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Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

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Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#71

Post by brudgers »

6ren wrote: post #8

Counterpoint: do restaurant customers (i.e. ordinary people) also think these websites are awful? When I see a website like that, I just think "it's not targeting me". Also, I've actually given up on all websites of non-internet companies, including big retailers. It's just too tedious to find information, too slow loading. Their mobile sites often load quicker. but have even less info. You're better off ringing them…

I think restaurant customers find restaurant websites, largely irrelevant.

Who the hell picks a restaurant by conducting a websearch to compare features as if entrees were laptops? I'm sure someone does, but most people pick a restaurant because they have been there and know what they are in for, or because someone they know has been there and recommended it.

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#72

Post by [deleted] »

ZoFreX wrote: post #2

As someone who has built a fair few restaurant sites, there are lots of reasons. If a web design agency builds a site that doesn't work on the iPhone or iPad, which are both now considered critical to restaurant marketing, they get to charge extra for creating an iOS specific version, or an app, or whatever. If you create one site that works great on everything, you make less money. Restaurants are also sometimes run…

[deleted]

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#75

Post by zoudini »

floppydisk wrote: post #61
irrumator wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you so sure it will? Can you give me use cases or examples where a restaurant owner stands to make money from his site anywhere other than booking reservations possibly?

Couple off the top of my head: 1) If you have live acts performing at your establishment Friday-Sunday, the website can raise awareness. 2) Specialty products / menu items. 3) Paraphernalia / SWAG from the restaurant. 4) Take out -- order online, pick up in store. 5) If you sell things like coffee beans, web presence increases the number of eyeballs on your product. At the end of the day, restaurants are about puttin…

Building something you might be interested in as far as wait times...

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#76

Post by rokhayakebe »

callmeed wrote: post #18

My next startup is targeting this problem. I'm pitching it as "About.me for restaurants" ... a single-page, instant setup site that has location/hours/menu/contact info. I'm planning on posting it to HN for review in a few days. If anyone wants a peak now, drop me an email.

You should push this one out as quickly as possible. Superb idea.

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#77

Post by kitcar »

callmeed wrote: post #18

My next startup is targeting this problem. I'm pitching it as "About.me for restaurants" ... a single-page, instant setup site that has location/hours/menu/contact info. I'm planning on posting it to HN for review in a few days. If anyone wants a peak now, drop me an email.

Sounds like MenuPalace.com's first business, although they never really cared about design/style

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#78

Post by floppydisk »

zoudini wrote: post #75
floppydisk wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couple off the top of my head: 1) If you have live acts performing at your establishment Friday-Sunday, the website can raise awareness. 2) Specialty products / menu items. 3) Paraphernalia / SWAG from the restaurant. 4) Take out -- order online, pick up in store. 5) If you sell things like coffee beans, web presence increases the number of eyeballs on your product. At the end of the day, restaurants are about puttin…

Building something you might be interested in as far as wait times...

Really? I'd be curious to see how someone implements this. From my admittedly limited knowledge of the space, I see three different ways to tackling this. First, build out your own reservation system that uses your custom software to link the reservation system to the website and provide a vertical stack. Second, build plugins/hooks for existing electronic reservation/seating systems currently in use. Or third, work with the OpenTable's API.

Re: Why are restaurant websites so awful? Because of restaurant culture.

#79

Post by hxf148 »

Check out http://infostripe.com Giving flash heavy restaurant sites a mobile option for customers was one of the design objectives. We are making great progress in the local area restaurants, mostly because it's free but also it's easy for the owners to setup and manage themselves.
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