Key Takeaways:
What potential diners see on your website can either entice them to visit your restaurant or send them running in the opposite direction.
So, how do you make sure your site is working for you, building your brand, attracting new customers, and helping your business grow?
Simple: you ensure it has all the elements of a great website.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly what those are and why they matter—complete with practical tips and real-life examples to inspire you.
A clear, consistent brand builds emotional connection and trust.
It influences who you attract—families, date-nighters, foodies, tourists, locals—and determines how memorable your restaurant is.
It even impacts whether someone will share or recommend your spot.
In short, branding helps you make a strong first impression.
Rahul Tekwani, managing partner of Branding Edge Strategies, puts it perfectly:
Illustration: Tablein / Quote: Campaign India
That’s why it’s important to use consistent fonts, colors, and logos across your site.
This way, you let your website speak for you and communicate what your restaurant is all about.
Just take a look at the website for El Burro, a casual Tex-Mex restaurant in Oslo, Norway. Its branding is spot-on.
From the moment you land on the site, you’re met with vibrant colors, bold typography, and playful icons—all working together to capture the spirit of Mexican street food culture.
Source: El Burro
A striking palette of bright pinks, oranges, and greens mirrors the vivid hues found in Mexican culture.
And, as users scroll, a subtle gradient background adds a sense of motion and energy to the experience.
Visuals also play a key role.
El Burro uses icons and illustrations—like sombreros and cacti—as cultural signifiers, which scream: Mexican food, vibrant, playful atmosphere.
Source: El Burro
This is silent branding at its best.
So, take inspiration from El Burro and let your website become an extension of your dining experience—welcoming, memorable, and unmistakably you.
Beautiful, intentional photography instantly builds desire and conveys a sense of quality, selling the experience and boosting your restaurant’s credibility.
After all, people are visual creatures.
One glance at your website, and they are already making snap judgments about your food, your vibe, and whether you’re worth their time.
Unfortunately, this means that if you ignore photo quality, you risk deterring potential customers.
In fact, a 2025 TouchBistro survey found that 24% of diners say unappealing photos would stop them from visiting a restaurant.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: TouchBistro
That’s why investing in a professional photographer to capture your signature dishes, drinks, interior, ambiance, and team—even just once—can pay off significantly.
Professional images not only elevate your brand but also make your restaurant appear more trustworthy and appealing, prompting people to explore your menu or make a reservation.
Take Costa Vida, a fast-casual Mexican chain with locations in the U.S. and Canada.
As you can see, they truly invested time and effort into creating beautiful, professional shots of their dishes.
Source: Costa Vida
But these images don’t only look great.
They are vibrant and colorful, aligning with the overall brand aesthetic.
Moreover, they also made sure to include images of individual ingredients to emphasize the freshness and authenticity of their menu.
Their images truly tell a story.
Source: Costa Vida
At Costa Vida, they pride themselves on sourcing the highest-quality ingredients and making their recipes from scratch every day, and this commitment shines through in every photo.
The bottom line?
Never underestimate the power of a high-quality photo.
Done right, it can make people stop, stare, and, most importantly, book a table at your restaurant.
This one’s simple but crucial.
When people browse your website, they want quick, easy access to the key information, like where you are and when you’re open.
If this info can’t be found in seconds, you risk losing potential diners, especially travelers or busy folks looking for a quick bite.
One Reddit user shared how frustrating it is to research restaurants when they fail to display these details clearly:
Source: Reddit
So yes, it sounds basic—but don’t overlook it.
Make sure your website, both desktop and mobile versions, clearly shows all the essentials.
Here’s a quick checklist of what to include:
You could also include some extras that add even more value, like brief notes on parking or public transit access and images of the exterior, so people know what to look for.
Google Maps embed is a very good idea, too.
Take inspiration from Market on Front in Missoula, Montana, a restaurant, coffee shop, deli, and artisan grocery.
Source: Market on Front
Their info page is clean, on-brand, and packed with all the details a potential diner needs.
There’s no guesswork involved: you know exactly where they are, when they’re open, and how to get in touch.
Your website should do the same.
In addition to hours and contact information, online visitors are actively looking for food and drink menus when browsing your website.
According to a 2024 TouchBistro report, 88% of Gen Z diners always or occasionally check a restaurant’s menu online before giving it a try.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: TouchBistro
So, if you know they’re going to look, why not make that experience as seamless as possible?
Step one: Say goodbye to clunky PDFs or hard-to-read image menus and switch to a clean, text-based digital menu.
They are better in so many different ways—for both you and your customers.
Here’s why:
Source: Tablein
In short, text-based menus create less work for everyone involved.
And this is something your guests will appreciate.
At the end of the day, people love planning their orders ahead of time, so why not give them a menu that’s easy to explore and gets their appetite going?
Take ilili, a Lebanese restaurant in the U.S., as a perfect example.
Their website features a nicely structured digital menu that showcases authentic Lebanese cuisine with a modern twist.
Source: ilili
With clear sections for Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, and special holiday offerings like Easter and Ramadan, the menu is both easy to navigate and visually aligned with the brand.
No PDFs to download, no pinching and zooming on mobile devices—just a smooth, satisfying experience from the first click.
Online reservations are now an essential part of the modern dining experience.
So, to simplify that online booking process for your diners, include a prominent “Book a Table” button on your website.
According to a 2024 survey by Toast, 65% of diners prefer booking directly through a restaurant’s website rather than using third-party platforms like OpenTable.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: Toast
That means your website is the perfect place for converting hungry visitors into paying customers.
To meet their expectation, place a clearly visible “Reserve” button in the top navigation or another standout location on your site.
Make sure it aligns with your branding and stays accessible across all pages.
A great example is Stage 22, a rooftop restaurant and bar in Riga, Latvia.
Their reservation button is front and center—you can’t miss it.
Source: Grand Hotel Kempinski
Just as importantly, the button leads to a smooth, user-friendly booking experience powered by Tablein, an intuitive and mobile-compatible reservation system.
Tablein provides customizable reservation widgets that are easy to integrate with any website builder, including WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Weebly, and others.
The widget can also be customized with your brand's fonts and colors, as well as optional fields.
When a diner clicks “Book a Table”—no matter the device they use—they’re guided through a fast and simple process where they can choose their preferred date, time, party size, and more:
Source: Tablein
As a result, making a reservation feels effortless, turning a casual browser on your website into a confirmed diner in no time.
Social media provides real-time updates, customer feedback, and photos, offering potential diners a better sense of your restaurant's trustworthiness and quality.
This is why many people check restaurants’ social media before visiting.
According to a 2025 National Restaurant Association survey, 76% of consumers believe social media is an effective way to learn about restaurants in their area.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: National Restaurant Association
After all, these platforms allow them to peek behind the scenes and see what your restaurant is truly about, ultimately building trust, credibility, and connection.
Therefore, make sure potential customers can easily connect with you on social media by including links to your profiles on your website.
Just like with other essential information, these links should be easy to find.
Here are a few good placement options:
However, to keep users on your site, be sure the links open in a new tab.
Plus, use the official brand icons without redesigning them, though feel free to adjust the colors to match your site’s theme (unless you want them to stand out).
For example, MUJŌ, a one-Michelin-star Edomae-style Sushiya in Atlanta, places social media links in the footer, using a beige color that matches their font color.
Source: MUJŌ
As a result, the icons blend in beautifully but are still easy for visitors to spot.
Overall, by adding social media to your website, you’re not just boosting your online presence but also giving potential guests a reason to engage and connect.
So, don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your restaurant even more memorable and accessible.
Email is still one of the most effective tools for promoting your restaurant and building customer loyalty.
So, why not maximize its potential by adding a newsletter sign-up form to your website and actively inviting people to join?
This way, you can promote events or special offers, provide valuable content like recipes or exclusive discounts, and, ultimately, turn one-time diners into loyal regulars.
Research has already shown how powerful email marketing is.
For instance, a 2023 Litmus survey found that 87% of marketing leaders say email is critical to their success.
In fact, when asked which marketing channel drives the best results, email topped the list, far outshining social media and paid ads.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: Litmus
Here’s something else worth noting.
According to the same survey, the most effective way to build your email list is through a sign-up form on your website’s homepage.
Illustration: Tablein / Data: Litmus
In other words, it’s a huge missed opportunity not to have one.
So, place the form in the footer or as a pop-up after 5-10 seconds, ensuring that it catches people's attention without being too intrusive.
You can even offer an incentive for signing up.
Consider a message like “Get 10% off your next visit!” or “Be the first to hear about our latest specials!”.
SusieCakes, a US-based bakery, does this, too.
They use simple, engaging text that promises exclusive offers and early access to seasonal specials, new treats, and events.
Source: SusieCakes
Their sign-up form is brief and straightforward, only asking for an email address, making it easy for potential subscribers to sign up.
That's exactly the approach you should take.
Keep it short, sweet, and enticing.
Don’t ask for too much—just promise your subscribers something valuable, and your email list will grow faster than you think.
Your website isn’t just a marketing tool. It’s your restaurant’s first impression, your digital front door.
When done right, it reflects your passion, tells your story, and invites people in before they even step through the front door.
From branding and menus to visuals and online reservations, every element should echo the experience you offer in person.
So, don’t take the task of building a website lightly.
Create a welcoming, memorable experience that turns curious visitors into loyal diners.