How to Monitor a Restaurant Website for Downtime

Restaurant websites drive reservations, takeout orders, and calls. If the site is down during a lunch or dinner rush, you lose immediate revenue. Monitoring keeps you informed so you can fix issues fast or switch to backup channels.

This guide breaks down what to monitor on a restaurant website and how to respond when problems appear.

Monitor the pages that drive bookings

Not every page needs monitoring. Focus on the pages that create orders or calls:

• Homepage and menu page.
• Reservations or online ordering page.
• Contact page with phone and hours.
• Location page for maps and directions.

Watch third-party ordering and booking tools

Many restaurants use third-party systems for reservations or ordering. If those widgets fail, your customers cannot complete orders. Monitor the pages that embed these tools and track response time to detect slowdowns.

Check domain, SSL, and redirects

Most customers do not troubleshoot. If your domain points incorrectly or SSL expires, they leave. Add checks for SSL expiration and final URL redirects to ensure the site always resolves correctly.

Set alerts around peak hours

Restaurant traffic is time-sensitive. Configure SMS alerts during lunch and dinner rushes, and use email for less urgent issues. Fast alerts let you pivot to social or phone orders if needed.

Create a quick response plan

When you receive an alert, check the site on mobile and desktop, verify ordering or reservations, and notify staff. If the issue is with a third-party tool, share a direct phone number or temporary ordering link on social media.

Weekly reliability checklist

• Confirm uptime and response times for the menu and ordering pages.
• Verify that hours and phone number are displayed correctly.
• Check for unexpected redirects or downtime alerts.