A restaurant website has one job: help someone decide to come, then let them book or find you. In 2027 it has a second job too: giving Google and AI assistants clear, accurate information they can use when someone asks for a recommendation. Here's what that takes, in order of what usually goes wrong first.
The 2027 restaurant website checklist
What people need to decide
- Your menu as text, with prices. Not just a PDF or a photo. It is easier to read on a phone. In our preliminary September 2026 check of 100 Notting Hill restaurants in London, 40 of the 71 websites assessed (56%) had a PDF menu, a photo menu or no menu found. PDFs can be indexed; the recommendation is about making the information easy to use.
- Prices. In the same preliminary London check, 41 of 81 websites assessed (51%) had no prices found. People want to know roughly what dinner costs before they go.
- Photos of your actual food and room. Recent, well lit and yours. Replace photos when they no longer represent the menu, space or experience; their age alone is not a search ranking rule.
- What makes you different, in a sentence or two: the cuisine, the chef, the neighbourhood, the occasion you're best for.
What people need to act
- One clear booking or ordering button, on every page, tested on a phone and linked to the system you already use.
- Opening hours that match your listings. In our preliminary London check, 34 of 84 websites assessed (40%) were flagged for hours that differed from Google. Kitchen and opening hours can legitimately differ, so label both clearly. These flags were not fully hand-verified.
- Your address written out, with a map and how to get there, including parking and the nearest public transport stop.
- A phone number or email that someone actually answers.
What makes it work
- Fast on a phone. Most people will see your site on a phone, often on the street outside. Check it at PageSpeed Insights and aim for green.
- Easy for everyone to use. Readable text sizes, good contrast, image descriptions and buttons that work with screen readers. It's better for every customer, and it's good practice.
- Allergen and dietary information, or a clear line on how to ask.
- Private dining, events and gift cards, if you offer them, each with its own section and enquiry route.
The things that make Google and AI search work for you
- Your website, Google listing and Yelp page should say the same thing: name, address, phone number, hours, menu and price range.
- Link your Google listing to your website, your menu and your booking page.
- Keep the menu current. If the website still says you serve brunch after you stop, customers and search tools may repeat that outdated information.
- Reviews also matter. See Google reviews in 2027 and Reply to reviews with AI.
For how AI assistants choose who to recommend, and a ten-minute check you can run today, see How to get your restaurant recommended by ChatGPT and Google in 2027.
Opening a new restaurant?
Plan the website early enough for content, feedback and testing before opening. Our four-week build clock starts once payment and the required content are in place. Our pre-opening plan for restaurants walks through the wider launch timing.
An example: Oven District
Oven District is a family-run Mediterranean kitchen. We designed and built the website from scratch, worked on the menu design and launch materials, and photographed the space, the food and the atmosphere. Read the Oven District story.
How we can help
We build websites for independent restaurants with every item on this list and fix your Google listing. Our US plan is $399 a month on a 12-month plan, or $3,830 a year, with no setup fee. The website is live within four weeks once the agreed start conditions are met. See the restaurant plan.
Questions people ask
What should a restaurant website include?
Your menu as text with prices, recent photos, one booking or ordering button, opening hours that match Google, your address with a map, and a contact that someone answers.
Should my restaurant menu be a PDF?
No. Put it on the page as text with prices, and keep a PDF as an extra if you like.
How much does a restaurant website cost?
It varies widely. Our US plan is $399 a month on a 12-month plan, or $3,830 a year, with no setup fee. It includes the website, hosting, small changes and ongoing Google and AI checks.
Does my website affect whether ChatGPT recommends me?
Your website can be one source, alongside listings, reviews and other published coverage. A clear, current menu and accurate details give tools useful information to read, but do not guarantee a recommendation.
How often should I update my restaurant website?
Whenever the menu, prices or hours change, and give it a proper review at least once a year.
