Industry · Hospitality & travel
Websites, ordering and bots for restaurants and cafes
People choose a restaurant in a few seconds, usually on a phone: they look at the menu, the prices, photos of the dishes and how to book or order. A restaurant's online presence should make those few seconds easy. Most of it lives outside the website — on maps, Instagram and delivery platforms — and the website ties it together.
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In short
In short
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The menu with prices is the most visited page of any restaurant site; it must load fast on a phone and be easy to update.
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Maps listings drive a large share of visits; a complete Google Business Profile matters as much as the website.
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Delivery platforms bring orders but take a commission; your own ordering channel keeps repeat customers closer.
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Reservations can be taken online or through WhatsApp, as long as they land in one list the staff actually use.
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Reviews and photos from guests influence choice more than any description written by the restaurant.
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Overview
What guests look for
- Menu and prices, readable on a phone, not a scanned PDF. Dishes with photos, allergens and portions where relevant.
- Opening hours, including holidays and Ramadan changes if they apply.
- Location and parking, with a map link that opens navigation.
- Booking for a date, time and number of guests, or a quick way to ask.
- Delivery and takeaway options with links to where they can order.
- Atmosphere: real photos of the room, terrace and events.
The menu
A menu page that staff can edit themselves — prices, availability, seasonal dishes — is worth more than a beautiful design that needs a developer for every change. We structure menus as data, not images, so they load fast, can be translated, are readable by search engines and can feed ordering, QR menus in the hall and delivery platforms from one source.
For restaurants with foreign guests, the menu is usually needed in Azerbaijani, Russian and English at least. See multilingual websites.
Reservations
For most restaurants, a simple reservation flow — date, time, guests, name, phone — is enough, with confirmation by messenger. Larger venues with several halls, deposits for events or strict seating need a proper table management system; the website then connects to it. See online booking systems.
Ordering: platforms and your own channel
Delivery platforms such as Wolt operate in Baku and bring customers who would not have found you otherwise. They also charge commission and own the relationship with the customer. Many restaurants keep platforms for discovery and build their own channel for regulars:
- online ordering on the website with pickup or own delivery;
- ordering through WhatsApp or a Telegram bot, with a menu and a cart inside the chat;
- a loyalty mechanism that rewards ordering directly.
Your own channel only works if delivery is organised and staff handle orders reliably. We help design the flow, not just the website. See WhatsApp chatbots.
Maps, reviews and Instagram
- Google Business Profile: correct hours, menu link, booking link, photos, categories, and replies to reviews. See Google Business Profile for Baku businesses.
- Instagram: often the first impression. The link in bio should lead to a page built for Instagram visitors — menu, booking, delivery — not to a generic home page. See from Instagram to website.
- Reviews: ask satisfied guests at the right moment, answer negative reviews calmly.
Events and banquets
Many restaurants in Azerbaijan earn a large share of revenue from celebrations and corporate events. A separate page with hall capacities, menus for events, photos and an enquiry form — and fast response by a manager — turns these enquiries into bookings. See event venues.
What to measure
- Reservations and orders by channel: website, WhatsApp, platforms, phone.
- Clicks on "directions" and "call" from maps.
- Event enquiries and how many became bookings.
- Repeat orders through your own channel.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is an Instagram page enough for a cafe?
For a small cafe it can be a start, but a simple website with the menu, hours and booking link gives maps and search engines something to show, and it works for people who do not use Instagram. See website vs Instagram page.
Should we stop using delivery platforms if we build our own ordering?
Usually not. Platforms bring new customers; your own channel helps you keep them. The balance depends on margins and how well you can handle delivery.
Can a QR menu in the hall use the same menu as the website?
Yes. When the menu is stored as data, the website, QR menu and ordering all read from the same source, so a price change is made once.