If there is a new restaurant in your neighborhood, how will you decide if it is worth visiting? Other than asking for feedback from friends, you’ll search for reviews online. You’ll visit its website to learn about the menu and ambiance, and finally reserve a table if you are satisfied.
77% of diners do the same. They visit a restaurant’s website before they dine there or order from it. 69% of diners opine that a website helps them decide if they want to dine in.
45% of U.S. restaurant-goers specifically look for food photos on the website, and 84% look up the menu online before deciding on a new restaurant.
These statistics show that restaurant websites are an important part of the dining experience for many people.
If you own or manage a restaurant, it is important to have a well-designed and informative website. This will help you attract new customers and keep your existing ones coming back for more.
How can a website benefit a local restaurant business?
A website is your digital presence. It makes it easier for potential customers to discover and learn about your restaurant. It acts as a virtual storefront, allowing you to showcase your menu, ambiance, and unique offerings.
A website enables your restaurant to be accessible 24/7, allowing potential customers to explore your offerings at any time. By providing a simple reservation form, you make it easy for people to book reservations in advance. It also helps you streamline your business processes and improve productivity.
Information hub
Your website serves as a centralized platform to provide important information about your restaurant, including hours of operation, location, contact details, menu options, reservation options, and special events.
Online reservation and ordering
A website enables customers to make online reservations or place food orders for delivery or pickup.
Branding and marketing
Your website allows you to establish and reinforce your restaurant's brand identity. It also provides a platform for marketing initiatives such as promotions, events, and special offers.
Customer engagement
With features like contact forms, feedback options, and social media integration, a website facilitates customer engagement.
Accessibility
A website makes your restaurant available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing potential consumers to learn more about your offers at any time.
Reach
It attracts both local and international customers who are searching for dining options in your area.
Analytics
By utilizing website analytics tools, you can gain valuable insights into visitor behavior, preferences, and demographics, like what time of day or month of the year you get the highest traffic, and so on.
A website for your restaurant firmly establishes your online presence and helps you in your online marketing efforts.
How can a no-code web builder help you build a restaurant website?
As a restaurant owner, you cannot allocate time to build a website by coding. Hiring coders or outsourcing this task is easy, but you have to consider the costs involved. Also, you may not be satisfied with the results. An easier option is to build your restaurant website on a no-code website-building platform.
No-code web builders like Dotcom make it easy to create websites without the need to code. They use a simple visual interface. Drag and drop the pre-built blocks, called elements or widgets, inside the layout. These elements and widgets can be anything that you normally find on a website, like images, videos, forms, paragraphs, social links, headers, and footers. You drag and drop them into position and customize them to meet your business needs.
Let’s see how a no-code website builder like Dotcom can help you build a restaurant website.
Online presence
A no-code website builder helps local restaurants create professional websites to showcase menus, provide location information, and highlight unique features.
Menu display and updates
A drag-and-drop website builder enables restaurants to create visually appealing menus that are easy to navigate and update quickly.
Online ordering and reservations
They facilitate online ordering and reservations, allowing customers to conveniently place food orders or book tables directly, enhancing the customer experience.
Customer testimonials
You can showcase customer reviews to build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Special events and promotions
Attract customers with limited-time offers, seasonal menus, and themed events through dedicated banners or marquees.
Contact and location information
Through no-code website builders like Dotcom, you can prominently display contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and social media links, while also providing maps and directions for easy location finding
Mobile optimization
No-code drag-and-drop website builders enable mobile optimization, ensuring that restaurants have mobile-friendly websites that cater to the increasing use of smartphones for online searches, attracting and retaining customers.
By utilizing no-code website builders like Dotcom, local restaurants can drive more traffic to their websites, increase customer engagement, and boost sales.
Start Creating Your Website Now
How to build a local restaurant website on the no-code web builder Dotcom
As we have mentioned, building a restaurant website on Dotcom is easy. Period.
1. Restaurant website Homepage
How to build a restaurant website Homepage without coding? Let’s start. A Homepage is the main page, or generally, the first-page visitors land on when they visit the website. It is where they get an idea about your restaurant and its services. Let’s see what elements you can include on the homepage of your restaurant website using the drag-and-drop website builder Dotcom.
Header
The header section appears at the top of every page on your website and provides essential navigation and branding elements. Here's what you can include in the header:
Restaurant Logo and Name: Place your restaurant's logo and name prominently in the header to enhance brand recognition and provide a visual anchor throughout the website. Ensure the logo is clickable and redirects visitors to the homepage.
Navigation Menu: Include a straightforward and intuitive navigation menu in the header. This menu should provide easy access to important pages on your website, such as About Us, Menu, Reservations, Contact Us, and any other relevant sections. Use concise and descriptive menu labels for easy navigation.
Sign Up: The Sign-Up button in the header of your restaurant website serves as a gateway for visitors to create an account. Visitors who register themselves can get access to special promotions, exclusive discounts, or passes to upcoming events.
In Dotcom, all these are included in the Header widget. Drag and drop the widget at the top of the page and customize the logo, navigation menu, and sign-up components to suit your theme branding.
Hero banner
The hero banner is the large, prominently displayed section at the top of your homepage. It's an opportunity to make a strong visual impact and capture visitors' attention. Here's what you can include in your hero banner:
High-Quality Images: Use captivating and high-resolution images that showcase the essence of your restaurant, such as a beautifully plated dish, a bustling dining area, or a cozy ambiance. These images should evoke the desired emotions and reflect the atmosphere you want to convey to visitors.
Deals: Incorporate special discounts or festive offers on the hero banner. Create a headline that grabs attention and conveys the essence of the special offer. Provide clear and concise details of the offer. Mention any unique elements that make the offer stand out and create a sense of urgency, such as limited availability or limited-time availability.
Include a prominent call-to-action button that directs visitors to take action. Use text that encourages them to explore the offer, make a reservation, or find out more details. For example, use phrases like "Discover our Christmas Delights," "Book Now for a Romantic Evening," or "Explore Valentine's Day Specials."
Compelling Tagline or Call-to-Action: Overlay the hero banner with a compelling tagline or call-to-action text that reflects your restaurant's unique selling point or entices visitors to take action. For example, you can use text like "Experience the Finest Culinary Delights" or "Indulge in a Memorable Dining Experience."
Menu Section
You can include a clickable introduction to your menu on the homepage. Or you can create tabs for the menu such as - popular items, most-loved items, desserts, main course, and so on. Give a brief introduction on each tab and place a CTA button to take viewers to the detailed menu page.
If you are planning a single-page website, link the View Menu CTA to a downloadable menu PDF. The drag-and-drop web builder Dotcom gives you the flexibility to link your CTA to any page, external URL, or a downloadable file.
Review Section
Showcase customer reviews, snippets, or excerpts from positive reviews, ratings, and feedback received from previous customers. Highlighting reviews enhances your restaurant’s reputation and encourages visitors to dine at the establishment.
About Us Section
Give a brief introduction to your restaurant and its master chef. You can highlight some major recognition badges given to the restaurant or the chef. If you have a separate page on About Us, link this section to that page.
Gallery section
Give a feel of the restaurant’s ambiance by displaying high-quality, appealing images of the interiors and exteriors. Showcase the dining area, kitchen, reception desk, celebration events, and other such images and videos to help customers make an informed decision about booking a reservation at your restaurant.
Reservation Section
Keep the reservation section prominent and accessible on the homepage so that visitors can directly make reservations for dining at the restaurant. This section should typically include a reservation form or a call-to-action button that leads to a dedicated reservation page or form.
The good thing about Dotcom is that you can link the CTA to an email or phone number. So, if you are planning to not have a separate reservation form, link the “Book Reservation” button directly to your restaurant’s reservation desk number or email.
Dotcom also has the feature of linking to an external website. The benefit is that if you are already providing reservation services on any restaurant aggregator platform, you can link your website’s reservation button to that platform so that all the reservations get routed to one place.
Footer
The footer section appears at the bottom of every page and typically contains additional information and navigation elements. The no-code web builder Dotcom makes it easy to add a footer to your restaurant website. Just drag and drop the Footer Widget at the bottom of your home page. Here’s what you can include in the footer:
Contact information: Include essential contact details such as your restaurant's address, phone number, and email address. This allows visitors to quickly find and reach out to your restaurant for inquiries or reservations.
Social media links: Add links to your restaurant's social media profiles, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. This encourages visitors to follow and engage with your restaurant on social media platforms.
Additional navigation links: Include secondary navigation links in the footer, such as the Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, FAQs, or any other relevant pages that provide additional information or legal details.
Copyright information: Display copyright information to protect your website's content and demonstrate professionalism.
With Dotcom, you can complete designing your footer in minutes. All the relevant elements are pre-assembled in it. You have to customize it, and you are done. This footer ensures important information is easily accessible throughout the website.
2. Restaurant website Menu page
Even though the main page of your restaurant website is the Home page, the menu page is where the highest visitor traffic lies. So, how do we design the menu page for a restaurant website? Of course, it goes without saying that the photos on this page should be drool-worthy. Let’s see how to create a menu page that will instantly boost your sales and get reservations.
Menu categories
Organize your menu items into logical categories to help visitors navigate and find what they're looking for easily. Common categories include appetizers, main courses, desserts, beverages, and special menus (e.g., brunch, lunch, or seasonal offerings).
Categorizing your menu enhances readability and allows visitors to quickly locate the items they are interested in.
Dish descriptions
For each menu item, provide enticing descriptions that showcase the dish's unique qualities, flavors, and ingredients. Use descriptive language to evoke the senses and entice visitors' taste buds.
Highlight any signature or standout aspects of the dish, such as locally sourced ingredients, homemade sauces, or a special cooking technique. Clear and vivid descriptions help visitors imagine the dining experience and make informed choices.
Pricing
Ensure that the prices of each menu item or category are clearly displayed. This transparency builds trust with customers and helps them evaluate their options based on their budget. Display the prices either alongside each menu item or in a separate section dedicated to pricing.
Dietary information
Incorporate dietary information for menu items to cater to customers with specific dietary preferences or restrictions. Highlight vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or other dietary options with clear icons or labels. This information helps customers make informed choices and accommodates a wider range of dietary needs.
Additionally, you can include allergy information or indicate if certain dishes can be customized to accommodate specific dietary requirements.
Special recommendations
Consider featuring special menu items, chef's recommendations, or seasonal offerings within the Menu section. This helps to draw attention to particular dishes that may be limited-time specials, festive specials, or customer favorites. Highlighting these items can pique visitors' interest and encourage them to try something unique or popular.
Clear navigation
Ensure that your Menu section is well-organized and easy to navigate. Use clear headings, subheadings, or navigation links to guide visitors to different menu categories or sections. Consider implementing a search feature or filters to further enhance usability and allow visitors to quickly find specific items or dietary options.
The drag-and-drop website builder Dotcom has a range of pre-coded Elements to help you design the menu page. You can use the Image element, Paragraph element, Tab element, Spacer Element, Divider element, and more to design an informative, visually appealing, and user-friendly menu page for your restaurant website.
3. Restaurant website Online Reservation form
An online reservation form provides an easy way for visitors to book a table online at your restaurant at a time of their choice. What information do you need to collect from visitors for this?
Reservation details
Integrate your reservation system with your website to provide real-time availability updates. Include a calendar and time slots for customers to select their desired reservation date. Displaying the number of available tables or showing a live update of reservations made can create a sense of urgency and prompt customers to make a reservation quickly.
Party size
Add a number field for customers to enter the number of people so that you can make appropriate seating arrangements. Also, include a checkbox for kids and pets.
Seating preferences
If your restaurant offers different seating options (e.g., indoor, outdoor, or booths), provide customers with the ability to express their seating preferences.
Special occasion requests
Offer a checkbox or drop-down menu for customers to indicate if they are celebrating a special occasion.
Special requests
Include a text field for customers to provide any special requests or additional information, such as dietary restrictions, celebrations, or preferences for seating areas.
Contact information
Collect the visitor’s contact information to confirm the reservation. Include fields for full name, email address, and phone number.
Creating a reservation form is easy on the drag and drop web builder Dotcom. Create a new reservations page for your restaurant website, drag and drop the Form element on it, and add the necessary fields to collect customer information. Customize its style to suit the website theme.
A step forward is to integrate online reservation software with your website for easy reservation management.
4. Restaurant website About Us page
One more page that you can include on your restaurant website is the About Us page. This page introduces the viewer to the rich history of your restaurant. It gives them a glimpse into what makes your restaurant unique.
Here are possible sections to include on the About Us page to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of your restaurant's story, values, and the people behind the scenes.
Restaurant story
Highlight the founding story, the journey of how the restaurant came into existence, or any interesting anecdotes that define your establishment. This not only helps the visitors understand the background but also fosters a sense of authenticity and personal connection.
Chef and Team profiles
Introduce the key individuals behind the culinary creations, emphasizing their expertise and passion. Provide profiles or biographies of your head chef, sous chefs, or other key members of the culinary team. Highlight their culinary training, experiences, accolades, or unique perspectives.
Mission and Values
Clearly articulate the core principles that guide your restaurant's operations. Highlight any social or community initiatives your restaurant supports to demonstrate your values and impact beyond the dining experience.
Awards and recognition
Include all the notable awards, recognitions, or positive reviews on the About Us page. It helps build trust and credibility.
Dotcom makes it easy to create an About Us page for your restaurant website. Add a new page and drag and drop the image, video, and paragraph elements to the page. Fill in the content, customize the style to suit the theme, and you are done!
5. Restaurant website Gallery page
Having a gallery page helps showcase some of the finest images of your restaurant and happy customers. Divide the gallery into tabs such as - interior, exterior, dining area, and kitchen. Display high-quality photos and videos.
Use the Tab element on the drag-and-drop web builder Dotcom to set images on your gallery page. Create relevant tabs and add pictures or reviews to the tabs.
6. Restaurant website Contact Us page
If you are wondering why you need a separate Contact Us page when you have added the contact details in the footer, let us tell you that a Contact Us page serves as a direct communication channel between the customers and you. We’ll tell you the elements you need to include on this page.
Contact information
Display the restaurant's contact details prominently, including the address, phone number, and email address. This allows visitors to reach out to the restaurant easily for inquiries, reservations, or other purposes.
Map and directions
Embed a map or provide clear directions to help visitors locate the restaurant. This can be particularly helpful for first-time visitors or those unfamiliar with the area.
Contact form
Include a contact form where visitors can submit their inquiries or messages directly from the website.
Operating hours
Provide the restaurant's opening and closing hours, including any variations for specific days or holidays. This helps visitors plan their visits or contact the restaurant during its operating hours.
Social media links
Add links to the restaurant's social media profiles, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Additional information
If your restaurant offers accessibility features, such as wheelchair access, braille menus, or dietary accommodations, highlight these details on the Contact Us page to assist visitors with specific needs.
FAQs
Consider including a section for frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address common inquiries or provide additional information about the restaurant's policies, parking facilities, reservations, or special accommodations.
Customer support
If you have a dedicated customer support team or offer assistance for making reservations, provide relevant contact information or instructions on how to access this service.
As you can see, a dedicated Contact Us page helps you provide or collect information that otherwise is not possible in the footer section.
Creating a separate Contact Us page is easy on the no-code website builder Dotcom.
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Add a new page to your restaurant website.
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Include a Form element to collect contact information.
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Add a Google Map element to make it easy to find the restaurant’s directions.
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Use the Paragraph element to add addresses and contact numbers.
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Add your social media links with the help of the Social Icon element.
That’s it. You drag and drop these elements on the page, customize it, and adjust their placements to make your Contact Us page look absolutely perfect!
Wrapping Up
How easy it is to build a restaurant website on the no-code web builder Dotcom! You don't need to learn code or hire developers for the job. You can create a restaurant website depending on your needs that will help you grow your business.
It can help diners learn about a restaurant's menu, hours, location, and other details before they visit. It can also be used to order takeout or delivery, make reservations, and learn about special offers.
It is never too late to build your presence online. If you own a restaurant, build your restaurant website on the no-code web builder Dotcom now and take a definitive step forward in growing your business.
