Most new restaurants treat the website as something to sort out after opening. By then, the first wave of curious guests has already searched for you and found nothing useful.
Live before the soft launch
- A holding page with the opening date, location and a way to join the waiting list.
- Opening hours and a clear note if the first weeks run on a limited menu.
- Bookings switched on for the opening week, even if capacity is small.
- A Google Business Profile that links to the site, not to a social account.
Add in the first month
Real photos of the room and the dishes as soon as you have them. Launch-week stock images are fine, but guests want to see the place they are booking.
A new restaurant only gets one first impression online. Make sure it is ready before the first guest arrives.