Google reviews widget for restaurants

Where diners look, and where reviews fit

Many diners reach your site from a Google search or Maps listing. They check the menu, then look for a way to book or order. Reviews help when they sit next to those actions and don't block them.

Use a carousel under the menu and a grid on the about page. A badge floats in a page corner, so check it doesn't sit on top of a booking or chat button. If you run several locations, give each a location page with that location's own Google listing so one branch's reviews don't speak for the rest.

Your Google profile already handles menus, reservations, and ordering

Google's Business Profile for restaurants lets you add a menu, offer table bookings or waitlist joins through Reserve with Google, and pick an online ordering partner. Google's bookings help says the waitlist is only for restaurants, and you need a supported booking provider. Online ordering is listed only for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The widget doesn't replace any of that. It brings the review side of your listing onto your own website.

Delivery apps keep their own ratings, separate from Google. VerifiedWidget shows only your Google reviews, so label the widget "Google reviews" on the page.

Menu changes and allergy comments

Restaurants change fast. A review praising a dish you took off the menu in spring may confuse a visitor. Hide reviews whose main point no longer exists, or take them out of your collections. Check your collections each season.

If a review mentions an allergy, leave it out of your collection. "They handled my allergy well" is one night's experience, not a promise. Put your allergen policy in your own copy.

Example: from the table to Google

1. The server brings the check with a small card that has a QR code to your Google review link (card and QR guide).
2. For reservations and online orders, an email or text goes out the next morning with the same link.
3. The kitchen and floor manager read new reviews on Monday.
4. The reservation page carousel is set to newest first, so it shows recent visits.

Request templates

1. After dine-in: "Thanks for joining us last night. If you'd like to leave an honest Google review of the meal and service, here's the link: [link]."
2. After a private event: "Thank you for hosting your event with us. If you'd like to review the experience, here's the link: [link]."
3. After takeout: "We hope your order was good. If you want to share how it went, here's our Google review link: [link]."

Ask regular and one-time guests alike. A "free dessert for a review" card on the table is exactly what Google's review policy bans, because it covers free goods and discounts. Servers shouldn't hand the QR card only to happy tables either. The policy also bans selectively asking for positive reviews. And the FTC's 2024 rule bars rewards that depend on a positive review.

Reply examples

• Positive: "Thanks for mentioning the lamb. We'll tell the kitchen."
• Negative: "We're sorry the wait was long on Saturday. Please write to [email] with the date of your visit so we can look into it."
• Allergy concern: "We take allergen questions seriously. Please contact the manager at [email] so we can follow up privately."

Set up the widget

Paste your Google Maps link into VerifiedWidget, pick a layout, and copy the script to your site. The Free plan covers one widget with up to 20 reviews, refreshed monthly. The Reviews plan adds automatic sync, which suits a place with daily new reviews. Google doesn't show review stars in search for your own site's reviews (explained).

Frequently asked questions

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