Choosing the right restaurant website designer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your business — because today, a restaurant’s first impression often happens online, not at the host stand. Picking the right restaurant website designer can make the difference between a site that simply looks good and one that drives real orders.
Today, there are more options than ever, from traditional restaurant website design agencies and DIY website builders to affordable, white-glove solutions like the DoorDash Commerce Platform.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know as you select a designer for your restaurant website.
What does a restaurant website designer do?
A restaurant website designer helps create the digital face of your business. Their job goes far beyond picking fonts and colors — it’s about shaping how diners experience your brand online. A great designer will:
Create a mobile-friendly layout that makes ordering easy from any device
Integrate online ordering, reservations, or delivery options
Ensure the site loads quickly and is optimized for search engines
Reflect your restaurant’s brand look and feel
The best designers understand that a restaurant website isn’t just marketing — it’s a key sales channel. It should help you attract new customers and convert browsers into loyal diners.
Why a strong restaurant website matters
Your restaurant’s website is open 24/7 — even when your dining room isn’t. A well-designed site does more than showcase your food; it turns visitors into paying customers.
Here’s why investing in a strong website matters:
Builds brand trust: A clean, modern site signals professionalism and care
Drives more orders: Clear calls to action, like a Smart “Order Now” Button, convert interest into revenue
Boosts visibility: Local SEO for restaurants helps diners find you when they search “best restaurants near me.”
Supports your growth: An online ordering system lets you sell directly to customers
4 qualities to look for in a restaurant website designer
When evaluating your options, look for a designer or platform that offers more than just a pretty homepage. These five qualities can help you choose wisely:
1. Experience with hospitality brands
Designers who’ve worked with restaurants understand how to highlight menus, food photography, and seasonal updates.
2. Technical expertise
They should know how to integrate your Google Business Profile and social links and ensure your site runs smoothly on mobile.
3. Ease of updates
From changing your hours to adding a menu item, updating your site should be fast and easy.
4. Affordability and support
Look for transparent pricing and access to support. Branded websites, available with the DoorDash Commerce Platform, includes setup, hosting, and support in one package.
Explore branded websitesQuestions to ask before hiring a restaurant website designer
Before signing a contract or subscribing to any service, ask these key questions:
What’s included in your package (design, hosting, SEO, maintenance)?
How easy will it be for guests to order directly from my site?
Will my site be optimized for mobile?
Do you provide customer support after launch?
How do you handle security, payments, and integrations?
How the DoorDash Commerce Platform simplifies website design
Not every restaurant has the time or resources to hire a dedicated designer — and that’s where the DoorDash Commerce Platform comes in. It’s an all-in-one solution built to help restaurants grow on their own channels using the same technology that powers millions of DoorDash orders daily.
Here’s what you get:
A branded, SEO-optimized website: DoorDash builds and hosts your website, ensuring it’s optimized for search engines and easy to find on Google.
Commission-free* online ordering: Keep more of your profits — you’ll only pay standard payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per order).
Data-driven results: Merchants who activate direct ordering through their website can drive up to $7,500 in sales from direct channels within their first six months.**
In short, DoorDash handles the heavy lifting — from design to hosting — so you can focus on running your restaurant, not managing your website.
Get a Commerce Platform demoLaunch your website and grow on your terms
Your restaurant website should be more than a menu — it should be one of your most powerful sales channels. Whether you work with a traditional restaurant website designer or use a modern platform like DoorDash Commerce Platform, what matters most is creating an online experience that’s fast, easy, and unmistakably you.
Ready to get started?
Get a Commerce Platform demo*2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee applies
**Based on internal DoorDash data as of June 2025
