When I helped a close friend launch their Mediterranean restaurant’s website last year, we ran into the usual challenges: limited budget, zero coding skills, and the urgent need for something that looked modern but functioned seamlessly. After testing out several WordPress themes, we landed on WoodMart—and to be honest, it turned out to be a game changer.
If you’re looking to launch or redesign your restaurant’s website, especially one that includes features like online ordering, reservations, and an interactive menu, this guide will walk you through how to do it using WoodMart, one of the most versatile WooCommerce-compatible themes out there.
🎥 Prefer video? Watch my full setup tutorial here:
👉 https://youtu.be/60x9XNmxuAo
🍕 Why Use WoodMart for a Restaurant Site?
You might think WoodMart is only for eCommerce stores selling gadgets or clothes, and technically, you’d be right. But here’s the twist: WoodMart is so customizable, you can bend it to fit any industry — including restaurants.
What makes it stand out:
- One-click demo imports that look like professional agency work
- Built-in menu display options using grids, images, or cards
- Mobile-first responsiveness, perfect for people browsing menus on their phones
- WooCommerce integration, allowing for online food ordering
- Visual builders (WPBakery and Elementor) so you don’t need to touch code
What really sold us was the speed. We had a functional, great-looking website up in under a day. Granted, there was tweaking involved later, but it was a solid start.
🛠️ Step 1: Get WoodMart and Install It
First things first, you’ll need to purchase WoodMart from ThemeForest. Once you have the ZIP file downloaded:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New.
- Upload the
woodmart.zipfile. - Click Install and then Activate.
Once it’s active, you’ll be prompted to install some required plugins — do this immediately to avoid issues later.
🔌 Step 2: Install Key Plugins
Some plugins are optional, but for a restaurant setup, here’s what I recommend:
- WooCommerce – essential if you’re offering online orders.
- Elementor (or WPBakery) – for building out pages without code.
- Contact Form 7 – to manage contact or reservation forms.
- WooCommerce Bookings – if you want customers to book tables directly online.
- Loco Translate – helpful if your restaurant is multilingual.
You can always install others based on your features, like OpenTable widgets or third-party delivery services.
🎨 Step 3: Import a Prebuilt Demo
Don’t start from scratch unless you absolutely have to.
Navigate to WoodMart > Prebuilt Websites in the admin panel. While WoodMart doesn’t have a “restaurant” demo per se, you can choose a clean layout (like “Minimal” or “Organic”) and adapt it. That’s what we did.
After importing the demo, spend a few minutes deleting unnecessary pages or posts. Think of this as clearing the table before plating your dish.
🧾 Step 4: Set Up Core Pages
Every restaurant website needs a few staple pages:
- Home – Highlight your vibe, signature dishes, or an intro video.
- Menu – Showcase your meals with beautiful photos and clear pricing.
- About Us – Tell your story: your origin, your team, your philosophy.
- Contact – Include your address, phone number, and maybe even a map.
- Reservations – You can integrate with a plugin or even a Google Form.
- Order Online – Powered by WooCommerce, of course.
Using Elementor, just drag in image boxes, menus, galleries, or buttons. Don’t overdo it — clean designs convert better.
📸 Tip: Use Mouthwatering Visuals
Food is visual. Bad photos are worse than no photos.
When I helped with the bistro’s site, we invested one afternoon using natural light, an iPhone, and a few clean plates. The result? Craving-inducing shots that made the homepage feel premium.
If you can afford it, bring in a food photographer. Otherwise, Canva can help polish up decent smartphone shots.
🛒 Step 5: Add Products (Menu Items)
Using WooCommerce, each dish becomes a “product.” Here’s how:
- Go to Products > Add New.
- Enter the dish name, price, description, and categories (e.g., Appetizer, Entree).
- Upload a photo.
- If it’s customizable (e.g., toppings, spice level), use Product Variations.
We set up categories like “Lunch Specials” and “Dinner Plates” so people could filter easily. You can even add a “Best Seller” badge using WoodMart’s built-in features.
🗺️ Step 6: Configure the Navigation & Footer
The header menu should be simple:
- Home
- Menu
- Order Online
- Contact
- Book a Table
In the footer, consider adding:
- Opening hours
- Instagram feed (great for visual impact)
- Address with embedded Google Maps
- Newsletter sign-up
WoodMart’s Footer Builder makes this easier than most themes — no clunky widget mess.
📱 Step 7: Make It Mobile Friendly
Most customers will visit your site from their phones.
Once your main pages are built, preview them on mobile. Adjust paddings and image sizes if needed. WoodMart is responsive by default, but sometimes spacing can feel off if you’re using a custom layout.
💬 Add a Reservation System
WoodMart doesn’t have a built-in reservation tool, but here are a few workarounds:
- Contact Form 7 — Create a simple “book a table” form.
- WPForms with calendar — More flexible and stylish.
- OpenTable widget — If you use it already, just embed the code.
- WooCommerce Bookings — Let users book time slots and pay deposits.
In our case, we started with a free Google Form, linked it to the Contact page, and replaced it with WPForms once traffic grew.
📢 Bonus Tips: Promote Your Site
After launch, don’t forget to market the site!
- Connect Instagram and Facebook feeds
- Run a “Free Dessert” promo for orders through the site
- Collect emails for seasonal menus or events
- Set up Google Business Profile and add your website link
🧪 Test Before You Launch
Before going live, check:
- All links work
- Mobile view looks clean
- Contact/reservation forms submit correctly
- Menu is readable and prices are accurate
- Page speed — Use tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed
If something’s broken or slow, users may bounce — and you’ll miss out on business.
📝 Final Thoughts
Building a restaurant website with WoodMart is not only doable, it’s incredibly effective. In just a couple of days, you can go from zero to a polished, customer-friendly online presence — complete with online ordering, reservations, and stunning visuals.
If you’re the kind of person who wants control without complexity, WoodMart hits that sweet spot. You’ll save time, money, and probably learn a few design tricks along the way.
🎥 Again, don’t forget to check out my full step-by-step tutorial here:
👉 https://youtu.be/60x9XNmxuAo
