good practice when writing content is to focus on what makes your business stand out. It might be a giant 100cm pizza that most restaurants don’t offer.
Also, don’t forget to include contact information and any social media links to allow your customers to reach you quickly and easily.
Step 6: Setup online ordering
Before your site goes live, consider setting up online ordering for your clients. It may sound complicated, but UpMenu lets you do so in just a few simple steps.
From your dashboard, go to the Menu section. In this separate page, add your dishes organized into menu categories, a beautiful photo of each, and your menu pricing to build your online menu.
Learn more about how to make a restaurant menu.
After creating your page, make sure to save your changes and check your page on a mobile device to make sure your website and screen sizes look good on every device.
Don’t forget to set your restaurant’s delivery zones as well. You can create a radius in the form of a circle or custom shape for your delivery zones.
For each zone you can a set delivery fee. Doing so let’s clients know if you’re able to deliver to their location and what the associated delivery cost will be.
Finally, provide your most important contact information to your restaurant and set the opening hours. Additionaly you can add online payments for customers.
And now you’re ready to manage reservations and start selling food online.
Read full guide: How to set up online ordering system
Step 7: Get a domain (if you don’t have one)
Before building your website, you need a domain name, which is the unique web address customers will use to find your site. Ideally, your domain should reflect your restaurant’s name and include a relevant keyword, such as your cuisine type or location.
Example: A custom domain for a restaurant could be www.TownPizzaNY.com. This domain includes the restaurant’s name, location (New York), and cuisine type (pizza), making it easy for customers to identify the brand.
After you have purchased the domain, you can use it to set up your website live.
Step 8: Connect your domain and publish your website
You’re now ready to make your website go live and to start receiving online orders. Go to the Shop settings section and select the Domain tab. Insert your domain address, and the system will generate DNS records that will connect your domain with UpMenu servers.
To provide these DNS records, you have to go back to your domain provider. If you don’t know how to do so, you can ask our Support team for assistance or your domain registrar service.
And you’re set! Your website now has online ordering! Now all you need to do is promote your website at your restaurant, on your Facebook page, or any other social media accounts to reach out to potential clients.
Step 9: Promote your website
Getting the word out about your website is the the most important marketing strategy to get clients to visit your page and to place online orders.
People search for restaurants using the internet, so make sure they find your page. Here are a few tips to help you get seen:
- Optimize for Search Engines: Use relevant keywords in your content, make the site mobile-friendly, and ensure it’s listed on Google.
- Use Social Media: Share the homepage across platforms using restaurant social media marketing to engage customers, highlight dishes, and offer promotions.
- Use Email Marketing: Collect email addresses from customers and regularly send a restaurant newsletter with updates about your restaurant, special offers, and new menu items.
- Run Online Ads: Run targeted ads to reach customers searching for local dining options.
Whether you have a new restaurant or have been in the game for years, promoting your website online is the best way to get seen by your clients.
How much does it cost to build a website for a restaurant?
There are three main ways to build a web page: use a page builder, WordPress, or hire a web designer. Which method you choose will have a huge impact on how much your page costs. For example, creating content can be free with a web builder, but it can cost over $5,000 if you’re using a graphic designer or web developer.
Web page builders are usually the cheapest way to build a website. While WordPress is technically a free, open-source platform, you have to pay for hosting, themes, plugins, and even professional help from a developer, which can increase your total cost.
Hiring a web designer is the most expensive option, but it’s the best choice if you need absolute control over the build and customization of that site or that offers the highest levels of complex functionality. But don’t worry – UpMenu has everything you need to build your professional restaurant website.
| Yourself | UpMenu Services | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Designer/Developer | $0 | $899 | $5000 |
| Domain | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| Hosting | $0 | $0 | $150 |
| Total | ~ $15 | ~ $914 | ~ $5165 |
(Source: Report from WebsiteBuilderExpert)
What are the must-haves of good restaurant websites?
Before you create your restaurant website, prepare some photos of your business, and dishes from your restaurant menu.
Think about what makes your business stand out, what promotions you have for clients, and a description along with the history of your establishment.
This information will help you build your site faster and make sure all the most important elements are highlighted. Use our checklist to design your own professional web page.
Checklist
- Logo
- Menu photos – Prepare images of your restaurant and dishes (or get some from free stocks like Unsplash, Freepik).
- Unique selling proposition
- Think about what makes your restaurant business stand out
- Pages to have on your site (Homepage, About Us, Promotions, Menu, Contact)
- Online ordering option
- Table reservations (if you have onsite ordering)
- Promotions
A good restaurant website should have several key features in order to be effective, including a clear and user-friendly design, easy navigation, and high-quality images. It should also provide important information about the restaurant, including the menu, location, hours of operation, and contact details.
A great restaurant website should offer convenient features for customers, such as online ordering, table reservation and takeout or delivery options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I buy a domain?
There are many domain registrars that you can use to purchase a domain name from. Check name availabilty using one of recommended providers below:
- GoDaddy
- Namecheap
- 1&1
- OVH
- Network Solutions
- Hover
- Bluehost
- Name.com
- Dynadot
- Domain.com
- Google Domains
If the domain name is available, provide your personal and billing information to pay for it to buy a domain.
Do you need a website for a restaurant?
Yes, having a website is crucial for restaurants today. It helps increase restaurant revenue by offering features like an online ordering system and online reservations. A website not only attracts more website visitors but also helps you stand out from other restaurant websites by offering essential information and a professional online presence.
With UpMenu, you can build your own website in minutes and have all the tools of a web editor and content management system. Learn about the best restaurant website builders.
How do I create a website for my restaurant?
You can create a restaurant website using a restaurant website builder or hire a professional web designer. Here’s how to create a site with UpMenu website builder:
- Register for a free account.
- Choose a restaurant website template.
- Customize it to fit your brand.
- Set up navigation.
- Add text and images.
- Set up online ordering.
- Buy and connect your domain.
- Publish your website.
- Promote it online.
Building a restaurant website yourself allows you to have complete control over the design, content, and functionality. You can tailor it specifically to your needs and preferences – without any prior design skills, while saving on web development costs.
How do I create a food business page?
To create a food business page, follow these steps:
- Choose a Website Builder: Select a website platform like UpMenu, Wix, or WordPress.
- Select a Restaurant Website Template: Pick a design that suits your brand and business type.
- Setup Navigation and Add Your Content: Include your menu, location, hours, contact details, and photos of your dishes.
- Setup Online Ordering & Booking: Integrate online ordering and reservation systems.
- Get a Domain & Hosting: Pick a memorable domain name and secure reliable hosting.
- Promote Your Website: Use social media and Google Ads for restaurants to promote your restaurant website.
Read more about the best restaurant website builders here.
Do you need technical skills to create a restaurant website?
Creating websites might sound like a lot of programming and various technical aspects that seem difficult. With UpMenu, building a web page in our editor is simple and fast, and most importantly, you do everything visually, so you can see the effects of your work right away. 100% no-code for easier management of your restaurant site.
Even if you don’t know how to start designing a web page, you don’t have to worry because you can use ready-made templates. Just provide your site text, photos, adjust colors to fit your brand, and you are ready to go with your first website.
