How Boka Restaurant Boosted Sales with WooCommerce Online Ordering

Pivoting Under Pressure

Boka is a Balkan restaurant in Kuopio, Finland, known for its lively dishes and community tables under a grand elm. When dine-in rules shut down their seating area, they needed a new plan fast. The owner, Emir Dzafce, turned his attention to a self-hosted platform instead of relying on third-party apps. In less than four weeks, the team installed WooCommerce on their existing WordPress site and configured a full-featured ordering system. That move kept the kitchen running, saved jobs, and let diners enjoy their favorite plates without stepping into a crowded restaurant.

Making Online Ordering Obvious

From the moment users land on the homepage, order options are front and center. Boka added clear buttons for “Order Online” and “Call to Order” at the top of every page. These call-to-action links leave no doubt that takeout is available. As soon as someone clicks, they reach a streamlined menu that reflects the current seasonal lineup. That setup removes friction at the start of the experience so customers can move from browsing to ordering in seconds, avoiding confusion or unnecessary clicks.

Pickup and Delivery Options

Acknowledging that every customer has a different comfort level, Boka offers two fulfillment choices in checkout: curbside pickup and home delivery. People who are at work or doing errands can reserve a pickup slot with a date and time. Others who stay home can ask for delivery straight to their door. That flexibility broadened the restaurant’s reach without adding extra staff. Kitchen workflows remained consistent because each order carries a clear label for “Pickup” or “Delivery” before printing out at the station.

Flexible Payment Methods

Instead of making customers rely on cash or card at the door, Boka built payment into the site. They integrated Paytrail for credit and debit transactions and kept PayPal for anyone with an existing account. Those two services cover more than 95% of local preferences. Customers enter payment details once and can save cards for future orders. This in-page checkout cuts out extra steps, reduces abandoned carts, and prevents handling fees at pickup points, making every transaction smoother and safer.

Dish Presentation and Descriptions

High-quality imagery was key. Boka commissioned professional shots of each dish and uploaded them to the product gallery. On every menu item, they include a concise list of ingredients and flavor profiles so people know exactly what they’ll get at home. For a restaurant with Mediterranean roots, that detail matters. Clear visuals paired with short, vivid descriptions help set expectations and reduce the risk of order mistakes. Customers scroll images, spot something that looks good, and click right into the buying process.

Gift Cards for Sustained Cash Flow

In addition to ready-made meals, Boka added gift cards in several price tiers. People who want to support their local spot but aren’t ready to pick up a meal can buy a gift card instead. Those digital vouchers are delivered by email and can be redeemed online or in person later, unlocking immediate revenue. Boka even offers custom cards with suggestions like “Dinner for Two” to simplify gift giving. This feature helped fill revenue gaps without any extra staff training.

Using Social Media to Spread the Word

To ensure existing customers know about the new system, Boka posted regular updates on Instagram and Facebook. They share mouth-watering images of packaged orders, behind-the-scenes kitchen stories, and satisfaction notes from early buyers. When social posts include “swipe up” links directly to the ordering page, traffic jumps by 30–50% on post days. Although Boka didn’t run paid ads at first, engagement from organic posts helped the rollout gain momentum without extra ad spend.

Contact-Free Pickup Scheduling

Safety is a top concern. Boka’s checkout form asks users to choose a pickup date and time, then provides a numbered parking spot near the door. Staff place each order in a sealed bag on a contactless rack, label it, and send a text when it’s ready. This Last-Mile process gives diners a sense of security and makes it easy to manage parking spots. It also reduces face-to-face interaction without slowing down service.

Results and What Comes Next

Within six weeks of launch, online channels cover roughly 40% of Boka’s revenue, with a steady uptick in repeat orders. The kitchen maintained its full menu, adding limited-edition special dishes to drive excitement. Staff morale improved once they saw familiar names pop up in the order log. Boka plans to keep tweaking menus, test loyalty programs, and explore local partnerships for bundled meals. By building on WordPress and WooCommerce, they own their data and customer list, setting them up for long-term growth beyond any single crisis.