What belongs on a website for a restaurant or café
- Menu as text instead of PDF. As text the menu loads instantly on a phone, and Google can read the dishes. A PDF has to be downloaded and zoomed first.
- Opening hours right at the top. The most common question of all. Plus closing days and holiday breaks, which you enter yourself.
- Reserve in one click. We embed or link your existing reservation system. On a phone, a call button is enough too.
- Photos of real plates. Pictures from your kitchen and your dining room. Guests want to see what it looks like at your place.
- Allergens and additives. Easy to read beside the dishes or on a page of its own, so guests with intolerances do not have to call.
- Dish of the day and specials. Lunch menu, seasonal menu, public holiday menu. You set them up yourself in the admin area.
- Celebrations and groups. Whether you take birthdays, company events or catering, with seating numbers and an enquiry form.
The pages we usually build
- Home page
- Menu
- Lunch menu
- Reservation
- Celebrations & groups
- About us
- Directions & opening hours
Common mistakes on today's websites
- The menu is a scanned PDF from two years ago with old prices.
- The opening hours on the website differ from those in the Google profile.
- On a phone you have to scroll for ages before the phone number and address appear.
What should I keep in mind with menu and allergens?
The menu belongs on the page as text, not as a PDF. That way it is readable on a phone, Google and chat searches can pick it up, and you change it in minutes. For allergens: guests must be told which of the 14 main allergens are contained. Whether that happens on the website, on the menu on site or on request is set out in detail in the regulations. Labelling on the website is very helpful for guests with allergies.
Which reservation setup fits?
For many restaurants a simple form with date, time and number of guests that lands straight in your inbox is enough. If you take many reservations, you use a reservation system with a table plan. For Altes Fischhaus in Duisburg, our team built a reservation system of its own with a waiting list, instead of a website builder app.
Websites we've built
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the menu myself?
Yes. Dishes, prices and daily specials you manage yourself in the admin area. For layout changes, 10 minutes per month are included, and we take care of them.
We already use a reservation tool. Can it stay?
Yes. Common reservation systems can be embedded or linked. You do not have to switch.
What is the catch with the free website?
We earn on hosting with care, and for you that is cheaper than today. We take over the build, and if you wish you see a draft beforehand.
Does our email address stay with the old provider?
It can. Domain and email may stay where they are. If you want to move, it costs €12 a year per domain and €12 a year per mailbox with us.
Ready for a new website?
We're currently testing freeehouse with a first round of businesses. Claim your spot on the waiting list.