For the past four months I’ve spent my weekends revising the copy for a second edition of a book I wrote two years ago. To that end, I’ve spent a lot of time surfing websites, often restaurant websites.

It’s gotten me thinking about what consumers look for in a restaurant site. Here are my priorities:

• The address and phone should be obvious. Duh, but you’d be surprised by how many sites forget this. A link to Google maps or MapQuest is a nice feature.
• Ditch the mood music. Many people surf and make reservations at work. A plucky harmonica version of “Cheeseburger in Paradise” is highly embarrassing if your cubicle mates catch wind of it. Restaurant B.T. has music I can live with, but then there are ones like this or like this one (and what's with the glass of water?).
• Online reservation options are nice, whether it’s overseen by the restaurant itself or by OpenTable (a great thing, reminds my friend Jim Webster, because you accrue points on OpenTable that can be used toward restaurant meals).
• A CURRENT menu. Restaurateurs, it's a big pain in the patoot, but every time you change out your menu (or amend the prices), scan it, pdf it and slap it on your site. People are looking at your site specifically to peruse the menu (and assess the price point). It should be accurate.
• Picture(s) that give an accurate sense of the ambiance. Is it somewhere I can envision myself? It's that much easier if there's a photo that shows an expanse of dining room.
• Tell me a story. Who are the principals? How did the restaurant come to pass? What are you trying to do? (It doesn't need to be a high fallutin' culinary philosophy, just a general description of the kitchen's passions and orientation.)