Why Restaurants & Cafes Need a Website and Online Ordering System

Third-party delivery platforms are useful for discovery, but they typically charge restaurants 15–30% commission per order. If a customer orders directly from your own website instead, that entire margin stays with you. This is the single biggest reason restaurants and cafes across Europe are investing in their own digital presence.

What a Restaurant Website Should Do

• Show your menu, prices, and photos clearly on mobile
• Let customers book a table or order for pickup/delivery directly
• Display opening hours, location, and reviews prominently
• Rank on Google for "restaurant near me" and cuisine-specific searches

Direct Ordering vs Delivery Apps

A commission-free ordering system built into your own website means every order is nearly pure margin compared to the same order through a delivery app. For a restaurant doing even 50 direct orders a month, this difference alone can cover the website's entire cost.

Bookings & Local SEO

Most diners now search online before choosing where to eat. A website optimized for local SEO — with your address, menu, and reviews — helps you appear in Google's local map results, which is often the deciding factor for nearby customers choosing between restaurants.

Cost & ROI

Restaurant websites with integrated ordering typically start from around €300–€800. Compared to the ongoing commission bleed from delivery apps, most restaurants see the investment pay for itself within the first month or two of direct orders.

The Bottom Line

Delivery apps bring visibility, but your own website brings margin, loyalty, and control. The most successful restaurants use both — but make sure their own website is doing the heavy lifting.

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