Design Inspiration

The Best Restaurant Websites in Dallas

March 18, 2022

Dallas restaurants are using BentoBox to grow their brands and increase their revenue. Here are some of our favorite examples.

Across the country, restaurant operators are preparing to face the "new normal" — and Dallas, TX, restaurants are no different.

To do this, many restaurants are creating best-in-class websites that meet the challenges — and seize the opportunities — of the current moment. They're investing in custom design to leave a strong, brand-first impression on future diners. They're setting up online commerce stores to diversify revenue and fight back against third-party commissions. And they're integrating websites with other technology to streamline workflows and operate with fewer, higher-paid staff members.

Want to see how that looks in action? We curated some of the best Dallas websites built on BentoBox, the premier online marketing and commerce platform for restaurants. Check them out below.

Hugo's Invitados

hugosinvitados.com

Like its sibling restaurant Hugo's Lost Colony in Highland Village, Hugo's Invitados brings delightful upscale Mexican food to the Dallas Metro Area. Both restaurants have great websites, but Hugo's Invitados stands out in particular for its use of vibrant colors to stand out and position the brand. With a restaurant name translates to "Hugo's Guests," it's vital for the website to describe and reflect the hospitality approach of its owner, Hugo Miranda. Every part of the website is designed to show potential guests how comfortable they'll feel on-premises.

D.L. Mack's

dlmacks.com

There is one thing bigger outside of Texas: Chicago pizza. Fortunately, restaurants like D.L Mack's, which opened in University Park during the pandemic, bring Chicago-style pizza to the Lone Star State. Its website uses photos and text to distinguish its cracker-crust pizza from deep-dish — which it doesn't serve — but more than that, it uses art deco design and dark, moody photos to evoke an authentically old-school pizzeria ambiance. In short, the website makes D.L. Mack's feel like a place diners need to come in and experience.

TJ's Seafood Market

tjsseafood.com

For more than 30 years, TJ's Seafood Market has supplied some of the best seafood in Dallas. Customers can dine on-premises, pick up fresh seafood in the market or order substantial seafood platters as catering. In addition to explaining those options, its website supports off-site orders with an optimized online catering platform, which is built on BentoBox Pre-Order & Catering. The mobile-responsive design of the platform, along with the ability to feature thumbnails of catering platters, help TJ's drive substantial direct online ordering revenue — especially during the holidays.

Manny's Tex-Mex Restaurant

mannysuptowntexmex.com

Manny's Tex-Mex operates four locations in and around Dallas, where it serves traditional recipes from owner Manuel Rios' family. Its website features large, colorful photos of its signature plates and interiors, along with direct online ordering for each of its locations. The family-owned restaurant initially hesitated to add online ordering, but as diner behavior changed during the pandemic, it shifted its approach to capture more high-margin revenue. "We quickly realized online ordering was something we could utilize," catering manager Robert Sharp explained. "And it's actually been very beneficial to our business."

Learn more about how Manny's has partnered with BentoBox.

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State & Allen

stateandallen.com

State & Allen is known for its laid-back, neighborhood ambiance and large outdoor patio. Its website gives off an appropriately welcoming vibe with bright photos, soft colors and clean design. Its homepage also clearly communicates several key selling points, including its half-price wine Wednesday special and the fact that its patio is dog-friendly. "We were dog-friendly before it was even legal," the website quips — a line that perfectly captures the playful spirit of the brand.

Seely's Mill

seelysmill.com

Located at the Beeman Hotel in Park Cities, Seely's Mill has a glamorous website that matches its stylish location. The hero visual of its homepage is a full-screen custom video, which features quick cuts and overhead shots of its upscale American menu. It uses still images from that video shoot across the rest of the site, including as the header in its online ordering platform, which makes the page more ownable and visual. This is a perfect example of web design and art direction working together in concert.

Gemma

gemmadallas.com

Gemma was one of the first dressy-casual, California-style restaurants to emerge on the Dallas dining scene, though many more have followed its lead. Its website uses cool blue tones and large, natural-light photos to capture the ambiance and decor of its space. In addition to being brand-forward and informational, the website allows guests to purchase digital gift cards, a popular feature in holiday season that also drives year-round incremental revenue.

Big Al's Smokehouse BBQ

bigalsbbq.com

A list about Dallas' food and beverage scene would be incomplete without a BBQ restaurant — and Big Al's is a perfect one to feature. The Dallas institution has been around since 1974 and has deep connections with customers and staff; in fact, pitmaster Pedro Garcia started working there as a dishwasher more than 44 years ago. Like its menu, its website puts smoked meats front and center, using authentic photography to evoke a down-home feeling. The website also uses BentoBox Pre-Order & Catering to streamline a large portion of its business through direct online ordering.