Your own restaurant website with ordering built in lets customers order direct, so you keep the margin the delivery apps would take. But it only works if it is done right. Here is what to include so customers actually choose to order from you instead of through Just Eat or Deliveroo.
What should a restaurant website with online ordering include?
The essentials are a clear, up-to-date menu, a fast ordering flow, secure payments, and collection or delivery options, all working smoothly on a phone. Add online bookings and your opening hours, and you have a site that handles orders and tables without a percentage going to a third party.
The features that matter most
- An easy menu and ordering flow: few taps from hungry to ordered.
- Secure payment: card and digital wallets, handled properly.
- Collection and delivery options: with your own zones and times.
- Mobile-first design: most food orders happen on a phone.
- Bookings: table reservations alongside ordering.
Why build ordering into your own site?
Because every direct order keeps the commission the apps would take, and the customer's details stay with you. Over a year that is serious money, as we show in what Just Eat and Deliveroo commissions cost you. It is the whole idea behind a low-commission ordering system.
Does it replace Just Eat and Deliveroo?
Not entirely. Most kitchens keep the apps for finding new customers and use their own site for regulars, who order most often. You get the marketplace's reach where it helps and the full margin on repeat orders. We look at building it in building your own ordering system.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small takeaway have its own ordering website?
Absolutely, and the commission saved usually covers the build quickly. A single-location takeaway benefits just as much as a chain, because the percentage handed to the apps hurts a small margin the most.
Will customers order from my site instead of an app?
They will if it is quick and you give them a reason, loyalty perks, better prices, or simply a smoother experience. A clean, fast checkout on your own site is what turns app users into direct customers.
Can I take bookings and orders on the same site?
Yes. A custom restaurant site can handle both ordering and table reservations together, so everything runs through one system you own. See how we build them or get a free quote.
Want a restaurant site that takes orders commission-free? We build them for Irish kitchens. See how we work.