Restaurant Websites: Why Your Own Online Ordering Beats Delivery-App Commissions
Delivery apps bring restaurants new customers, but they also take a large commission on every order, and they keep the customer relationship. A restaurant website with its own ordering system lets you keep more of each order and talk directly to your regulars.
What delivery apps really cost
Commission rates on major delivery platforms commonly range from roughly 15% to 30% of the order value, depending on the plan and whether the app provides drivers. On a busy month, that adds up quickly. Apps still have a place for discovery, but every repeat customer you move to direct ordering saves you that fee.
What a good restaurant website includes
- A fast, beautiful menu with photos and prices, easy to read on a phone.
- Online ordering for pickup and delivery, with card payment.
- Table reservations with confirmation messages.
- QR code menu for dine-in guests, updated instantly when prices change.
- Opening hours, location and parking, always correct.
- Catering and events enquiry form.
- Multiple languages where your customers need them, for example English and Arabic in Dubai.
How to move customers from apps to direct orders
- Put a small card in every app delivery bag: “Order direct next time and get a free drink.”
- Offer a small loyalty reward that only works on your own site.
- Show your website and QR code on receipts, tables and your Instagram bio.
- Collect customer contacts (with permission) and send occasional offers.
Add an AI ordering assistant
An AI assistant on your website or WhatsApp can take orders, answer allergy and menu questions, and book tables, even when your staff is busy during rush hour. Customers type “two chicken biryanis for delivery at 8” and the order is ready for your kitchen.
Is it worth it for a small restaurant?
If you receive a steady number of delivery orders each week, the savings on commissions can cover the cost of a good ordering website within months. Even for dine-in focused restaurants, a fast mobile menu and reservations reduce phone calls and no-shows.
See our sample restaurant website and AI ordering assistant in our portfolio to try the full customer experience.
Want to know what your website is missing?
Request a free website check. We review your site and send you the problems that are costing you customers, and how to fix them. No cost, no obligation.