The Restaurant Website Checklist: 12 Things Every Food Business Needs Online

"What's the phone number for that restaurant?" People don't ask friends anymore. They Google it. And if they Google your restaurant and nothing comes up — or what comes up is outdated — they pick somewhere else.

A restaurant website has one primary job: give someone enough information to walk through your door (or place an order). Here's every element that goes into doing that well.

The non-negotiables

1. Your full address and a map link. Not just the neighbourhood — the full address, with a link to Google Maps or Apple Maps. People click the link in the car. Make it a one-tap action.

2. Your opening hours, kept current. Nothing kills trust like showing up during listed hours and finding the place closed. If your hours change seasonally or for holidays, update the site. Add a note: "Hours may vary on public holidays."

3. A phone number and/or WhatsApp link. For reservations, questions, and catering enquiries. Make it clickable (tel: links trigger the phone dialer on mobile).

4. Your menu — with prices. People decide where to eat based on the menu. A PDF is okay; a real web page is better (searchable, no download required, works on all devices). Include prices — people are making a budget decision.

5. Photos of your food. Real photos, not stock. Three or four great shots of your best dishes do more than ten mediocre ones. Natural light, real plates, no filters.

6. A short description of what you are. "Nigerian restaurant specialising in old-school Yoruba dishes, open since 2014." One sentence. People landing from search don't know you yet.

The high-value additions

7. Online reservations. If you take bookings, add a booking button. Even a simple Google Form or a Calendly link is better than nothing. People hate calling to make a reservation in 2026.

8. An online ordering link. If you offer delivery or pickup, link to wherever people can order (your own system, or a third-party delivery platform). Put it above the fold.

9. Customer reviews or testimonials. A few words from real customers — or a widget showing your Google rating — builds trust for someone visiting your site for the first time.

10. Parking or transport information. "Free parking on-site" or "2 min walk from Central Station" answers a real question people ask before going out to eat.

11. Social media links. Food is visual. If you post food photos to Instagram, link to it. It's ongoing proof that you're open and active.

12. A contact form or email. For catering enquiries, private events, and press. Someone planning a corporate lunch wants to email, not call.

What to avoid

• Auto-playing music or video on page load
• Flash-based menus (these no longer work in modern browsers)
• A PDF menu that requires Adobe Reader
• Stock photos of food from countries you don't serve
• A last-updated date that's years old

Launch today

You don't need to build all 12 elements on day one. Start with the five non-negotiables: address, hours, phone, menu, food photos. Those five elements turn a Google search into a visit. Add the rest over time.

With a tool like Chavica, you can have a restaurant site live in an afternoon. Pick a template, fill in your information, add your photos, and publish.