Stratto's New Website

I am making a new website for Stratto's (reception and banquet hall) and am looking for some constructive criticism, I have the contact and set menu pages done. Any other ideas or help would be very appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

http://www.freewebs.com/strattos

URL is a work in progress, it will be changed to a new domain name.

Change the border. Way too busy, just ask the ladies...LOL. Input some info into the Info bar. You have some very nice pix but some more in depth information would be appreciated. BTW, I dined there as recently as last November. My mom and I enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving brunch. Thank you.

Any border suggestions, Doogy?

I have only started today, trying to rush it into fruition

My first 'real' website...if you don't count fantasy football

I know nothing but am sure you can locate a more simple border. Beyond that, please provide some more information about what you're offering. That's the most important item here.

I certainly agree with Doogy about the border. The plain black border on the homepage looks much classier than the lace one of the contact page. Actually one time I opened the home page it had white borders on both sides and another time it had black. The black looks much cleaner and classier. I personally prefer if the picture next to each priced menu showed an item from that menu, but that's just a personal opinion.

Overall the website looks great considering it's your first one (actually it looks very good no matter how many you've done).

Best of luck with your new format!

Scott,
My first impression is that the pictures are being used to fill space. I don't know the capability of this web design, but a virtual tour may cut down on the amount of pictures and give the same information.

I agree with Doogy, concentrate on content, what is available?

I would also include what sets you apart, why Stratto's versus some other catering hall?

Hope this helps!

Thanks for all the helpful ideas, I have changed the border, plan to shoot new pics for the menus (I just used old pics from the last website...except the banner, which I shot and made) and am adding content today. The direction and homepage should have content now and be done...I hope..

The info page is the one that is giving me the most fits, I am unsure what to do there. Info on rooms and seating capacity? I like the virtual tour idea alot...maybe I can make that in time...just trying to get it up and running ASAP.

Keep the idea's coming, I very much appreciate them all!

If you want to sell it as catering space, you should give room capacities and anything that sets you apart.
Our outside deck has seating capacity of 150 people with ovrhead lighting in a garden atomosphere, with a picture - for example.

People that are going to be searching for catering space may have never been to Stratto's as a restaurant. Paint a picture for them as if they were blind.

You also may give some history on the home page: Historical home of Major McCollough _ _ _ years old, updated in _ _ _ but still has the look and feel of history. Make your own history in this landmark location. Something like that.

You may want to give Terri Doyle a call on catering hall specs and what people are looking for, she is a friend of Sam. He can give you her contact information.

Good luck!

Awesome ideas Kurt, thanks alot...I will definatly look into all of them. Hard to get the site up and going....i'm a very busy lil' bee!

Scott-
The http://www.freewebs.com account may well be free, but the flashing banner ads saying that I'm "THE 999,999 VISITOR AND WINNER" makes it less than optimal.
Also, wouldn't a more direct URL be better (like currently available "www.StrattosCatering.com")?
Suggestion- There are other free website hosting services without banner ads. Best of all is Microsoft OfficeLive (http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/)in that they will register your URL for you and host your site for free. The reason they do this for free is in hopes that you'll upgrade for additional, paid services, which is why it requires a credit card to get the free version.
It is what I used to create MenusOfLouisville.com and so far (18+months) it has cost me $0.
Another free hosting site is http://www.doodlekit.com , which has less obtrusive side ads.

I'd go with a different (heavier) font for the paragraphical info on all the pages. I think that white on black is hard enough to read and some of the lines in the letters in the font you are using seem to disappear.