Simul Parikh Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Some time in the last 12-18 months, everybody started using the same website designer for their websites... I'm just thinking of the first few that came to mind and put their links. They do a very big picture that is full screen at the top, that sometimes has movement/video. Then you scroll down to see pictures. Is this Square Space or some new restaurant template everyone is using? I don't like it. Not the design. It's actually eye-catching. Just that everyone's looks the same now. Before you could tell if a place was "hole in the wall" by a crappy website. Now, have no idea. http://redtoquecafe.com/shaw-menu/ http://www.henquarter.com/ http://choolaah.com/ http://jinya-ramenbar.com/ http://nasimerestaurant.com/ http://afghanbistro.com/ http://www.namasteva.com/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatt Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 My guess is it might indeed be a Squarespace template: https://www.squarespace.com/templates/?category=food-and-drink That said, I do like at least three of those places! ETA: Actually, if you look at the Pacific theme's page, you'll see the newly opened (and pretty dang good) Pokeworks site. So, yeah, probably a thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev29 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Every website looks the same, and that’s ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatt Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 All I care about is that I can see the dang menu on my phone. Flash menu? GraaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (I don't like.) PDF menu? I don't mind this because you might have a fancy menu with nice design. But try to use a font above, say, 3 points. Utility over style, please. HTML 5 menu with fancy effects? With a template you usually do okay as it can handle a phone. Straight HTML? Good job. Text file? Ooh. I like you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 3 hours ago, Simul Parikh said: Some time in the last 12-18 months, everybody started using the same website designer for their websites... I'm just thinking of the first few that came to mind and put their links. They do a very big picture that is full screen at the top, that sometimes has movement/video. Then you scroll down to see pictures. Is this Square Space or some new restaurant template everyone is using? I don't like it. Not the design. It's actually eye-catching. Just that everyone's looks the same now. Before you could tell if a place was "hole in the wall" by a crappy website. Now, have no idea. http://redtoquecafe.com/shaw-menu/ http://www.henquarter.com/ http://choolaah.com/ http://jinya-ramenbar.com/ http://nasimerestaurant.com/ http://afghanbistro.com/ http://www.namasteva.com/ 2 hours ago, Kev29 said: Every website looks the same, and that’s ok 1 hour ago, TheMatt said: All I care about is that I can see the dang menu on my phone. Flash menu? GraaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (I don't like.) PDF menu? I don't mind this because you might have a fancy menu with nice design. But try to use a font above, say, 3 points. Utility over style, please. HTML 5 menu with fancy effects? With a template you usually do okay as it can handle a phone. Straight HTML? Good job. Text file? Ooh. I like you. I know there have been certain firms that have specialized in DC restaurant designs/ and possibly national for at least a decade. It is why so many look alike. Design elements have changed over the years. Currently a major reason for the designs you are seeing is because most entities want a website that is adjustable for desktop and for mobile. In the case of restaurants mobile is probably far more important. As TheMatt said above he wants to read the menu on his phone!!!!! I tried 3 of them and in 2 cases the websites were the same and were adjustable to desktop and mobile. As consumers are you missing anything? Do you want more information? Is the information on the site better or more relevant than you might find in this site, yelp, tripadvisor, Eater, any other site, or simply searching on google and seeing information in the "google box". If a site was dramatically different would that be more or less appealing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simul Parikh Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 No. The sites are actually really user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. The sameness is just uninspiring. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iolaire Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I looked a the first three and they are all using WordPress with different templates. You can tell by looking at the end of the code at some of the javascript tags for the /wp-content/themes/ links. So although they look the similar they are customizations/formatting of distinct WordPress templates. (http://wordpress.org) redtoquecafe.com berg-wp (https://themeforest.net/item/berg-multipurpose-responsive-theme/13210984) choolaah.com devdmbootstrap3-sasschild (https://devdm.com/DevDmBootstrap3/) henquarter.com tomato (https://themeforest.net/item/tomato-restaurant-cafe-espresso-wordpress-theme/14601591) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 3 hours ago, iolaire said: I looked a the first three and they are all using WordPress with different templates. You can tell by looking at the end of the code at some of the javascript tags for the /wp-content/themes/ links. So although they look the similar they are customizations/formatting of distinct WordPress templates. (http://wordpress.org) redtoquecafe.com berg-wp (https://themeforest.net/item/berg-multipurpose-responsive-theme/13210984) choolaah.com devdmbootstrap3-sasschild (https://devdm.com/DevDmBootstrap3/) henquarter.com tomato (https://themeforest.net/item/tomato-restaurant-cafe-espresso-wordpress-theme/14601591) Yep. Beautiful design can be done rather easily with different wordpress themes and plug ins. The key are the photographs or videos/gif's they use. Choose carefully. (I really liked the redhen example). I though Choolaah had terrific compelling inviting copy. With those tools and careful choices beautiful sites can be done at deep discounts off of what the name designers charge. I agree with Simul, above. They are very attractive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 3 hours ago, iolaire said: henquarter.com tomato (https://themeforest.net/item/tomato-restaurant-cafe-espresso-wordpress-theme/14601591) It cracks me up that even a website template has basic spelling errors (note the word "delicious" in the "Tomato" template) - this was most likely done by someone who speaks better French than English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dracisk Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 On 1/11/2017 at 1:17 PM, TheMatt said: PDF menu? I don't mind this because you might have a fancy menu with nice design. But try to use a font above, say, 3 points. Utility over style, please. And please don't download the menu to my phone when I click on it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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