The Ultimate SEO Checklist for Restaurants to Dominate Google

In today’s competitive restaurant industry, being seen online is just as important as serving great food. Most customers search for places to eat on Google, and if your restaurant isn’t ranking high, you’re leaving money on the table. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. A well-executed SEO strategy can help your restaurant rank higher in search results, attract more diners, and increase revenue.

We’ve helped 500+ restaurants rank #1 on Google in their local areas — and in this guide, we’ll share the proven strategies that work.

1. Identify Top Ranking Phrases

You need to understand what your potential customers are searching for. Research high-volume keywords like:
“Best Italian restaurant near me”
“Vegan pizza delivery”
“Happy hour deals in [Your City]”

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find these terms and strategically place them in your website’s headers, page titles, and content.

2. Place Strategic Alt Text on Your Menu Images

Google can’t “see” images — it relies on text to understand what’s on the page. That’s why adding alt text to your menu images is critical. For example, instead of labeling an image as:
“IMG_12345”
Use: “Authentic Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella and basil”

This helps Google rank your images in search results, driving more organic traffic.

3. Create Dedicated Review Pages for Top Items

Reviews are powerful for both SEO and customer trust. Create individual pages for your top-selling dishes, and include:
High-quality photos
Customer reviews
Keywords like “best burger in [city]”

This helps Google identify your best offerings and ranks them higher for relevant searches.

4. Make Every Page Connect with Where Guests Are

Google favors local relevance. Ensure your site includes location-specific terms like:
“Located in downtown Chicago, near Millennium Park”
“Best tacos in Brooklyn”

Include an embedded Google Map and local landmarks to strengthen location signals for Google.

5. Page Speed Optimization

A slow website will cost you customers and search rankings. Studies show that 53% of users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
To improve speed:
Compress large images
Enable browser caching
Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network)

6. Get Your NAPs Right

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number — and consistency is key. Ensure that your NAP information is identical across:
Your website
Google My Business
Yelp, TripAdvisor, and social media profiles

Google prioritizes businesses with consistent, accurate information.

7. Track Your Progress for What’s Working

SEO isn’t a one-time job — it requires continuous monitoring. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track:
Organic traffic growth
Keyword rankings
User behavior

This helps you refine your strategy and double down on what’s working.

Let Us Handle Your SEO — You Focus on the Cooking

SEO can be complex and time-consuming — but that’s why we’re here. We’ve already helped 500+ restaurants rank #1 on Google in their local areas, driving more traffic and increasing reservations.

Want to get more diners through your doors?
Contact us today and let us elevate your restaurant’s online presence!

Get Found. Get Booked. Grow Your Business.