AI for restaurants: bookings, reviews and WhatsApp without living on your phone

AI for restaurants automates replies to repeated questions about opening hours, menus and house rules. It handles booking requests, prepares replies to reviews and answers in several languages. Decisions about allergens, serious complaints, discounts and large groups always need a person's approval first.

What AI takes off your plate in a restaurant

• Repeated questions: opening hours, address, parking, set menu, access with children or pets, answered at once, even at 2 AM.
• Bookings and changes: it collects the full details (day, time, party size, name, phone number) without back-and-forth messages.
• Reviews: it prepares polite, personalised replies to good and bad reviews.
• Other languages: it replies automatically in English, German, Italian or French.

The ten questions it can answer on its own

1. What time do you open? Are you open today, which is a public holiday?
2. Is your menu online? Is there a set menu of the day (menú del día, a fixed-price lunch menu common in Spain) and how much is it?
3. Do you have a terrace? Can I book outside?
4. Are there vegetarian or vegan options?
5. Can I bring a dog? Do you have high chairs?
6. Is there parking nearby? How do I get there?
7. Until what time does the kitchen serve?
8. Do you do takeaway?
9. Do you take groups? Up to how many people?
10. Do you have sunbeds or Balinese beds? Do they need booking?

What must always go through a person

• Allergens with a health risk: a kitchen decision, never a machine alone.
• Serious complaints: the AI tidies the message and proposes a draft; the decision and tone are human.
• Discounts, complimentary items, refunds: anything involving money is decided by a person.
• Large groups and events: fixed menu, deposit, cancellations and negotiation are handled by the manager.

How the command centre sorts it

Messages from WhatsApp, email, phone and forms are organised into three boxes:

• Answered automatically: repeated questions, with an immediate reply in the customer's language.
• Passed to a post: a task is created for the floor manager, the kitchen or another person.
• Waiting for your approval: money, safety or health; the AI prepares the reply and a person approves it before it goes out.

A plan to start in one week

• Days 1-2: gather opening hours, menu, set menu, terrace rules, pets, children, parking and conditions for groups.
• Day 3: decide who receives what (two or three names).
• Days 4-5: test with real messages and review every reply before it is sent.
• Days 6-7: release the safe part: repeated questions are answered automatically, while delicate ones keep waiting for approval.

Frequently asked questions

Can the AI confirm bookings by itself?

It collects all the details and leaves the booking ready to enter. Normal tables are sped up; large groups or those with a deposit go through the manager.

What if a customer asks about allergens?

The AI prepares a reply from the information you supplied but does not send it. It goes to "waiting for your approval" and someone in the kitchen or on the floor approves it.

Do I have to change my booking software?

No. Keep the one you have. The command centre sorts messages and prepares the information; you decide where to record it.

Will my customers notice an AI is replying?

They will notice a quick, well-made reply in their own language. Replies use your information and tone, and a person reviews the delicate ones before they are sent.

If you also run a hotel or holiday lets, see AI for hotels; if calls are your main channel, read about an AI voice agent. To see what this would do with your own messages, get in touch or read how we automate businesses with AI.