The Best Restaurant Website Builders in 2021

In today's digital age, having a compelling online presence is crucial for restaurants looking to thrive and attract more customers. A well-designed website not only showcases your menu and location but also conveys your restaurant's unique atmosphere and ethos. With the majority of customers checking out restaurants online before deciding where to dine, investing in a good website builder that can help capture the essence of your establishment is more important than ever.

Why Choose a Specialized Restaurant Website Builder?

Choosing a specialized restaurant website builder over a general website builder offers numerous benefits tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality industry. These specialized platforms provide restaurant-specific templates and features such as menus, online reservations, and order management systems, which are essential for a restaurant's online presence. They also offer integration with food delivery services and the ability to update menu items and prices easily, ensuring that the website remains current and functional. Additionally, these builders often come with SEO optimization tools designed to help restaurants rank higher in search results, driving more traffic to their site. By selecting a specialized restaurant website builder, restaurateurs can create a more effective and efficient online presence, catering specifically to their business needs and customer expectations.

Key Features to Look for in a Restaurant Website Builder

• Menu Display - Allows customers to easily browse through the food offerings.
• Online Ordering - Enables customers to order food directly from the website.
• Reservation System - Provides a way for customers to book tables in advance.
• Photo Gallery - Showcases the restaurant's ambiance and dishes through high-quality images.
• Customer Reviews - Displays feedback from previous customers to build trust with potential diners.
• SEO Optimization - Helps the restaurant's website rank higher in search engine results.
• Mobile Responsiveness - Ensures the website is easily navigable on smartphones and tablets.
• Integration with Social Media - Allows sharing of content between the website and social media platforms.
• Contact Information - Clearly displays the restaurant's location, phone number, and email for easy communication.
• Events Calendar - Informs customers about upcoming events or special promotions.

Top 5 Restaurant Website Builders

Website Builder	Features	Price	Ease of Use	Customer Support
SquareSpace	Beautiful templates, Integrated reservations, Instagram integration	$12-$40/month	High	24/7 Email, Live Chat
Wix	Drag-and-drop, Online ordering, Menu builder	$14-$39/month	Very High	Phone, Email, Ticket System
Weebly	Easy-to-use, SEO tools, Customizable templates	$6-$26/month	High	Email, Chat, Phone
WordPress	Flexible, Thousands of plugins, Strong SEO	$4-$45/month (hosting included)	Medium to High	Community Support, Help from Hosting Provider
Shopify	E-commerce focused, Online orders, Inventory management	$29-$299/month	Medium	24/7 Phone, Email, Live Chat

1. Wix Restaurants

Wix Restaurants is an all-in-one platform designed to cater to the needs of the food service industry, enabling businesses to create stunning online menus, accept online orders and reservations directly on their website. This solution is integrated within the Wix website builder, offering a seamless experience for both restaurant owners and their customers.

Features: Wix Restaurants comes with a variety of features including customizable menu designs, online ordering and payment capabilities, table reservation options, and integration with popular delivery services. It also supports multiple languages and currencies, making it suitable for international operations.

Pros: One of the main advantages of using Wix Restaurants is its ease of use, allowing even those with no technical background to set up and manage their online presence. The integration with the Wix platform provides a wide range of design options, ensuring that each restaurant can create a unique and appealing website. Additionally, Wix Restaurants offers robust support and a variety of marketing tools to help businesses grow their online visibility and customer base.

Cons: Despite its many benefits, Wix Restaurants might not be the best fit for every business. The platform's fees can add up, especially for small establishments with tight budgets. Furthermore, while Wix offers a lot of customization options, there might be limitations compared to specialized restaurant website builders, potentially affecting the platform's ability to meet specific needs or preferences.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace is a popular website builder that offers a range of features tailored for restaurants looking to establish or enhance their online presence. With its sleek templates and intuitive design interface, Squarespace allows restaurant owners to create visually appealing websites without needing extensive technical knowledge. Features such as easy-to-integrate menus, photo galleries to showcase dishes, and the ability to accept reservations online make it a go-to choice for many in the hospitality industry.

Pros:

• High-quality, customizable templates specifically designed for restaurants.
• Integration with various third-party services, including reservation systems and social media platforms.
• User-friendly interface that simplifies website management and updates.
• Excellent customer support and a comprehensive knowledge base for troubleshooting.

Cons:

• Relatively expensive compared to other website builders, with limited functionality on the lower-priced plans.
• Some features require a bit of a learning curve, which might be challenging for users with no prior website-building experience.
• Lacks some advanced customization options available in more specialized or flexible platforms.

In conclusion, Squarespace is a robust and stylish option for restaurants looking to create a professional online presence. While it offers a range of beneficial features, the cost and potential learning curve should be considered when deciding if it's the right platform for your restaurant's needs.

3. Restaurant Engine

Restaurant Engine is a specialized web design and hosting service tailored specifically for the restaurant industry. It offers a variety of features designed to help restaurants build a strong online presence without needing advanced technical skills. Key features include customizable website templates, menu management systems, integration with online ordering and reservation systems, and SEO tools to help restaurants rank higher in search engine results.

Pros of using Restaurant Engine include its ease of use, with a drag-and-drop interface that makes it simple for restaurant owners to create and update their websites. The platform also offers mobile optimization, ensuring that restaurant websites look great and function well on all devices. Additionally, Restaurant Engine provides excellent customer support, with responsive assistance for any issues that arise.

However, there are some cons to consider. The cost might be a barrier for smaller restaurants or startups, as Restaurant Engine requires a monthly subscription that is higher than some generic web hosting services. Additionally, while the platform offers a range of customization options, there might be limitations compared to building a website from scratch or using more flexible platforms like WordPress.

4. Let's Eat

Let's Eat is a comprehensive platform designed to cater to the needs of restaurants by offering a suite of features aimed at enhancing both the operational efficiency of the establishments and the dining experience of their customers. One of the primary features of Let's Eat is its user-friendly reservation system, which allows customers to book tables in advance, reducing wait times and improving the flow of service. Additionally, Let's Eat offers an integrated menu management system, enabling restaurants to easily update their offerings in real-time, ensuring that customers always have access to the latest dishes and prices.

Among the pros of using Let's Eat, the most notable is its ability to attract more customers by providing a seamless online booking experience, which is increasingly expected by diners in the digital age. Furthermore, the platform's analytics tools offer valuable insights into customer preferences and dining trends, allowing restaurants to tailor their services and marketing strategies more effectively. However, it's important to note that Let's Eat does come with its cons. The platform requires a subscription fee, which might be a significant expense for smaller establishments. Additionally, the reliance on digital infrastructure means that any technical issues can directly impact the restaurant's ability to take reservations and orders, potentially leading to lost revenue and customer dissatisfaction.

5. Flavor Plate

Flavor Plate is a specialized website builder designed specifically for the restaurant industry. It offers a suite of features tailored to the needs of restaurant owners, including menu management, event calendars, and integration with social media platforms. One of the major pros of Flavor Plate is its user-friendly interface, which allows restaurant owners to easily update their menus and events without needing technical skills. Additionally, its responsive design ensures that websites look great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

However, there are some cons to consider. Flavor Plate operates on a subscription model, which may not be ideal for very small restaurants or those with tight budgets. Additionally, while it offers a range of templates and customization options, the designs might not be as flexible or unique as those created by a professional web designer. Overall, Flavor Plate is a robust solution for restaurant owners looking for an easy-to-use, industry-specific website builder, but it may not suit everyone's needs or budget.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Restaurant Website Builder

In summary, selecting the ideal restaurant website builder involves considering several key factors such as ease of use, design flexibility, integration capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. From our analysis, platforms like Squarespace and Wix stand out for their comprehensive features tailored to the culinary industry, offering a blend of aesthetic templates, reservation systems, and menu customization options. For those prioritizing simplicity and quick setup, Weebly and WordPress offer viable solutions with ample customization, though they may require a bit more effort in terms of design and functionality. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and level of technical expertise. We recommend starting with a clear list of your restaurant's online requirements and then exploring these platforms to find the perfect fit that will help elevate your online presence and attract more diners.