How we score restaurant websites

The mechanics behind the first impression

Photography, story, and atmosphere matter enormously. But many guest journeys break before taste enters the picture. The menu will not open on a phone. The booking link is buried. Opening hours are missing. Google shows a page title that says Home.

Those problems can be checked consistently. These are the nine checks we use as the practical starting point for every Website Check.

1. A secure connectionA site should load over HTTPS without a browser warning.
2. A useful search titleThe title should tell a guest and Google what the venue is.
3. A clear search descriptionThe description should explain why someone would choose the venue.
4. A strong mobile viewText, buttons, menus, and booking paths should work comfortably on a phone.
5. A menu people can useThe menu should be quick to find, easy to read, and current.
6. A visible phone numberGuests should be able to tap and call without searching.
7. Opening hours on the siteOne of the most important visit decisions should not be hidden.
8. A clear social pathGuests who want to see the room and the plates should get there in one tap.
9. Structured business detailsMachine readable name, hours, and location help search platforms understand the venue.

What a checklist cannot score

A checklist cannot decide whether the site feels like your room, whether the photography creates appetite, or whether the story is worth remembering. That needs judgment. We separate the mechanical problems from the creative opportunity so owners can see what is urgent, what is optional, and what would make the biggest difference.