An open letter to restaurant owners with "websites"

Could we stop with the PDF-only menus already? COME ON. I realize in some cases this allowed you to use the same files you were given from whoever did your actual, printed-matter menus; but It doesn't take that long for a professional to mark-up your menu in HTML and stick it on your site, and a little longer to really well integrate it into the look and feel of your site. And what are the benefits? Well, hmmm....

• Less waiting. Your customers at the very least are waiting for a new document to load, and at worst, waiting for a crappy plugin to finish firing up before they see what delectable delights you have to offer.
• Search, Findability, & Accessibility. Yes, yes, "the google" can indeed index PDF's as well, but unless you are tagging your PDF's, it's not going to be well structured in a way that really helps search engines and accessibility tools like screen readers make good sense of what you are offering. Done right, a web version will cover this in spades. Don't you want raise your chances of being a top hit for "Austin, TX" and "Mexican Martini"?
• User Experience. Pulling me out of your website to view a PDF with no links back into it makes it that much harder for me to get back to your contact info, maps, or hours. In many cases, the browser-back-button will save you on this, but not always, and regardless, definitely less intuitive or elegant.

IN FACT... If you are in the Austin area, give me a call. For the right meal(s), I'll come sit at your bar and will do the honors for you. While you wait. (or you know...while you wait on me. Whatever.)

sincerely,
Hungry & Tired (of downloading your PDFs!)