How to Promote Your Restaurant on Google Business Profile

Have you started a Google Business Profile for restaurants yet? If not, then you are missing out!

What used to be known as Google My Business is now Google Business Profile (GBP), and Google continues to add new tools that make it easier for diners to discover your food, make reservations, and even chat with you.

A complete and optimized listing increases the visibility of your restaurant on Google Maps and search results, drives traffic and orders, and serves as a direct channel to communicate with hungry diners.

Frontier Marketing has helped restaurants succeed on Google for more than a decade, and we’re here to help you, too. Before diving in, feel free to explore our services, including web design, SEO, PPC management, email marketing, and more.

New Features on Google Business Profile

Google has updated GBP with the following features:

• Reserve with Google: Diners can now book tables directly from your profile, with real-time availability and even prepayments to cut down on no-shows.
• WhatsApp integration: Customers can chat with you directly via WhatsApp from your profile.
• Menu and review story format: Reviews and photos appear in a story-like feed, and you can react with emojis to engage customers.
• AI-powered search: Google’s AI Overviews now blend maps, images, and menus in results.
• Sustainability and DEI badges: You can highlight eco-friendly practices or diverse ownership attributes to connect with conscious diners.

Restaurant Best Practices for Google Business Profile

In the steps that follow, you’ll learn how to set up and enhance your profile. When it’s done right, your GBP becomes a powerful marketing tool for your restaurant, not just another listing. Here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Fill Out Your Business Info

Start by filling out the basic information about your business. You can do this in the Info section of your GBP profile. Your restaurant’s location, hours, and contact information will all show up prominently in search results, so make sure they are accurate. You can also include links to your restaurant’s website and menu.

Google now enforces stricter naming rules. Your listed name must match your real-world signage and branding without keyword stuffing or slogans.

Keep your primary category specific (e.g., “Italian Restaurant” instead of just “Restaurant”) and use subcategories to describe your specialties. Google also supports additional attributes such as “women-led,” “vegan options,” “outdoor seating,” and sustainability or DEI badges. Choosing precise categories and attributes helps Google match your restaurant to relevant searches.

Google may also require video verification and proof-of-legitimacy documents such as utility bills. Make sure the pin on Google Maps accurately reflects your location and monitor it, as competitors can suggest edits. If something changes, log in and correct it quickly.

Step 2: Request and Monitor Reviews

The most successful GBP listings also have a plethora of restaurant reviews on Google. Diners trust them almost as much as personal recommendations, and restaurants with at least a 4-star rating stand out. Restaurants that reply to customer messages or reviews within 24 hours tend to rank higher in local search results.

The best way to start accumulating reviews on your GBP page is to ask your customers to leave them. One way you could do it is by making handouts to give out with each order at your restaurant. The handouts should feature quick instructions for how to leave a GBP review.

It’s also a good idea to respond to every review you receive, good or bad. Google looks favorably on those businesses that are willing to respond to bad reviews, and it also looks good to prospective customers.

The best way to respond to bad reviews is graciously and with a willingness to try to make things right. This will show your customers that your business is willing to go the extra mile for their satisfaction.

Google now allows reviews and photos to appear in a story-style format, and restaurants can even react to reviews with emojis. These small touches show personality and authenticity to your restaurant.

Step 3: Add Pictures and Video

People searching on GBP for restaurants will want to get an idea of your business’s atmosphere. With Google Lens and visual search playing a greater role, crisp photos help your restaurant appear in results. So be sure to upload high quality photos and videos of your location.

Try to display shots that show people dining there and having a good time. Images of an empty dining room won’t do much other than show people that you have a building. People want to know what dining at your place is like, so use your pics and videos to give them an idea!

Of course, you should also post appetizing photos of the food you serve. You could also post quick videos of your chefs creating the food. Just keep in mind that GBP has a maximum video file size of 100 MB. So, make your videos short and to the point.

Step 4: Write a Business Description

When it comes to building a Google business profile for restaurants, your description is a snapshot of who you are and what makes your establishment unique. A clear, engaging description helps potential customers understand what you do and why they should choose you.

For best results, keep your business description simple and honest. Tell your company’s story and explain why your food outpaces that of your competitors. Try to work in keywords and phrases that you want your restaurant to show up for in searches, but avoid keyword stuffing. You have up to 750 characters, but the first 250 characters appear in search results.

Google now gives you two options: you can write your own description, or you can use AI to suggest one based on information from your profile and other sources. Either way, you should always review and refine it so it reflects your brand accurately.

Step 5: Add Your Google Restaurant Menu

Most diners check the menu before deciding where to eat. You can link to your menu or use Google’s menu editor to add dishes directly. This editor lets you showcase your food and drink offerings directly on your profile. This gives customers a quick way to browse items without leaving Google Search or Maps.

Google menu settings allow restaurant owners to add individual dishes with names, descriptions, and prices, and organize them into sections like appetizers, entrées, and desserts for easy navigation. Updates generally take 24–48 hours to appear live, and once published, menu items show up under the “Menu” tab on your profile.

Google also supports adding photos, uploading menus from a PDF or image using AI, and even transcribing menu data from your website to keep information accurate. This tool ensures your menu is visible, searchable, and always ready to tempt new diners.

Just remember to update your menu should anything change in the future. Make sure that all the information such as prices and quantities of food is accurate as you enter it.

Step 6: Keep Your Customers Updated with Posts

Once you’ve completely filled out your GBP profile, don’t just let it sit there and rot! Instead, use the Posts feature to keep people updated on what’s happening at your restaurant.

To create a post, simply click on the “Posts” tab on GBP and then click “Write your post.” You will be able to write a description of up to 1,500 characters, add a photo or video, and add a button, which can include a link to another page along with a call to action.

To stay relevant, your business should send out at least one post a week. Posts can be about anything from special events to limited-time discounts to fun behind-the-scenes looks at your restaurant. Don’t be afraid to get creative and give people a good idea of what your restaurant is all about!

FAQs About Google Business Profile for Restaurants

What new GBP features were added in 2025?

Google recently introduced Reserve with Google for table bookings, WhatsApp integration for messaging, AI-powered menu uploads, story-style reviews with emoji reactions, and sustainability/DEI badges.

How do reviews impact my profile?

Restaurant reviews on Google are a major ranking factor. Businesses with strong ratings and timely responses to reviews are more likely to show up higher in search results and attract more customers.

What is the best way to showcase my menu?

Use the built-in editor or upload your menu as a photo or PDF. Google’s AI can automatically transcribe menu items, descriptions, and prices into your profile. You can also highlight special diets, seasonal dishes, and photos of your food.

How often should I update my GBP?

You should update your GBP whenever your menu, hours, or specials change. Google favors active profiles, so posting weekly and responding to reviews quickly helps keep your listing fresh.

Can I use AI to write my business description?

Google now offers AI-suggested descriptions based on your profile and website. Just be sure to review it carefully for accuracy and edit it so it’s consistent with your restaurant’s personality.

What happens if my information is wrong?

Competitors or customers can suggest edits to your profile. That’s why it’s important to monitor your listing regularly and make corrections right away to avoid misleading diners.

Get Expert Help With Your Google Business Profile for Restaurants

The shift from GMB to Google Business Profile for restaurants shows how quickly local search has evolved. Diners now expect to research menus, browse photos, read reviews, and even book tables without leaving Google. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to build and optimize your GBP.

Frontier Marketing has been helping restaurants show up on Google for over a decade. We stay on top of the latest GBP trends, so you don’t have to. We can help you create, optimize, and monitor your GBP for maximum results. To find out how we can help turn your GBP into a powerful marketing engine, call (847) 254-0837 or send us an email at info@frontiermarketingllc.com.

This blog was originally written in 2018, but updated for new information and accuracy.