Why Every Restaurant Needs a Website: Benefits You Can’t Ignore
The answer to why your restaurant needs a website is simple: if you don’t have a website, you are 100%, without a doubt, missing out on hundreds, if not thousands of customers.
77% of diners look at a restaurant’s website before going out to eat or ordering takeout or delivery.
If you don’t have a website, that means over three-quarters of the people near your restaurant—your potential customers—will never come in or place an order because they have no way to find you when they’re looking for a place to eat.
A well-designed website does more than just make a good first impression. It puts you in control of your brand, helps customers find you online, and makes it easier for them to view your menu, book a table, or place an order—and that’s just the beginning.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why a website makes your restaurant more trustworthy and professional.
- How owning your digital presence can help you reach more local customers.
- The ways a website can drive more orders and reservations while cutting costs.
Here are the seven biggest benefits of having a website for your restaurant.
1. A Website Builds Credibility and Trust
Imagine you’re searching for a new restaurant to try. You find one that looks promising, but there’s no website—just a few scattered social media posts. The hours aren’t clear, there’s no menu, and you’re not even sure if the place is still open.
Frustrating, right? That’s exactly how potential customers feel when they can’t find your restaurant online.
Roughly 300 million Americans—about 95% of the population—own a cellphone, giving them constant access to the internet. By now, customers expect every business to have a website. It doesn’t matter if you serve the best food in town; if you’re missing a website, new customers either won’t know about you or will avoid visiting because your restaurant seems outdated.
A well-designed website signals professionalism and legitimacy. It reassures potential guests that you’re an established business, making them more likely to visit or place an order.
A common mistake among restaurant operators is thinking that a social media account alone will be enough to satisfy customers—but there are problems. Customers can’t access an up-to-date menu, current hours, schedule a reservation, or place an online order.
Customers are left scrolling through outdated posts trying to find relevant information, becoming more irritated by the moment.
A polished, well-designed website establishes your restaurant as trustworthy, credible, and able to meet modern customer expectations.
2. Control Your Brand and Story
Social media is great for engagement, but it comes with a major downside—you don’t control it. Algorithms decide which posts get seen, platform rules change constantly, and your content can get buried in a sea of updates.
A website, however, is entirely yours. It’s a space where you can fully shape your restaurant brand, tell your story, and connect with customers on your terms while not being at the mercy of changing trends or third-party rules.
Whether it’s the inspirational story behind why you started your restaurant, the effort that goes into each and every one of your dishes, or your commitment to standards like only using locally sourced ingredients, your website ensures your unique voice is heard.
Websites are an extension of your physical restaurant and, as we’ve covered, are often the first touchpoint for most of your customers. Having complete control of your brand’s story is how you stand out in a congested market.
3. Make It Easy for Customers to Find You (SEO Benefits)
When people search for a restaurant, they’re not scrolling through Instagram—they’re turning to Google.
Google has one job: to give people the most accurate answer to any question. Google then searches the internet looking for the best possible answers, delivering them top to bottom as most likely to help.
Your job is to give as much information as you can, showing Google that your restaurant is the best solution and to put you at the top of that list—and the best way to do that is with a website.
For example, let’s say someone searches “best Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.”
Google will then search for the best Italian restaurant in LA the only way it knows how—by scanning every available piece of data online. It will then share the top results with your hungry potential customer.
Google will always prioritize restaurants that have websites because they provide significantly more information. Without a website, your restaurant will never be in those top results.
Using a website that’s been optimized for SEO (search engine optimization), you stand a better chance of ranking high because they provide structured, reliable information.
With the right local SEO strategies, your website can help you attract new customers who might not have heard of you before. Integrating with Google My Business, ensuring your menu is indexed, and optimizing for location-based searches, all improve your chances of appearing when someone looks for a restaurant in your area.
ChowNow restaurant websites come with built-in features that help maximize your visibility on search engines so your restaurant ranks higher and connects with more customers.
4. Increase Revenue With Online Ordering and Reservations
Using a restaurant website also opens the door to new streams of revenue that were previously unavailable to you
By offering online ordering straight from your site, you make it easy for customers to place takeout or delivery orders without any extra steps. A simple, seamless ordering experience encourages repeat business and keeps guests coming back.
It also helps your business avoid third-party delivery app fees that can add up quickly. With your own direct online ordering system you bypass the high commission fees, keeping more revenue in your pocket. Instead of paying a percentage of every order to a delivery platform, you keep full control over pricing and profits.
Beyond takeout and delivery, a website also makes it easier for guests to reserve a table without having to call. You can integrate with platforms like Resy, or your own in-house booking system, giving customers a seamless way to plan their visit while keeping your dining room fully booked.
Another great benefit? Owning your customer data.
Unlike third-party apps that keep order history and emails to themselves, your website lets you collect valuable customer information. This means you can send promotions, create a rewards program, and build stronger relationships—without relying on an outside platform to do it for you.
With ChowNow direct ordering websites, customers can place orders straight from your site, ensuring you don’t lose profits to high commission fees.
For example, this is Emporium Thai’s online ordering site, and you can see that the fresh, clean design instantly establishes legitimacy with customers.
5. Improve Customer Experience With Essential Info at Their Fingertips
When customers search for your restaurant, the menu is the first thing they check—but right after that, they always look for three key details.:
- Hours
- Location
- Contact information
A website puts all of this in one easy-to-find place, so guests don’t have to scroll through outdated social media posts or rely on third-party sites for the right info.
Few things are more frustrating than arriving at a restaurant only to find that the hours listed online were wrong. Unlike social media pages, which often have incomplete or outdated information, a dedicated website ensures your details are always accurate and up to date.
A mobile-friendly design is also essential since most customers check restaurant websites from their phones. With a well-structured site, visitors can:
- Browse your menu without pinching and zooming
- Call for a reservation or place an online order with one tap
- Get directions instantly with a linked map
By making it effortless for customers to find what they need, your website creates a better customer experience before they even walk through the door.
6. Cost-Effective Marketing and Customer Engagement
A website is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools a restaurant can have. Unlike social media, where posts get buried in ever-changing feeds, a website works 24/7, giving customers a consistent place to learn about your restaurant, explore your menu, and place orders—without requiring constant updates.
Here are a few ways your website can help you market smarter:
- Email Marketing and Promotions: Collect customer emails through online orders, reservation forms, or reward program sign-ups, then send targeted promotions, discounts, and updates directly to their inbox.
- Content Marketing: Keep your site fresh with updates on seasonal menus, special events, or behind-the-scenes stories that showcase your restaurant’s unique personality while improving your SEO.
- Always-On Accessibility: Unlike social media, where posts and information can get lost in ever-changing feeds, your website provides a stable, always-available space where customers can check your menu, make reservations, or place orders anytime, day or night.
Your website acts as a central hub for your online presence and marketing. Social media is great for engagement, but your website is the go to source for what’s actually happening in your restaurant. It’s an easy marketing tool that works 24/7 and helps you reach customers without relying on expensive paid ads.
7. Stay Ahead of Competitors Who Don’t Have One
Believe it or not, an astonishing 60% of restaurants don’t have a website—this presents a major opportunity for your restaurant to stand out and capture the attention of your competitor’s customers simply because you created an online presence.
A website instantly gives you an edge over restaurants that rely only on social media or word of mouth. Customers expect convenience—if they can’t quickly find your menu, hours, or online ordering, they’ll move on to a competitor that makes it easier.
Those restaurants that don’t have websites rely on third-party platforms like Yelp, Google Reviews, or social media to get information about your restaurant.
The problem? These platforms aren’t built for you—they’re built for their own ad revenue and you have limited controls over what happens there.
It doesn’t make sense to operate without a website, especially when getting a polished, professional website is so easy.
The Best Time to Build Your Restaurant’s Website Is Now
A website isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. It builds trust, attracts new customers, and gives you full control over your brand and business. The longer you wait, the more opportunities you miss.
Contact ChowNow to learn how a branded restaurant website and direct online ordering can increase customer engagement and boost sales.
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