The verdict in three sentences
For an English speaking owner running a fine dining room in Old Montreal, Mile End, the Plateau or Griffintown, a redesign has one job: fill the seats, with smooth booking, menus that read well on a phone and event pages that convert business dinners. The 2026 ballpark with a Montreal agency is CAD 8,000 to 25,000 (about USD 5,800 to 18,000), while the Kolonell international grid offers USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The real risks are losing well ranked pages, breaking the booking widget and shipping an incomplete French version.
Does your site really need a redesign?
The typical case: a site built five or six years ago, a 3 MB tasting menu PDF nobody opens on mobile, photos that no longer match the dining room, a private room page that is just an email address, and a booking module bolted on top of the theme. Tourists looking for a table tonight and assistants booking a dinner for twelve go elsewhere.
Montreal diners mix regulars, international visitors and corporate bookings. A site that does not serve all of them costs covers every week.
| Symptom | Consequence | Expected fix |
|---|---|---|
| PDF-only menu | Unreadable on mobile, invisible to Google | HTML menu, updated in minutes |
| Booking in an external tab | Drop-off before confirmation | Integrated widget, tested on mobile |
| Private room page without a form | Event enquiries lost | Short form: date, headcount, budget |
| English version fuller than the French one | Possible Charter non-compliance | Content parity, French first |
| Google Business Profile out of sync | Wrong hours and links | Profile aligned on launch day |
| Photos older than 3 years | Gap with the real experience | New shoot with a local photographer |
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
Public agency rate pages and typical quotes in Montreal give the following ranges, converted approximately to USD (CAD 1 ≈ USD 0.72).
| Provider | Budget (2026 ballpark) | Usual timeline | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal freelancer | USD 2,900 to 6,500 (CAD 4,000 to 9,000) | 5 to 8 weeks | Good value, copy often left to you |
| General local agency | USD 5,800 to 11,000 (CAD 8,000 to 15,000) | 8 to 12 weeks | Polished design, variable SEO |
| Hospitality specialist agency | USD 11,000 to 18,000 (CAD 15,000 to 25,000) | 10 to 16 weeks | Branding, photo, campaigns |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Compact site, HTML menu, simple booking |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Event and private room pages, SEO migration |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone (Eastern Time), native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Deposit-based booking, gift card sales, online payment or a link to your POS stay on quote, as does maintenance after the 3 included months. The photo shoot goes to an independent local photographer: a third-party cost, not a Kolonell fee.
Which risks should you watch?
Search rankings. Pages like "tasting menu", "brunch" or "private dining Old Montreal" often attract very specific searches. Inventory every URL, prepare a 301 redirect map, then follow Search Console after launch.
Menu migration. Turning each PDF into an HTML page means rechecking prices, allergens and wine pairings. Have someone from the floor team validate.
Booking. Test the widget on real slots, including fully booked nights and groups. Launching on a Monday, often a closing day, lowers the risk.
Language and data. In Quebec, the Charter of the French language requires French to be available on a commercial website; in practice the French version should be at least as complete as the English one. Law 25 governs personal information: cookie consent banner, a clear privacy policy, forms limited to what is needed. Newsletters must comply with CASL. If you mention your RACJ liquor permit, use the exact wording of your permit. This is not legal advice.
Promotional content. Never display a ranking, award or review you cannot source. Read every page before launch.
| Step | Duration (content ready) | Owner | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| URL inventory and 301 map | 2 to 3 days | Kolonell | List approved by the restaurant |
| Mockups and sitemap | 4 to 5 days | Kolonell | Chef and management sign-off |
| FR and EN copy, HTML menus | 6 to 8 days | Kolonell and maître d' | Price and allergen review |
| Booking and event forms | 2 to 3 days | Kolonell | Test on full nights |
| QA, launch, Google Business Profile | 2 to 3 days | Kolonell and restaurant | 301 checks on day 1 and day 7 |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When is a Montreal agency still the better choice?
If you want a full visual identity rebuild, regular kitchen video shoots, an agency at your press tastings and ongoing social media management, a local hospitality agency is the better fit. A remote studio works when you need a fast site, well written in both languages, with controlled redirects and a contact in your time zone.
Questions to ask: who holds the domain? How will your team update menus? Who prepares the 301 map? Is the booking widget tested before launch?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Matthew Gagnon, owner of a 60 cover room in Griffintown, receives a local quote of CAD 18,000, about USD 13,000, over 12 weeks. He picks Kolonell Growth at USD 4,900, plus about USD 1,400 for an independent local photographer (third-party cost): USD 6,300 in total, a gap of roughly USD 6,700. If the new private room form brings 2 extra events a month of 14 guests at a hypothetical USD 150 per head, that is USD 4,200 of monthly sales, to be checked against his own figures.
FAQ
How long does a fine dining website redesign take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks once menus, copy and photos are supplied. Montreal agencies usually quote 8 to 16 weeks.
Does my site have to be in French?
In Quebec, the Charter of the French language requires French to be available on a commercial website. In practice, plan a French version at least as complete as the English one, which the Growth tier at USD 4,900 and Premium at USD 8,900 cover.
Can I keep my PDF menus?
You can offer the PDF as a download, but the menu should also exist in HTML. An HTML page loads in under 2 seconds on mobile and can be found by search engines.
Is deposit-based booking included?
A standard booking widget is integrated in every tier. Deposits, gift cards and online payment are on quote, depending on the tool you choose.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
The first 3 months are included. After that, maintenance is on quote, based on how often menus and events change.
Let's scope your project. Send us your menus, booking tool and season opening date, and we will propose a tier between USD 2,900 and 8,900 with a 3 to 4 week schedule. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
