The main goal of any business' website is to give potential and current customers a place to get the information they need about your brand. But restaurants are hardly just "any" business, so it only makes sense that their websites need to accomplish much more than that. That’s where the right website builder can play a helpful role.
Your restaurant's website can be a business listing, a menu, a reservation book, a delivery dispatcher... and on, and on. And, don’t forget, it needs to be optimized for mobile. Over 90% of customers browse for dining options using their phones, so every part of your online program should be just as user friendly via a phone as it is a desktop or laptop.
But don't you worry (about this, at least!) There are a number of excellent software options you can use as restaurant website builder options to create a professional looking, easy-to-maintain digital space for your restaurant.
What We Looked for in a Website Builder for Restaurants
Our team restaurant technology experts evaluated more than a dozen of the top restaurant website builders on the market, weighing an array of factors such as the variety of features available, ease of use, cost effectiveness, and customer service.
We arrived at this list of restaurant website builders. Read on to learn about their respective strengths and which types of restaurants might want to consider them.
Best Restaurant Website Builder Overall: Sociavore
Website and e-commerce tool for restaurants designed to drive sales and boost online presence
Key features
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Website builder
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Online ordering
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QR code ordering
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Events and ticketing
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Reservations
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Merchandise
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Gift cards
Why we like Sociavore: Sociavore has quite a bit going for it in the restaurant website builder space, including a robust suite of capabilities and a user-friendly interface. We also like the flexibility it offers to restaurant operators depending on degree of technical comfort, with a competitive monthly rate supplemented by an optional one-time setup fee for operators who would like a little more assistance through the website building process.
What restaurant operators should know about Sociavore: Sociavore is designed as a self-service “no code” drag-and-drop experience (think Shopify), so while the supplemental setup service is available for those without the time or comfort level, it should feel usable for most operators.
Who should use Sociavore?: Sociavore can work for a variety of restaurant types be it full-service or fast casual. The ideal customer would be a tech-comfortable, budget conscious restaurateur.
How is customer support at Sociavore?: Strong. Even if you don’t opt for the additional setup fee, they are responsive when it comes to fielding questions and resolving any issues.
Sociavore pricing and plans: Sociavore starts at $49/month, and offers a 14-day free trial if you’d like to explore the platform before committing.
As mentioned, they offer supplemental “Express Setup” service for a one-time fee of $499, which they state will have your site up and running within a week.
Best Restaurant Website Builder for High-End and Multi-Unit Restaurants: Bentobox
Robust set of website design and management tools that deliver on quality albeit at a higher price point
Key features
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Website Builder
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Online ordering management
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Catering management
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E-commerce and ticketed events
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Gift card management
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QR code ordering
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Loyalty programs
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Email marketing
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Reservations and waitlist management
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POS and payments
Why we like Bentobox: Much of what we had to say about Sociavore also applies to Bentobox, which delivers some of the best restaurant website design capabilities in the industry along with a wide range of additional features. Bentobox particularly excels when it comes to creating automated marketing flows for guests around events like a first visit or a birthday.
What restaurant operators should know about Bentobox: Bentobox provides “white glove” website setup which is ideal for operators without the time or capability for a more DIY tool. They have a number of off-the-shelf designs that operators can opt for, or they can choose to upgrade to a fully custom website experience.
Who should use Bentobox?: Bentobox is ideal high-end and multi-unit restaurants that value design and quality and aren’t afraid to skimp on price.
How is customer support at Bentobox?: Bentobox offers a personalized training session prior to the launch of your website as well as email support seven days a week.
Bentobox pricing and plans: Bentobox starts at $149/month though depending on custom upgrades price points may be higher.
Best Basic Restaurant Website Builder: Squarespace
Widely used website builder with a variety of restaurant templates available
Key features
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Website builder
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Site analytics
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E-commerce
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Reservations
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Events management
Why we like Squarespace: Squarespace is a solid, affordable option that requires a little bit of know-how to work with, though they offer an array of pre-designed templates that help bridge the gap and make it more user-friendly for operators. Also, there’s an option to “hire an expert” if additional assistance is required, thought that obviously comes at an additional cost.
What restaurant operators should know about Squarespace: Squarespace purchased popular online reservations platform Tock in 2021, so operators will find seamless integration there for functions like reservations, events, and online ordering.
Who should use Squarespace?: Squarespace is a strong option for the operator who is a tiny bit tech-savvy and looking to get a website up and running quickly.
How is customer support at Squarespace?: Squarespace offers responsive 24/7 support via phone, email, and chat.
Squarespace pricing and plans: A basic commerce website starts at $27/month. Read more on their pricing plans here.
Best POS With a Website Building Option: SpotOn
Customizable POS that offers website building at an additional cost
Key features
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Website builder
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Data and analytics
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POS and payments
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E-commerce
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Retail management
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Online ordering
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QR code ordering
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Reservations
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Gift cards
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Loyalty programs
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Email marketing
Why we like SpotOn: SpotOn is a cloud-based POS provider that will create a fully customized website for your restaurant as well, which is a great opportunity to have strong integration between your website, online ordering, and on-premise sales.
What restaurant operators should know about SpotOn: As a POS provider SpotOn offers support for a variety of service models, including handheld terminals and even specialized food truck POS systems, so they make sense as a website building option for a variety of restaurant types.
Who should use SpotOn?: Operators thinking about a change in their POS system looking for better data visibility and stronger integration between their POS and website should consider taking a look at SpotOn.
How is customer support at SpotOn?: SpotOn customer support is available 24/7 via phone and email.
SpotOn pricing and plans: Website prices vary depending on features selected. Schedule a demo with SpotOn to learn more.
Another Strong Restaurant Website Builder:LunchBox
Combine website building, first-party ordering and marketing in one platform
Key features
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Website builder
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Mobile app development
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Data and analytics
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E-commerce
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Online ordering
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Loyalty programs
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Email marketing
Why we like Lunchbox: Lunchbox is a great option for restaurants that truly want to own their customer data and create a custom ordering experience that adheres to their brand guidelines, though the price point makes it a more practical choice for chains and multi-unit operators.
What restaurant operators should know about Lunchbox: For operators who may not have the size or budget to warrant Lunchbox’s full suite of tools, the company recently launched a free product that will plug into an existing website to support online ordering, with customers paying a 5% service fee.
Who should use Lunchbox?: Multi-unit operators looking to own their customer journey end-to-end, especially those interested in incorporating a mobile app experience, should consider Lunchbox.
How is customer support at Lunchbox?: Lunchbox customer support is available 24/7 via email.
Lunchbox pricing and plans: Lunchbox requires a minimum spend of $15,000 annually, though this cost can be spread across multiple locations.
A Strong Mobile-Friendly Restaurant Website Builder: PopMenu
Create mobile-friendly restaurant websites with an eye towards SEO
Key features
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Website builder
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Online ordering
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Automated marketing
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QR code ordering
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Waitlist management
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Reservations
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Loyalty programs
Why we like PopMenu: PopMenu offers website capability that particularly excels when it comes to menu search engine optimization (SEO), helping to increase your online visibility while also delivering a user-friendly menu experience.
What restaurant operators should know about PopMenu: PopMenu offers an interesting collection of capabilities including the menu SEO optimization (no PDFs!) mentioned earlier, as well as automated text, email, and social media marketing tools. They also offer direct ordering and delivery tools (white labeled via Doordash Drive) that lend themselves to a smooth online ordering process.
Who should use PopMenu?: Operators looking to especially prioritize mobile ordering and a frictionless online ordering experience would do well to consider PopMenu.
How is customer support at PopMenu?: PopMenu customer support is available 24/7 via email.
PopMenu pricing and plans: PopMenu’s first-tier “pro” package starts at $399/month.
Restaurant Website Builder FAQ
Why should I use a restaurant website builder?
Your website is the digital calling card for your restaurant. It’s the place where customers learn about your brand, size up your menu, and (hopefully) become a customer, be it via an online order or plans to visit you in person. A proper website showcases you in ways that third-party sites or even social media simply can’t.
Obviously not all restaurant operators have the skills to build a website though. That’s where restaurant website builders come in, bridging the gap between a restaurant operator’s technical capabilities and the website their business needs to thrive. There are a variety of restaurant website builders on the market today with options and price points to fit different budgets and needs.
Can I use a restaurant website builder to set up e-commerce?
Yes, many restaurant website builders offer tools to add e-commerce functionality to your website, from merchandise sales to online ordering support.
