Introduction
In the age of digitalization, the restaurant business is undergoing a revolution. 73% of customers first search for a restaurant online before deciding where to eat, and 67% read the menu before they even arrive. If your restaurant doesn't have a professional website or it's outdated, you're losing potential customers every day.
A professional restaurant website isn't just a digital business card - it's a powerful tool for attracting customers, increasing bookings and building brand loyalty. From displaying mouth-watering photos of dishes to easy online reservations, the right website can increase your revenue by 30-50%.
Studio New Era specializes in creating professional restaurant websites with a monthly subscription of €49, including all the necessary features - menu, reservations, gallery, contacts and mobile optimization. In 7 working days your restaurant will have a website that attracts customers and increases sales.
In this article, you'll find out what makes a successful restaurant website, what features are a must and how to get professional results without a huge investment.
Why every restaurant needs a professional website
The behaviour of modern customers
The way people choose a restaurant has changed dramatically in recent years:
First look online: 85% of people use Google Maps or search engines to find a restaurant nearby. If you don't have a website, you simply don't exist to them.
They read the menu in advance: 67% want to see the menu and prices online before they arrive. A website without a menu loses a huge percentage of potential customers.
They are looking for atmosphere: Photos of the interior, the food and the people help customers imagine if they like the restaurant.
They want convenience: Online booking, takeaway ordering or opening hours information should be easily accessible.
Competitive advantages
Trust and professionalism: A restaurant with a beautiful, functional website seems more serious and credible than one with just a Facebook page.
24/7 presence: Your website is open around the clock, attracting customers and accepting reservations even when the restaurant is closed.
SEO visibility: A professionally optimized website helps you rank higher on Google for searches like "restaurant Sofia" or "Italian cuisine".
Control over information: Instead of relying on platforms like Zomato or Foursquare, you have complete control over how you present your business.
ROI of the investment
A professional restaurant website generates measurable results:
Increased bookings: Restaurants with online reservations report 20-30% growth in occupancy.
Higher average costs: Customers who looked at the menu online spent on average 15% more.
Reduced marketing costs: Organic traffic from Google costs significantly less than paid ads.
Loyalty: Customers who are connected to your brand online return 40% more often.
Required elements of a successful restaurant website
Visually impressive menu
The menu is the heart of any restaurant website. It should be:
Easy to read: Clear category structure, legible fonts, contrasting colours. Customers should find what they want in seconds.
With high quality photos: Professional photos of the most popular dishes increase the desire to order with the 70%. A good photo is worth more than thousands of descriptions.
Current prices: Prices must always be up to date. Nothing annoys customers more than differences between the online menu and the actual prices.
Dish descriptions: Short, mouth-watering descriptions with the main ingredients. Highlight specialties and unique offerings.
Allergen information: Mandatory marking of allergens according to Bulgarian legislation. This not only protects you from problems, but also shows customer care.
Online reservation system
Modern customers expect to be able to book a table online at any time:
Intuitive calendar: Easy to use interface where customers see available hours and can choose.
Real-time confirmation: Automatic email and SMS confirmation for every booking.
Capacity Management: The system should know how many tables you have and not allow bindings.
Phone integration: When a customer makes a booking online, you receive a notification on your phone or computer.
Data for analysis: Information about the most popular times, average group size, frequency of bookings.
Gallery with high quality photos
The visual element is critical for restaurants:
Pictures of the food: Professional photos of the top 10-15 dishes on the menu. Each photo should look appetizing and present the dish in its best light.
Interior and atmosphere: Photos that show ambience - cozy corners, beautiful decoration, happy customers.
Team and kitchen: Photos of the chefs and staff create trust and a human connection.
Events and holidays: Visual evidence of special events and your ability to organize events.
Full contact information
Address: Not just a street and number, but landmarks, especially if you're in a mall or complex building.
Opening hours: Clearly stated for each day of the week, including holidays and weekends.
Phones: Main phone for reservations and an additional phone for orders.
Interactive map: Built-in Google map that shows the exact location and route.
Parking Information: Where customers can park, is there private parking.
Mobile optimization
Over 70% of restaurant searches are done from mobile devices:
Quick access to your phone: The large "Call" button should be visible on every page.
Easy to read menu: The menu should read perfectly on small screens.
Fast loading: Mobile users have no patience - the site should load in under 3 seconds.
Touch-friendly interface: All buttons and links must be large enough for a comfortable touch.
Specific features for different types of restaurants
For bistros and fast food restaurants
Online orders: Integration with deliveries and pick orders. Customers should be able to order directly from the site.
Simplified menu: Less detail, focus on prices and preparation time.
Promotions and offers: Brightly displayed daily deals, combo menus, discounts.
Quick navigation: Everything should be accessible with a maximum of 2 clicks.
For fine restaurants
Elegant design: Refined, minimalist design that reflects the class of the restaurant.
Detailed descriptions: Detailed information on the origin of the products, the method of preparation, recommendations for combinations.
Wine list: A special section on the wines with details of each wine.
Private events: Information about the possibility of private parties, corporate events, weddings.
Awards and recognition: Certificates, awards, reviews from famous restaurant critics.
For family restaurants
Children's menu: Special section with food for children.
Family packages: Offers for whole families.
Children's playground: Photos and information about facilities for children.
Holidays and events: Information for family holidays, children's parties.
For ethnic restaurants
Cultural Information: A brief history of the cuisine, the traditions, the specialties.
Dictionary: Explanations of foreign words in the menu.
Authenticity: Photos and stories that highlight the authenticity of the food.
Special diets: Information on vegetarian, vegan, halal or kosher options.
How Studio New Era creates the perfect restaurant website
Our proven process
Studio New Era has a specialized approach to restaurant websites developed from hundreds of successful projects:
Day 1-2: Analysis and planning
- We research your restaurant, the concept, the target audience
- We analyse the competition in the area
- We plan the site structure according to your specific needs
Day 3-4: Design and Content
- We create a unique design that reflects the atmosphere of the restaurant
- We structure the menu for maximum conversion
- Optimize photos for fast loading without loss of quality
Day 5-6: Functionality
- We integrate a reservation system
- We set up contact forms and cards
- We test all functions on different devices
Day 7: Finalisation and handover
- Latest checks and optimizations
- Training how to manage the site
- Live streaming with full technical support
Starter plan (€49/month) for small restaurants
Ideal for bistros, family restaurants and starter establishments:
Up to 6 pages: Home, About us, Menu, Gallery, Contacts, Reservations Main menu: Up to 50 items with photos and descriptions Contact forms: For reservations and inquiries Google map: Interactive location Mobile optimization: Looks perfect on all devices Basic SEO: Optimization for local searches Hosting and Security: Included in the price
Business plan (€149/month) for ambitious restaurants
For larger restaurants, serious chains and establishments with high ambitions:
Up to 10 pages: All Main + Events, Team, News, Wine list Advanced menu: Unlimited positions with professional photography Online reservations: Advanced system with calendar and automatic confirmations Online orders: Possibility for home or office orders Blog section: For sharing recipes, news, events Advanced SEO: Aggressive optimization for more customers Priority Maintenance: Personal consultant for site development
What makes our sites special
Focus on conversion: Each element is designed to turn the visitor into a customer.
Local SEO: We optimize for searches like "restaurant [your city]", "Italian cuisine nearby".
Fast loading: Optimized snapshots and code provide sub-3-second speed.
Easy management: You can update the menu, prices, gallery yourself without technical knowledge.
Integrations: We connect with Google My Business, Facebook, Instagram for maximum visibility.
Mistakes to avoid
Technical errors
Slow loading: Heavy images and bad code make the site slow. Customers leave if the site doesn't load in 3 seconds.
Unoptimized photos: Beautiful photos, which are 5MB each, make the site unusable by mobile devices.
Broken functionality: Reservation forms that don't work, or phones that aren't dialed from mobile devices.
Bad mobile design: A site that looks good on a computer but is unusable on a phone.
Content errors
The menu's getting old: Nothing annoys customers more than different prices between the site and the restaurant.
Bad shots: Taking pictures with a phone in bad light makes even the most delicious food unappetizing.
Missing information: Unclear hours, hidden address, missing phones.
Overloaded design: Too many colours, fonts and animations confuse customers.
Marketing mistakes
Lack of call-to-action: Website without clear "Book", "Order", "Call" buttons.
Ignoring local SEO: Not optimizing for local searches loses huge traffic.
Lack of social proof: No reviews, ratings or photos of happy customers.
Forgotten Maintenance: Creating a website and forgetting about it leads to obsolescence and loss of positions.
Measuring success
Key metrics for restaurant website
Visitors: How many people visit the site monthly Site time: How much time visitors spend browsing Conversion: Percentage of visitors who book or call Mobile traffic: Percentage of visitors from mobile devices Local searches: Google Positions for keywords like "restaurant [city]"
Expected results
With a professional website from Studio New Era you can expect:
The first month: 20-30% increase in phone calls The second month: 15-25% more reservations The third month: Improved Google positions for local searches Long term: 30-50% total customer flow increase
How to track progress
Google Analytics: Free visitor tracking tool Google My Business: Statistics on customer searches and actions Calls: Tracking the number of calls from the site Reservations: Number of online bookings to total number of tables
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to create a website for a restaurant?
With Studio New Era your professional restaurant website is ready in 7 working days. This includes design, programming, testing and going live. In comparison, traditional agencies take 4-8 weeks for the same result.
Can I update the menu and prices myself?
Yes, all our sites are designed for easy management by the owners. You can change prices, add new dishes, upload photos without any technical knowledge. If you have difficulties, our team helps you for free.
Are professional photos included in the price?
The Starter Plan includes optimizing your photos. The Business plan includes a professional photo shoot of up to 20 dishes. If you do not have quality photos, we can arrange a photographer for an additional fee.
How does the online booking system work?
Customers choose the date, time and number of guests from a calendar on the website. Automatically receive email and SMS notification. The system knows your capacity and does not allow connections. Everything is managed from an easy admin panel.
What happens if I want design changes?
Both plans include monthly time for changes and improvements. The Starter plan gives 1 hour per month, the Business plan 3 hours. You can change content, add features or make design adjustments.
Can I accept online delivery orders?
Yes, especially with the Business Plan we can integrate an online ordering system. This includes online payments, order management and integration with suppliers such as Foodpanda or Glovo.
What does SEO include?
Basic SEO includes optimizing for local searches, Google My Business setup, keywords like "restaurant [your city]". Business plan includes aggressive SEO campaign for top search engine positions.
Are there long-term contracts?
No, we work without long-term contracts. You can cancel at any time with one month's notice. We believe in the quality of our service and want customers to stay because they are happy, not because of contracts.
Conclusion
A professional website is the most important investment any restaurant can make today. In a world where customers search online first before deciding where to eat, a lack of a quality website means lost customers every day.
But creating an effective restaurant website requires more than a beautiful design. It must convert visitors into customers, work perfectly on mobile devices, be optimized for search engines, and reflect the unique atmosphere of your restaurant.
Studio New Era offers a professional solution that combines all of these elements into an affordable monthly package. For €49 or €149 per month you get not just a website, but a complete digital strategy to attract more customers.
Are you ready to increase your customers with a professional website?
Choose a Starter plan for €49/month and get a professional restaurant website in 7 days. Or contact us for a free consultation to discuss how to make your restaurant more successful online.
Start your free consultation today and discover how the right website can turn your restaurant into the most popular restaurant in the area.
Studio New Era - turning hungry consumers into satisfied customers of your restaurant.