AI receptionist for restaurants
An AI receptionist answers your restaurant’s phone when the host is seating guests: it gives hours and directions, takes reservation requests and passes the rest to staff as a text. Calls about allergies, complaints and large events should go to a person. It cannot cook, but it can stop a busy Friday from becoming a stack of missed calls.
Talk through your restaurant with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your restaurant to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
What the phone is really used for
Look at a week of calls. Most are the same few questions: are you open, is there parking, do you have a table at 8, can I order pickup. Those are easy to answer well and expensive to answer in the middle of service.
Where a human must step in
Set clear hand-off rules. Allergy and dietary calls, a guest complaining about last night, a vendor, a reporter or a wedding party all go to a named person with the caller’s number and what they said.
Tell callers when an AI is answering. Rules on recording calls differ by state, so check yours before you turn recording on.
Deposits and payment details
If a large party needs a deposit, have the system send a payment link by text. Card numbers should not be read aloud over the line.
Picture this
Examples of what it can look like. Illustrations, not clients.
It is 8:10 on a Thursday and the host is walking a party to their table. The call is answered, the caller asks about gluten-free pasta, and the system texts the manager a note to call back.
A caller wants pickup for 12 on Sunday. The system takes the details and sends them to the catering contact.
Calls after closing get your hours and a prompt to leave a request instead of ringing out.
The rules that apply, in their own words
“unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, are hereby declared unlawful.”
“other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with the prior express consent of the called party”
Sources
- 47 U.S.C. § 227 (TCPA): Consent rules for automated calls, prerecorded voices and texts.
- FDA Food Code 2022: The model food safety code most states adopt.
- ADA.gov: introduction to the ADA: Accessibility duties for businesses open to the public.
- 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act, Section 5): The federal ban on unfair or deceptive business practices, ads included.
Talk through your restaurant with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your restaurant to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Questions
Can it take a reservation?
Yes, if it is connected to your reservation tool or follows rules you set. Otherwise it collects the request and staff confirm.
What about allergy questions?
They go to a person. An AI should never be the last word on what is safe to eat.
Will guests mind?
Most callers want a fast, correct answer. Make it easy to reach a human and say so up front.
More jobs AI can take on
What Westward builds for this
Never miss a call: the same job in similar businesses