A Complete Guide For Restaurant App Development: Features, Cost, Process, and More

Are you looking into develop a restaurant app? You are at the right place.

With the growing digitalization of the service industry, especially food-related business. And as things turn out, people love these apps.

The online food delivery market sector was estimated at over one trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, and it is predicted to reach 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars. by 2028.

Moreover, around 64% of customers prefer to order food delivery through an online app or a website.

This is mainly due to the presence of apps like Zomato, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. But did you know that 52% of customers have more trust in a restaurant’s own branded app than a third-party food platform?

That’s why so many businesses want to build restaurant apps.  But what is it exactly? Are there different types? And what’s the restaurant app development process?

Well, we shall be answering all of these questions and many more in this blog. Therefore, with this being said, let’s get right into it, starting with:

Understanding Restaurant Apps

So, what are restaurant apps exactly?

Restaurant apps refer to a category of mobile apps rather than any particular one. The reason is that several operations go on in a restaurant.

App development can be divided into different types based on the purpose it serves.

For instance, a food delivery app like UberEats or a POS system. Let’s have a more detailed look at different types of restaurant apps in the section below.

Types of Restaurant Apps (App Ideas)

Based on the purpose of the restaurant app, can be divided into different types. These types are, as mentioned below:

·  Menu Apps For Restaurant

These apps provide users with information about a restaurant’s menu, including prices, descriptions, and photos. Some menu apps also allow users to customize their orders and place them for pickup or delivery.

·  Rewards apps

These types of restaurant apps offer users rewards for frequenting a particular restaurant or chain. Rewards can include discounts, free menu items, or exclusive promotions.

·  AR-Based Restaurant Apps

With platforms like Metaverse growing popular, AR for restaurants is finally a possibility. You see, some of the best local restaurants are always full. And now, you can experience the power of AR app development.

·  Call A Waiter App

Are you tired of waiting for the waiter ( unironically) at a restaurant? Well, a lot of customers are. That’s why the restaurant app development idea is what most businesses decide to invest in.

· Food Delivery Apps For Restaurant

Food delivery app like DoorDash are very popular among users. However, statistics show that people prefer a brand’s app over a third-party aggregator like UberEats or Zomato. Therefore, it’s a good idea to invest and make a restaurant app.

· Restaurant Table Reservation App

A table reservation app can make it easier for customers to reserve a table at your restaurant, reducing wait times and improving the overall customer experience. Customers can browse available tables, select a time slot, and make a reservation directly through the app.

· Restaurant management app

This app can help restaurant owners and managers streamline their operations and improve efficiency. The app can include features such as inventory management, staff scheduling, and sales tracking. By centralizing these functions in one app, restaurant owners can save time and reduce errors.

· Restaurant Super App

What if you want an app that can do all of the above? Well, that’s where super app development comes in.

You can create a super app for a restaurant that can do all you want with multiple functionalities. This is something that you should consider.

Why Your Restaurant Need a Mobile App?

Yes, restaurant apps are cool and all, but does your business need them? And if so, why should you build a restaurant app?

Well, there are plenty of reasons to do so. And in this section of the blog, we will be discussing just that. These are, as mentioned below:

· Increased Visibility

A business wants to be seen, that’s how it attracts customers. And with over 6.65 billion smartphone users worldwide, restaurant app development can be just what you need.

Mobile apps are easy to download and use. So, when you create an app, it gives your business better visibility.

· Payment Made Easier

It is no secret that we are living in a world where fintech apps are dominating the world of finance. With this, people prefer paying using mobile wallets rather than cash.

So, with eWallet integration in the restaurant app, you can make it easier for the customers to pay for the food they order. This is something that people highly prefer.

· Higher Revenue

No restaurant or café doesn’t want to make more money. So, if you want to make millions, build a restaurant app.

So, how does it provide higher revenue? Well, there are several reasons. For instance, it makes the app more visible, people can order food, provide ratings, and so on.

· Improved Customer Engagement

With an app for your restaurant, you can highly boost customer engagement. This is something that a lot of big restaurant chains have been doing.

You see, with personalized user experience and better overall offering, customer engagement is much better.

· Enhanced Customer Loyalty

With improved offerings and loyalty programs, these apps do help businesses create a more loyal user base.

This is something that every business yearns for. Thus, there is a big reason to invest in app development.

· Streamlined Operations via Restaurant

Restaurant management app, order management app, calling a waiter, etc. These are all forms of restaurant app development.

The ones we mentioned help with streamlining the entire work in the restaurant. This is one of the major benefits.

These are some of the major benefits of the restaurant app. Now, let’s see how you can hire developers and create your app.

Hire Right Restaurant App Developers & Create Restaurant App

To make a restaurant app, you need dedicated developers. So, how do you hire them?

Well, fortunately, it’s a very simple, easy, and quick process to find app developers in 2023.

Here are some common methods you can hire app developers.

• Outsource to App Development Company
• In-House Development Team
• Hire Freelancers

In-house vs outsourcing is a long-time debate. While freelancing is a good option too, the choice at the end of the day depends on project needs.

But there are some things that you need to keep in mind when you hire a restaurant app development company.

These are:

• Experience: Look for developers who have experience in developing restaurant apps. They should have a good understanding of the industry and be able to provide you with examples of their previous work.
• Portfolio: Check the developer’s portfolio to see if they have previously worked on restaurant apps. This will give you an idea of their design style and the features they can develop.
• Customization: Make sure the developer can customize the app to suit your restaurant’s specific needs. The app should reflect your brand and be tailored to your target audience.
• Technology: Check if the restaurant app developer is proficient in the latest technologies and can develop an app that is compatible with different devices and operating systems.
• Communication: Communication is key when working with developers. Make sure they are responsive and provide regular updates on the project’s progress.
• Cost: Compare the cost to hire developers with other options to ensure you are getting a fair deal. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best.

Now that you have a development partner, it’s time to make a restaurant app. Let’s see how you can do this.

How to Build a Restaurant App?

Want to build a restaurant app? while this isn’t exactly rocket science, there is a range of things and several steps that go into restaurant app development.

So, to make it easier for you to understand, we will be discussing the entire process in detail. These are, as mentioned below:

1. Start With An Idea For Restaurant App Development

The first thing you need to do is come up with an idea for restaurant app development.

There is a range of ideas available and we even discussed some of them above. Once you have this, it’s time to focus on research.

2. Mobile App Market Research

Mobile app research plays an important role in app development. The reason is that the information and data collected here will provide force to drive through the process and create a successful app.

3. MVP App Development

Now, it’s time for MVP app development.

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, this is the bare-bone of

a. Features For MVP App Development

Here are some basic features that you should include in MVP:

• User Registration and Login
• Menu and Ordering System
• Reservation System
• Loyalty Program
• Push Notifications
• Ratings and Reviews

b. Why MVP is Important?

Here are some of the reasons why creating MVP for restaurant mobile app development is important:

1. Validating the product idea
2. Cost-effective
3. Time-efficient
4. Reducing risk
5. Better user engagement

Once you have gathered feedback from users, it’s time to create a plan for create restaurant app full version.

4. Create A Plan

It’s time to create a plan for restaurant app development. And here are the things that you need to do.

a. Choose an App Development Platform

First things first, choose the platform. There are three options here. If you want to create a native app, you either go with Android app development or iOS app development. Apart from this, you can also build a hybrid app.

b. Build A Tech Stack

After you have selected a platform, it’s time to finalize a tech stack. You can either choose the MERN stack or MEAN Stack. There’s also an option to create your own.

c. List Out Features

Last but not least, it’s time to list our features for restaurant app development. Here are some advanced features that you should include in platform:

• Online ordering system
• Reservation system
• Food delivery integration
• Loyalty program
• Push notifications
• Customizable menu
• Table management
• In-app payments
• Social media integration
• Analytics dashboard
• Reviews and ratings
• Waitlist management
• Multi-language support
• Gift card integration
• Menu recommendations based on user preferences

5. UI/UX Designing

With all planning done, you can start app prototyping and creating the final design for the Restaurant app. You see, before you build a restaurant app, i.e. write the source code, you need to make an attractive design.

UI/UX Design is something that drives user engagement. Therefore, pay attention to the process and make sure the design depicts your business philosophy.

6. Restaurant Mobile App Development

This is the part where the team of mobile app developers creates a restaurant app. The team will write the source code and build the final platform.

Once this is done, it’s time to test the app. Let’s see what that is all about.

7. Test The Final App

Based on the software development methodology, testing more or less goes on throughout the development process.

However, before the product is realized, it’s tested one final time. The QA team will make sure everything is up to date.

8. Deployment

With all said and done, it’s time to deploy the app in the market. And with this, we are done with mobile app development.

Let’s see how much this costs you and how long it’s going to take.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Restaurant App?

Various factors affect the total cost to build a restaurant app. For instance, these include complexity, features, platform, etc.

In any case, restaurant app development costs can range from $10,000 to $150,000 based on project specifications.

For more details on the same, please contact a mobile app development company.

How Long Does It To Take To Build A Restaurant App?

So, how long does it take to make an app?

Well, just like the development cost, the time for restaurant mobile app development ranges based on many factors.

For instance, a basic app can take around 3-4 months to develop, while a more complex one can take 6 months or more.

Experts In Restaurant Mobile App Development, Here To Help You

NimbleAppGenie is a leading restaurant app development company with expertise in developing mobile applications for restaurants. Our team of experienced developers and designers is here to help you create a mobile app that will make your restaurant stand out from the rest.

We understand that the restaurant industry is highly competitive and that having a mobile app can give you an edge over your competitors. Our team will work with you to understand your business needs and create a custom mobile app that meets your specific requirements.

At NimbleAppGenie, we are committed to delivering high-quality mobile apps that meet our client’s expectations. We are passionate about what we do and take pride in our work.

Contact us today.

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Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.