Ask around in the hospitality industry, and you’ll often hear the same thing—managers feel pulled away from the floor by endless back-office work. It’s exhausting, and it’s no surprise that efficiency sometimes slips through the cracks.
By now, most of us have given AI tools a try, maybe for a quick email or a bit of brainstorming. But in restaurants, it’s turning into more than just a shortcut. We’ve seen managers use it to write menus that actually sell, polish guest emails, and even handle those review replies that usually get pushed to the bottom of the list.
That’s why we’ve pulled together some practical ChatGPT prompts for restaurants, the kind that help clear your desk a little faster, ease the pressure, and give you more time for the parts of the job you actually enjoy: looking after your team and your guests.
23 ChatGPT prompts & ideas for restaurants
Admin tasks, content writing, and endless menu tweaks can eat up hours of a manager’s week. That’s why practical ChatGPT prompts are such a life-saver. They give restaurant operators ready-to-go starting points, so instead of staring at a blank page, you’ve got something solid to work with.
And with 75% of restaurants already seeing value in AI and automation, it’s clear these tools aren’t just hype, but actually becoming part of everyday operations.
Think of it as an extra set of hands for the back-office work, speeding up the jobs that drain your energy, so you can put more focus back on guests, staff, and service.
Below are some of the most useful ways (some you might not have thought of) restaurant managers are already using AI tools to save time and boost efficiency.
Menu creativity & descriptions
Menus are your biggest sales tool, but writing them isn’t always easy. ChatGPT can help you brainstorm creative takes on dishes, rewrite in different tones (casual, elegant, playful), or even suggest upsells like wine pairings or add-ons.
It’s a quick way to make menus work harder without starting from scratch every time, especially useful if your restaurant rotates menus seasonally or runs specials.
Here are some practical menu prompt examples to help you:
- Generate fresh ideas for creative menu development
“Create a seasonal dinner menu for a modern Australian restaurant using local spring produce, with 3 entrée, 3 main, and 3 dessert options.” - Rewrite dish descriptions in guest-friendly tones
“Rewrite this dish description in three different tones—casual, elegant, and playful: ‘Chargrilled chicken breast with garlic mash and green beans.’” - Craft personalized menu ideas and upselling suggestions
“Suggest wine pairings and upsell opportunities (like sides or add-ons) for a lamb shoulder roast on a fine-dining menu.”
Staff training & restaurant policies
Training is one of those never-ending parts of running a restaurant. Between new hires, changing policies, and unexpected guest scenarios, managers often spend just as much time coaching as they do managing.
That’s where AI tools for restaurants step in. They won’t replace hands-on coaching, but they can provide a strong starting point—checklists, scripts, and clear policies that save time and give staff confidence.
Here are some practical ways to use it:
- Onboarding checklists and training modules
“Write a first-day onboarding checklist for new waitstaff in a mid-size restaurant.” - Roleplay prompts for customer service scenarios
“Create a roleplay script for a server handling a guest complaint about a long wait time.” - Drafting restaurant policies
“Write a clear, guest-friendly cancellation and refund policy for a restaurant with set
Marketing & social media
Keeping up with marketing often feels like running a second business alongside your restaurant. Between Instagram posts, email newsletters, and TikTok trends, it can easily become overwhelming.
And we, for one, know well that marketing and social media is not for everyone. It’s time-consuming, sometimes frustrating, and rarely the reason someone got into hospitality in the first place.
AI tools can take some of that load off. It helps brainstorm campaign ideas, polish captions, and draft newsletters so your marketing stays consistent without swallowing up your week.
Many operators say it feels like “having a part-time marketing assistant.” And the numbers back it up: restaurants that post regularly on social media tend to see higher engagement and more bookings.
Here are some prompt examples worth trying:
- Fresh content ideas for Instagram, TikTok, or email
“Give me 10 Instagram post ideas to promote a new summer cocktail menu in a casual bar-restaurant.” - Subject lines and captions to boost engagement
“Write 5 catchy email subject lines that encourage guests to book a table for a weekend special.” - Streamline marketing tasks and save time
“Draft a one-week social media calendar for a neighbourhood Italian restaurant, including captions and hashtags.”
Reservations & guest communication
A lot of a restaurant’s success comes down to how smooth the guest experience feels before they even walk through the door.
Clear confirmations, thoughtful reminders, and quick answers to FAQs can save your team hours while keeping guests happy.
AI can help draft professional, guest-friendly messages that are easy to personalise. Tools like our very own AI Receptionist, Sadie, are already making this easier by handling reservations and common guest questions automatically, so staff can stay focused on service.
Some examples you can copy, paste, and tweak:
- Polite confirmations and reminders
“Write a warm booking confirmation email for a couple celebrating their anniversary, with a note that champagne will be waiting at the table.” - Tailored messaging for different guest types
“Draft three versions of a reservation reminder: one for a first-time guest, one for a VIP, and one for a regular.” - Automated customer service & FAQs
“Write guest-friendly answers to common FAQs for a restaurant website, including parking info, opening hours, and dietary accommodations.”
Day-to-day operations & money saving insights
Behind the scenes, operations drive profitability just as much as great food or service. Inventory checks, scheduling, and analysing sales patterns are vital, but they’re also time-consuming, and often the first things that slip when service gets busy.
The truth is, data can feel overwhelming and spreadsheets don’t always translate into clear action. But when insights are simplified with the help of AI, it’s easier to spot where to cut waste, adjust staffing, or create new revenue opportunities.
Prompts you can put to work right away:
- Inventory checklists and shift planning
“Create a weekly inventory checklist for a mid-size casual dining restaurant, focusing on perishable items.”
“Suggest three different shift rota templates for a restaurant with 20 staff, covering peak hours and slower periods.” - Spot money-losing peak hours
“Analyse this sales data [insert data] and identify times when the restaurant is overstaffed but underperforming in sales.” - Find undervalued loyal guests
“Suggest ways to recognise and reward guests who visit frequently but spend less per visit, to encourage higher spend without losing loyalty.” - Identify untapped revenue windows
“Review these weekly sales patterns [insert data] and recommend time slots that could generate more revenue with targeted promotions.”
Reviews & guest feedback
Reviews are today’s word-of-mouth, shaping a restaurant’s reputation daily. Positive ones build trust, but unanswered negatives can quietly hurt business. The challenge for most managers isn’t collecting feedback—it’s keeping up with thoughtful responses.
Patterns in reviews often reveal blind spots. If weekday lunch guests mention slow service, that’s a staffing cue. If multiple people rave about one dish, that’s a marketing opportunity.
Research backs this up too: Harvard Business Review and TripAdvisor data show restaurants that respond to reviews see stronger reputations and higher guest engagement.
Prompts worth trying:
- Turn survey responses or reviews into insights
“Summarise these 20 guest survey responses into the top three themes (service, food, atmosphere), and suggest one action per theme.” - Draft replies to reviews
“Write a warm, professional response to this 5-star review praising our seafood pasta.”
“Write an empathetic reply to a 2-star review about slow service during lunch rush, while inviting the guest to return.”
For more practical strategies, check out this guide on how to manage restaurant reviews.
Guest engagement & personalisation
Guest loyalty often comes from the small touches—thank-you notes, milestone celebrations, or personalised rewards. Those gestures often turn a one-time visitor into a familiar face, and restaurants that make them part of everyday service tend to see guests coming back more often.
Something as simple as a birthday dessert voucher or anniversary message can make guests feel valued in ways big advertising never could. Studies also show personalisation in hospitality boosts repeat visits and long-term growth.
Prompts you can try for guest loyalty and personalisation:
- Loyalty program ideas
“Suggest five creative loyalty program ideas for a neighbourhood restaurant that encourage repeat visits.” - Personalised thank-you messages
“Write a warm thank-you note for a couple celebrating their 10th anniversary at our restaurant.” - Guest milestones
“Draft a birthday greeting email offering a free dessert for returning guests.”
If you’re looking for more ideas on building loyalty, here’s a guide on restaurant loyalty programs that actually work.
How to get the most out of ChatGPT (tips for managers)
Running a restaurant is already a balancing act, so the last thing managers need is a tool that feels complicated. Luckily, ChatGPT isn’t technical, it works best when treated like a colleague you’re bouncing ideas off.
If you’re curious about where AI is heading in the industry, we’ve also broken down the future of hospitality and AI here.
Here are a few tips to make it work harder for you:
You don’t need to be “techy”
Just type as you would when asking a colleague. The most effective managers keep it conversational and to the point.
Context is everything
Prompts with details always deliver better results. For example, “Write a playful menu description for a seasonal seafood pasta” will sound far more polished than simply asking, “Write a menu description.”
Make it sound like you
Think of AI as your draft writer, not your final editor. Always read the output—does it sound like your restaurant, or too generic? Operators who add a quick personal tweak keep consistency across menus, emails, and guest communication.
Think efficiency, not replacement
In hospitality, human warmth will always matter most. AI helps speed up repetitive admin, but it should never replace the genuine guest experience your team provides.
Keep sensitive data private
Never paste in personal details like guest names, bookings, or payment info. Treat it like you would any other external tool and share general info only.
Play around early
The sooner you start experimenting, the more natural it becomes. Managers who try small prompts now often feel way more confident when using new tools down the track.
That said, if you’re curious what else AI can do for your venue, check out our deep dive on the future of hospitality and AI.
Less back-office stress, more time on the floor
Running a restaurant will probably never be “easy,” but AI can take care of repetitive tasks, spark creative ideas, and give you more time to focus on guests and your team. Take Sadie, our AI Receptionist who answers every call — she takes hundreds of phone calls on behalf of restaurant teams and instantly logs bookings into your diary. That’s a perfect example of how when you combine AI with a powerful restaurant management system, your venue runs even smarter.
