- Start with guest questions and business goals, not colors or animations.
- Plan menu, opening hours and reservation as central content.
- Clarify early who updates content after launch.
- A successful launch includes redirects, mobile checks and measurement of important actions.
A new restaurant website rarely fails because of the missing logo. More often there is a lack of up-to-date content, clear responsibilities or a simple way to make a reservation. Then the page looks good on the opening day and is outdated three months later.
This checklist takes you through the project in a practical order, whether you use a website builder, an agency or a hospitality platform.
1. Set goals and most important guest questions
Before drafting, choose three business goals, such as more direct reservations, fewer routine phone queries and greater visibility for celebrations. Give each a measurable action: a booking request, directions click, menu view or event enquiry.
- What is on the menu, and what is the price range?
- Is it open today?
- Does the restaurant suit the occasion and group?
- How do I make a reservation or request a celebration?
- Where is the entrance and how do I get there?
2. Plan domain and page structure
Choose a short, memorable domain you can use long term. Register and control it in the business’s name, not a former supplier’s private account. Assign responsibility for renewals and DNS access.
Most restaurants need a homepage, menu, reservations, about page, celebrations or events, contact details and legal information. Add pages only when they serve a clear purpose. Give each location its own page.
3. Gather authentic copy and photos of your business
Start with the raw material: your cuisine, sourcing, popular dishes, history, spaces, capacity and special offers. Use it to write specific copy. Avoid vague claims such as “the highest quality” without explaining what you mean.
Plan a short photo shoot with both a clean, prepared dining room and a genuine working atmosphere. Agree a shot list covering the exterior, entrance, dining room, team, outdoor seating and typical dishes. Confirm usage rights in writing.
Sample wording to get started
“Seasonal Austrian cuisine in central Baden, with a lunch menu, a quiet courtyard and space for celebrations of up to 50 guests.” One sentence can say more than a long brand statement.
4. Connect menu, opening hours and reservation
Identify content that changes frequently and make it easy to update. Menus, daily specials, holiday hours and annual closures should not require technical work every time.
- Menu as mobile website
- Today's and regular opening hours
- Special times and short-term notices
- A reservation form with a clear confirmation process
- Event request with number of people and desired date
Test forms with realistic cases: short-term request, large group, day off and fully booked period. The guest must know at all times whether the request has been received or the reservation has already been confirmed.
5. Data protection, imprint and technical basis
Your legal notice and privacy policy must match your business and the services you use. Check analytics, maps, videos, newsletters and reservation providers in particular. Have legal texts drafted or reviewed professionally; templates do not replace individual advice.
Technically, the site needs HTTPS, regular backups, clear access and a solution for updates. Images are optimized for the web, headings are logically structured, and each page gets a unique title and a description for search results.
6. Go-live and ongoing care
- Check all pages on the smartphone and desktop.
- Test phone numbers, email addresses, route and forms.
- Redirect old URLs to the relevant new pages.
- Update your Google profile and key directories to the new domain.
- Enable measurement for reservations, requests and menu views.
- Assign someone a monthly content review.
Launch is not the finish line. Review the website after four weeks: which pages do guests use, which questions still arrive by phone, and where do people leave? Use the answers to choose the next improvement.