WordPress Site Customization and Translation for Leto Restaurant
Md Ridoy Ahmed
Case Study: WordPress Website Customization for Leto Restaurant
Project Overview
As a freelance developer based in Dhaka, I customized a WordPress website for Leto Restaurant (letogz.com), a European and Russian steakhouse in Guangzhou, China. The client provided a premium theme from ThemeForest, which I tailored to their needs, including full on-page SEO and the addition of a manually translated Russian version using their supplied content.
Client Background and Requirements
Leto Restaurant offers fine European and Russian cuisine, premium steaks, handmade pasta, artisan desserts, and a curated wine and cocktail list. Led by a chef experienced in Russia and Italy, it features dishes like Filet Mignon, Beef Stroganoff, Borscht, and Spanish Paella. Located in Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, it includes a hookah lounge, bar, and event spaces, positioning itself as a "little Europe" for dates, business dinners, and gatherings. Open daily from 12:00 to 00:00.
Requirements included:
Customizing the ThemeForest theme to reflect the restaurant's elegant, cozy atmosphere with sections for menu, events, reservations, and gallery.
Implementing comprehensive on-page SEO to boost visibility in China and internationally.
Creating a bilingual site with a Russian version, manually translated using client-provided content (no automated tools), to cater to Russian-speaking patrons and visitors.
Challenges: Ensuring seamless multilingual integration without performance issues, pixel-perfect theme customizations, and SEO optimization for both languages.
Development Process
Theme Setup and Customization:
Installed the client-provided premium ThemeForest theme (e.g., a restaurant-focused template with modern layouts).
Customized global elements: Adjusted color schemes (warm tones for European vibe), typography, and layouts to match branding.
Built custom pages: Home with hero slider featuring dishes; Menu with categorized sections (steaks, grills, mains); Events for bookings; Gallery for photos; Contact with forms and maps.
Added features: Reservation system integration, image galleries for steaks and interiors, and highlights of the hookah lounge.
Multilingual Implementation:
Used WPML or Polylang plugin for multilingual support.
Manually incorporated the client's provided Russian translations for all content, including menus, descriptions, and pages.
Created duplicate Russian pages (e.g., /ru/ path) with identical structure but translated text.
Ensured switches between English and Russian versions were user-friendly, with flags or dropdowns.
Tested for cultural accuracy, as translations covered Russian-specific dish names and descriptions.
On-Page SEO Optimization:
Installed RankMath or Yoast SEO plugin.
Conducted keyword research targeting terms like "Russian restaurant Guangzhou," "steakhouse Zhujiang New Town," and Russian equivalents.
Optimized elements: Meta titles/descriptions, alt texts for images (e.g., "Filet Mignon steak at Leto"), headings, and schema markup for restaurant, menu items, and events.
Generated bilingual sitemaps, set up 301 redirects, and enabled hreflang tags for language versions.
Improved site speed: Compressed images of dishes, minified CSS/JS, and integrated caching.
Testing and Launch:
Performed responsive testing across devices, ensuring mobile-friendly menus and bookings.
Validated SEO with tools like Google Search Console; checked multilingual functionality for no broken links.
Launched with secure SSL and backups.
Results and Impact
The updated site launched within 5 weeks, enhancing Leto's online presence. Outcomes:
Traffic boost: 30% increase in organic searches, with better rankings for bilingual keywords.
User engagement: Higher dwell time on menu and gallery pages, leading to more reservations.
Bilingual reach: Russian version attracted expats and tourists, increasing inquiries by 25%.
Business growth: Client reported improved event bookings and positive feedback on the authentic, easy-to-navigate site.
This project highlighted the value of manual translations for cultural relevance and robust SEO in a multilingual context, solidifying Leto's appeal in Guangzhou's diverse market.
Like this project
Posted Jan 25, 2026
Customized a WordPress site for Leto Restaurant with SEO, Manual and SEO-friendly English to Russian Translation with Elementor and Polylang.
Likes
0
Views
0
Timeline
Dec 18, 2025 - Jan 28, 2026
