We search for pretty much everything online these days. Even going out to dinner be it at the spur of the moment or a planned celebration isn’t immune to a bit of Google love.
With potential restaurant and cafe patrons using their mobile devices to search for dining out options, it’s strange that many restaurant and cafe websites fail to entice diners or include essential information potential diners will use to decide where to go. What’s even worse is that so many restaurants and cafes don’t even have a website!
We’ve done some research to discover what potential diners want included on a restaurant or cafe website, here’s what diners are asking for…
1. The correct address.
You’d be amazed how many restaurants and cafes forget to incude this on their website.
2. Opening hours.
Many restaurants close on Mondays, some close on public holidays. List your hours on your website.
3. Parking.
Street Parking after hours in the Brisbane CBD has become contentious for traders and restaurants as the Brisbane City Council now charges for street parking until 10pm. Give parking suggestions, especially if off street parking is nearby and details of any incentives you have for your diners.
4. Independent reviews.
Are reviews by a professional independent restaurant reviewer available to read? Potential diners love to read these published reviews so provide a link or include them on your website in the press page.
5. Current menu with prices.
Our survey respondents want to see the current menu on the website. Getting excited about the experience you have and what you’re going to order begins long before you arrive.
6. Chef profile and produce.
Who is the chef in charge of the kitchen? What is the style of the food served, where does the produce come from? Diners like to educate themselves and come prepared to fully participate in the dinning experience. Information about chef and ethos of the restaurant adds to the experience.
7. Photos of the ambience in the restaurant.
Potential diners want to see photos off the ambience of the restaurant and cafe so they can see if it is the right fit for their personality and their occasion.
8. Photos of the dishes on the menu.
YUM! Dare potential diners to resist coming to your restaurant! Professional photos of the dishes on the menu will get diners in the door and ordering an extra course.
9. BYO or licensed.
Diners want to know if a restaurant or cafe is BYO so let them know on your website, it’s much better than the inconvenience of having to duck off to the local bottle shop after they arrive.
10. Payment methods including surcharge for credit card.
Some restaurants (frequently those within large hotels) charge a surcharge for credit card payment as it is hotel policy. Publish these surcharge details on your website so diners can make necessary arrangements, it’s so much better than the awkward surcharge conversation when it comes time to pay the bill.
11. Online booking system.
Some respondents want to be able to make a reservation online in their own time.
12. A mobile device friendly website.
Of course it goes without saying that the website needs to be designed so it can be viewed properly on mobile devices (iOS and android). Flash doesn’t work on iOS devices.
So there it is, twelve things potential diners want included on restaurant and cafe websites. How many of these items does your website include?
Our restaurant and cafe clients are able to change the photos on their websites at any time using the image library of professional images we provide them. If you don’t have access to professional images and would like to know more about our approach to food and restaurant photography, give us a call on 07 3397 6552, we’d be delighted to help you.
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by John Reyment