5 Restaurant Website Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Customers

5 Restaurant Website Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Customers

As a brand and web designer who’s worked with restaurants and food-based businesses, I’ve seen a lot of restaurant websites— and unfortunately, I’ve also seen a lot of the same mistakes repeated over and over. If your restaurant website isn’t getting the traffic (or the table bookings) you were hoping for, this post is for you.

Let’s dig into the top 5 most common restaurant website mistakes— and what to do instead.

1. Posting Photos of Your Menu Instead of Typing It Out

This is by far the biggest and most frustrating issue I see.

Look, I know it’s easy to just snap a pic of your printed menu and slap it onto your site. But here’s the problem: Google can’t read photos. That means if someone’s searching for “best lasagna in Asheville,” and the word lasagna doesn’t actually exist in text format on your site… you’re not getting recommended. Period.

Not only is this terrible for your SEO, it’s also a major usability issue. Photos of menus are often:

• Blurry

• Hard to read on mobile

• Annoying to zoom in/out on

Your website should be working for you, not making things harder. Use a platform like Wix or Squarespace that lets you type your menu directly onto the page, with clean formatting, clickable sections, and responsive design.

Bonus: it looks 1000x more professional.

2. A Serious Lack of Professional Photos

We eat with our eyes first.

According to MDG Advertising, content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without. People are much more likely to order something they can visualize— and nothing makes your food stand out like well-lit, high-quality photos that make someone’s mouth water.

That doesn’t mean a full brand shoot every month, but it does mean investing in a few solid images of your most popular dishes, your space, and your team. Food is personal. Hospitality is personal. Your website should reflect that.

3. No Descriptions for Menu Items

This one’s especially painful.

Just listing "Lasagna" on your menu doesn’t cut it. I need to feel something. I need to know why your lasagna is the one I should abandon my sad freezer meal for.

Here’s an example of a basic menu listing vs. a compelling one:

Basic:

Lasagna - $14.99

Compelling:

Scratch Made Authentic Lasagna - $14.99

Layers of hand-rolled pasta, slow-simmered meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and bubbly mozzarella, baked to golden perfection and served with garlic bread and a side salad. This decades old secret Italian family recipe never disappoints.

🍴 Tell me that doesn’t make you wanna hop in the car right now.

Descriptions help with SEO, create a more luxurious experience for the reader, and increase the likelihood that someone will remember (and crave!) your dish.

4. No Clear Calls-to-Action

This one might be flying under your radar, but it's quietly sabotaging your conversions.

If someone lands on your website, they should immediately know what to do next:

• Order online? Make the button clear and easy to find.

• Make a reservation? That should be front and center.

• Call for takeout? Include a click-to-call phone number.

If people have to dig through your nav bar or scroll forever just to figure out how to eat your food—you’re losing them. Don’t make them think. Make it obvious.

5. No Google Map or Directions Embedded

If I have to leave your website to Google your address, that’s already one too many steps. Especially if you're located in a complicated area that needs a little more explaining. Maybe you're located in the heart of downtown, no where near a parking garage, and street parking (or parking farther away) are the only options. You should mention things like little insider tips on getting the best parking as close to your restaurant as possible. Or maybe you're located inside another building, and they have to navigate some different floors, hallways, and spaces until they get to your restaurant. MENTION that on your website— write out clear and easy instructions on how they can easily find you.

Not having a map on your site is like forgetting to put your return address on a party invitation. It’s just… inconvenient. A simple embedded Google Map, along with your hours, address, and phone number, should be on every website— ideally in the footer or a dedicated "Visit Us" section.

Bonus points for parking info or insider tips (like which side of the street has the best spots).

TL;DR: Your Website Should Be More Than a Digital Business Card

It should be your hardest working employee. Your secret salesperson. Your digital maître d’.

If your restaurant website is making any of these five mistakes, it’s probably leaving money (and hungry customers) on the table.

If you're ready for a strategic, SEO-friendly, and professionally designed restaurant website that actually helps your business grow— let's talk!

🍝 Ready to make your menu (and your whole website) unforgettable? Book a discovery call!