- Get your profile accurate first, complete it second, then keep it active.
- Special opening hours and direct links prevent the most common moments of guest frustration.
- Use your own photos to show the food, atmosphere and entrance accurately.
- A monthly profile check can be done with a fixed 20-minute routine.
For many restaurants, the Google Business Profile matters more than a printed directory. Guests see hours, directions, phone numbers, photos and reviews, often without visiting the website.
Use this checklist for an initial review, then repeat it monthly. Assign an owner and a date so tasks do not fall between the kitchen, service and office teams.
Basic data: name, address and contact
- Use official company name without additional advertising words
- Check the address, including building number and any entrance or location details
- Test phone number and clarify availability
- Set website link to the correct domain
- Assign each profile to the correct location
Use consistent core details everywhere. Minor spelling differences matter less than outdated phone numbers, duplicate profiles or an incorrect map pin. Check the pin itself, especially for entrances in courtyards, shopping centres or along secluded driveways.
Categories, services and description
Your primary category describes your core business: restaurant, café, inn or bar. Add only relevant secondary categories. A broad selection does not automatically increase visibility and may confuse guests.
Explain your cuisine, location, distinctive features and intended guests in natural language. For example: “Family-run inn in …, serving Austrian cuisine and a seasonal menu, with a quiet garden. Lunch served from … to …; celebrations for up to … guests by arrangement.”
Opening hours, menu and reservation
- Check regular hours with the kitchen team
- Add public holidays and annual closures as special opening hours
- Link directly to the current menu
- Link directly to the reservation form
- Clearly name order or pickup links
Test all links on the smartphone. A guest who returns to the home page after two clicks must search again. Direct target pages reduce this friction.
Images that make a decision easier
A good profile shows more than food. Guests want to recognise the entrance, get a feel for the space and decide whether it suits their occasion. Use natural light and show your restaurant as it really is.
- Exterior view and entrance
- Dining room and outdoor seating
- Three to five typical dishes
- Team or host, if it suits the brand
- Rooms for celebrations or special offers
Do not automatically remove older photos contributed by guests. Add recent photos of your own regularly so the current experience is clear.
Posts, questions and reviews
Posts work well for events, seasonal openings, new menus or annual closures. Publish when there is a genuine reason. A dated update with a relevant link is stronger than a general “Come and visit us”.
Reply to reviews promptly and personally. For negative feedback, stay factual, address the specific issue and offer to resolve it directly. Templates should be a starting point, not a finished reply.
Ask for reviews without pressure
“Thank you for visiting. If you enjoyed your meal, we would appreciate an honest Google review. It helps other guests decide where to go.”
The monthly 20-minute routine
- Check opening hours for the next six weeks.
- Test the menu and reservation link on your mobile phone.
- Answer five new reviews.
- Add two current images.
- Record searches, website clicks and directions requests.
Add checks before Easter, Christmas, public holidays, seasonal changes and annual closures. Put them in the calendar now, before a guest arrives at a closed door.