Restaurant Website Must-Haves and Online Ordering Options Explained

On this page

1. Must-haves for every restaurant website
2. Online ordering options compared
3. Setting up direct ordering
4. Get found by hungry locals
5. Common mistakes

People decide where to eat in minutes, often on their phones, often while hungry. Your restaurant website needs to show them the food, the menu and how to order or book, instantly. Here's what matters most, and how the main online ordering options compare.

Must-haves for every restaurant website

1. A real, mobile-friendly menu. A web page, not a PDF, with prices and dietary labels (veg, vegan, spicy). It's easier to read and Google can index it.
2. Great food photos. Real, well-lit photos of your dishes and space, compressed so they load fast.
3. Opening hours and location. Clear, up to date and with a Google Map and directions.
4. One-tap call and WhatsApp. Visible at all times on mobile.
5. Reservations for dine-in restaurants: a simple booking form or booking tool.
6. Reviews and social proof. Link to your Google reviews and show a few highlights.
7. Special offers and events. Weekend specials, festivals, live music or catering.

Online ordering options compared

Option	Pros	Cons
Food delivery aggregators	Huge reach, delivery fleet included	Commission on every order, less control over customer relationship
WhatsApp ordering	Simple, personal, no platform commission	Manual handling; harder at high volume
Online ordering on your website (WooCommerce)	No commission, own customer data, online payments	You arrange delivery or pickup; setup needed

Many restaurants use a mix: aggregators for discovery, and their own website or WhatsApp for repeat customers, often with a small discount for ordering direct.

Setting up direct ordering

• Menu items as products with options (size, add-ons, spice level)
• Delivery zones, minimum order values and delivery charges
• Online payments via a gateway such as Razorpay, plus cash on delivery. See accepting online payments on WordPress.
• Order notifications on email and WhatsApp so nothing is missed
• Opening hours that automatically pause ordering when you're closed

Selling packaged food online too? See websites for organic and D2C food brands.

More guides: putting your menu online and websites for cloud kitchens.

Get found by hungry locals

• Keep your Google Business Profile complete with photos, hours and menu link. See the Google Business Profile checklist.
• Use your cuisine and area naturally in page titles ("South Indian restaurant in Koramangala")
• Add restaurant schema markup so Google understands your menu, hours and location
• Encourage happy diners to leave reviews

Bakeries have extra needs like custom orders; see websites for bakeries and cake shops.

Real example: the Southern Flavours case study shows an Indian restaurant site in the UK with table reservations, a menu, a weekend breakfast buffet feature and WooCommerce ordering.

Common mistakes

• PDF menus that are hard to read on phones
• Outdated prices or hours
• Heavy videos and sliders that make the site slow
• No clear way to order or book

A fast, appetising website with direct ordering can bring in repeat orders without the commission. See what's included in a restaurant website.