What separates forgettable restaurant websites from ones that actually drive revenue? It often comes down to a few smart design and sales choices that turn casual visitors into paying customers.
Key Takeaways
- The best restaurant websites prioritize mobile users with fast load times, tap-friendly navigation, and clear calls to action that make ordering or booking simple from any device.
- Restaurant websites that use short, direct content and simple layouts make it easier for visitors to understand the offer and take action.
- Adding options like event ticketing, merch, catering, or curated gift bundles can turn any restaurant website into a full sales channel rather than just an online menu.
As operating costs increase in the United States, many restaurants are struggling with profitability concerns. But the situation isn’t hopeless. Innovative entrepreneurs are finding alternative revenue opportunities that boost profit margins and deliver excellent returns.
The best restaurant websites on Shopify grab attention online and help you connect with local customers. This guide can show you how.
Lessons From the Best Restaurant Websites
Step one is to build an engaging, user-friendly website powered by Shopify e-commerce. The following examples show you practical ideas restaurants can use to improve the customer experience and open up more ways to sell.
1. Be Interactive Like Baldassarre
Baldassarre is a pasta factory in Toronto that also operates a restaurant and a Shopify store. The beloved brand sells freshly made pasta to local restaurants, offers wholesale distribution for other food companies, and opens its doors to the public with a hearty Italian lunch menu.
The Baldassarre website is a masterclass in interactivity. When your customers are browsing on a mobile device, design elements that emphasize tapping instead of scrolling through boring dropdowns are more engaging.
Tapping on “filled pasta” takes visitors directly to a subpage with “ravioli,” “tortelloni,” “cappelletti,” and other products. There’s no confusing mess or hassle involved. The page’s video and image carousel are equally interactive.
2. Embrace Events Like Dockyard Social
Dockyard Social is a Glasgow food hotspot that embraces its inner party venue. The space is huge, bringing together some of Scotland’s best street food, eclectic drinks, live music, and dancing. Part family hangout spot, part rowdy nightclub, and part sports bar, Dockyard Social has countless ways to attract customers every weekend — which means money in the bank.
Instead of using a traditional menu, Dockyard Social sells tickets to restaurant events on Shopify. This format lets diners relax and focus more on fun than juggling payment apps. Besides admission tickets, vouchers for £25, £50, and £100 are available on the site, which attendees exchange for food and drink tokens at the party.
3. Say It Clearly Like Clean Eatz Kitchen
Clean Eatz Kitchen isn’t technically a restaurant, but who cares about such strict definitions in today’s world? This build-your-own-box site sells chef-prepared meals for busy individuals. Clients choose six meals from a constantly changing menu of 30 favorites, and the bundle gets delivered directly to the person’s door, anywhere in the U.S.
This website is exceptional at getting its message across in short, simple, and powerful ideas. It doesn’t overcrowd the page with text, but there’s enough for clients to understand exactly what they’re getting and why it’s amazing.
The product pages are just as easy to understand. With just a few bullet points and friendly explanations, visitors are ready to take the next step.
Your website can benefit from equally short and sweet content. You don’t need huge paragraphs to get people excited. Just explain why your restaurant is something special, and what customers can expect.
4. Go Beyond Gift Cards Like Maine Lobster Now
Another not-quite restaurant with a Shopify store, Maine Lobster Now sells fresh seafood to families, restaurants, and corporate clients throughout the U.S. This site’s design has a lot to love — like the prominent high-star product ratings and well-organized menu. But it’s the “Gifts” category that teaches the biggest lesson for restaurant websites.
Does your restaurant have such a varied assortment of gifts? If not, you may be missing out on potential profits.
Selling gift cards is a no-brainer, but it’s not enough to make a splash. Delivering mouthwatering tiramisu or date-night luxury meals for two directly to the customer’s door may take some planning, but gift bundles allow for a much higher markup than conventional dine-in fare.
5. Customize for Mobile Like Girl & the Goat
Popular Chicago restaurant Girl & the Goat shows off the culinary stylings of foodie icon Chef Stephanie Izard. A second location in Los Angeles leans even harder into So-Cal farm-to-table trends.
Both of these sister restaurant websites turn heads. They have personality and luxury. Above all, they’re clearly built with mobile devices in mind.
Why is mobile-first design important for building the best restaurant website? According to Google data, more than 70% of online searches for restaurants come from a mobile device.
Making a great first impression on smartphone users is a must. Here’s how:
- Image carousels
- Vertical scrolling pages
- Short paragraphs with just a few sentences
- Call-to-action buttons (e.g., “Order” or “Reserve”) that don’t require going back to the top
- Small image files that load quickly
Shopify gives restaurant owners the tools to create an attractive mobile-optimized site, but it’s important to choose a theme with features and formatting that fit your brand. Visit the Sections editor in your Shopify dashboard to customize the size and positioning of page elements, including text sizes, image placement, and CTA buttons.
6. Offer Merch and More Like Sunday in Brooklyn
If you’re thinking that your restaurant needs to be some kind of global phenomenon to benefit from a website, Sunday in Brooklyn proves the opposite is true. This website belongs to a local eatery with neighborhood vibes and the soul of a small business.
But the site’s design is up there with million-dollar brands. That’s why using Shopify for a restaurant website is a smart idea. You don’t need graphic design or programming experience, thanks to user-friendly tools.
This laid-back restaurant takes full advantage of e-commerce to increase sales opportunities. There are sections (“collections” in Shopify) for private events, catering, and merch sales. Loyal supporters can buy colorful tees and beanies directly from the site or at the restaurant.
7. Use the Best Images Like Colletta
Like Sunday in Brooklyn, Italian restaurant Colletta mostly lets images do the talking. And high-quality images are vital for a family-style dining spot. As Italian chefs often say, “We eat first with our eyes.”
If possible, invest in professional photography for your menu items, especially the top sellers. Make the stomach growl from the moment someone sets foot on your site.
Create the Best Website for Your Restaurant
Shopify apps are the secret to setting up a website that works perfectly for restaurants. With the right apps, you can add features like reservation calendars, event ticketing, merch sales, catering menus, private bookings, and venue add-ons, like wedding rehearsal packages.
Want to see how a Shopify events app can transform your business? Evey Events has helped many Shopify restaurants and catering companies stand out online. Ticketing and bookings management have never been easier. Request a demo today and see for yourself the power of Evey.
