What Every Restaurant Website Needs (2026 Checklist)
The complete checklist of what to put on a restaurant website — the must-haves that drive orders, the nice-to-haves, and what to leave off entirely.
Every restaurant website needs seven things: a live menu in real text, current hours with open/closed status, address with directions, a click-to-call button, one clear way to order or reserve, mobile-first speed, and details that match your Google listing. Get those right and you can skip almost everything else — extra pages usually hurt more than they help.
Most restaurant websites fail by adding too much, not too little. Use this checklist to include what converts and cut what distracts.
The 7 Must-Haves
- A live menu in real text. Not a PDF, not an image. Text the guest can read and search engines can index. This is your number-one asset. See the best way to share your menu online.
- Current hours with status. Show "Open now" or "Closed," not just a table. Keep them identical to Google.
- Address and one-tap directions. A maps link removes the last bit of friction.
- Click-to-call. Many guests still want to call. Make the number tappable.
- One primary action. Order, reserve, or call — pick the most important and feature it above the fold.
- Mobile-first speed. Most visits are on a phone, often on cell data. Two-second loads or you lose orders.
- Consistency with Google. Name, address, hours must match your Google Business Profile exactly.
Nice-to-Haves (Add Later)
- A short, honest "about" paragraph
- A few real dish photos
- Links to your social and Instagram bio
- A daily-specials or events spot you can update fast
- Catering or private-event inquiry, if relevant
What to Leave Off
- Autoplay video and giant sliders — they slow the page and bury the menu
- A menu PDF — invisible to Google and impossible to update quickly
- Five navigation pages — each one is something else to keep current
- Reservation widgets you don't use — don't show an action you can't fulfill
How to Build the Checklist Into Your Site
- Start with a restaurant website builder that includes menu, hours, and order blocks.
- Add the seven must-haves first. Don't touch nice-to-haves until those are solid.
- Preview on your phone and time the load.
- Sync details to Google, then publish.
A restaurant-specific builder gives you all seven by default, so the checklist is mostly filling in your own information.
FAQ
What information should be on a restaurant website?
At minimum: a readable menu, current hours, address with directions, a phone number, and one clear way to order or book — all fast on mobile and matching your Google listing. Everything else is optional.
Should a restaurant website have the menu as a PDF?
No. A PDF can't be read by Google or AI assistants and can't be updated quickly. Put your menu in live text so it's searchable and always current. See live menu page vs PDF.
How many pages does a restaurant website need?
Often just one strong page. A single, fast page with the menu, hours, and an order button outperforms a multi-page site for most independent restaurants, and it's far easier to keep accurate.
What makes a restaurant website convert visitors into orders?
Putting the menu first, showing you're open, and offering one obvious action above the fold — with no friction on mobile. See restaurant website examples.
Tick every box without the busywork. Start your free page — the essentials are built in.
A live page that keeps up with your kitchen.
Start your page →