Websites for restaurants.
I build fast websites for restaurants, cafés and takeaways that put your menu, opening hours and a booking or ordering button in front of hungry people on their phones, with allergen information easy to find.
What a restaurant's website has to do
Show the menu properly
A real web page, not a PDF, with prices and dietary labels, that reads well on a phone and is quick to update when dishes change.
Answer 'can we go tonight?'
Opening hours, address, directions and a booking button, all within a tap of landing on the site.
Keep more of each order
Deliveroo and Just Eat help people discover you, but take a commission on every order. Your own ordering link gives regulars a way to order direct.
What's usually included
- Menu pagesEasy to read, with prices and dietary labels, and simple to change for seasonal menus and specials.
- Allergen informationA clear note on how customers can find out about the 14 major allergens, and labels on dishes if you want them.
- Table bookingLinked to ResDiary, OpenTable or whatever you use, or a simple booking request form.
- Ordering and delivery linksYour own online ordering for collection or delivery, plus links to the apps you're on.
- Photos of the food and the roomReal photos of your dishes and your space, so people know what to expect.
- Private hire and eventsAn enquiry form for parties, functions and catering.
Straightforward pricing
See full pricingQuestions restaurant owners ask
Should my menu be a PDF?
Keep a PDF to download if you like, but the main menu should be a proper web page. PDFs are awkward to read on a phone, Google can't make much of them, and they tend to go out of date. A web page menu is easy for me, or you, to change the day the prices do.
What allergen information should my website have?
The law requires food businesses to give customers information about the 14 major allergens in their food. Your website doesn't have to list everything, but it's a good place to show how customers can find out: labels on your menu, an allergen chart, or a clear line saying staff will tell them what's in each dish. Keep it in step with your recipes. The Food Standards Agency has guidance on exactly what applies to your business.
Should I have online ordering on my own website?
It's worth considering. Delivery apps bring you new customers but take a commission on every order, and you don't get the customer's details. Many restaurants use both: the apps for discovery, and their own ordering link, from services like Square Online or GloriaFood, for regulars. I'll link or embed whichever you choose.
Which table booking system should I use?
ResDiary is widely used in the UK, and OpenTable and TheFork bring the extra exposure of their own apps. For a smaller place, a simple booking request form that lands in your inbox can be enough. It depends on how many covers you do and whether you want to be listed on a booking platform.
Do I need an app for my restaurant?
Almost certainly not. A fast website that works well on a phone, with an easy way to book or order, does the job for most independent restaurants at a fraction of the cost. An app only starts to make sense for a group with several sites and a big loyalty scheme.
How much does a restaurant website cost?
A custom-built site is £600 and a WordPress site is £800, both paid upfront, half to start and half when you're happy and it's live, plus hosting and care from £10 a month. Each includes a design of your own, all the pages a typical small business needs, the SEO basics, an SSL certificate and a month of support after launch. Or pay £99 a month, all in, with nothing upfront. Linking your booking and ordering systems is part of the build; a fully custom ordering system is bigger, so tell me about it and I'll give you a price.
Tell me about your restaurant.
A couple of sentences is plenty. I read every message myself and usually reply within about an hour during the working day.
- 1I'll reply with a few questions, or a price if I already have enough to go on.
- 2If it sounds right, we have a quick chat and agree what's included.
- 3No pressure and no obligation. If it's not a fit, I'll tell you.
Prefer to talk? Book a video call, or email me at hello@webcardiff.co.uk.