I accidentally ate AI not a hippopotamus for lunch.

Hey there,

Let’s talk about something that’s been on everyone’s mind lately AI in restaurants. I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “Great, another tech trend that’s going to cost me a fortune and confuse my staff.” But hear me out.

Remember when someone wanted Italian food and they’d just Google “Italian restaurant near me”? Those days are pretty much over. Now they’re asking Siri or Alexa, “Where can I get authentic carbonara with outdoor seating that takes reservations?” And here’s the kicker—if your restaurant isn’t set up to answer those specific questions, you’re invisible.

Over 153 million Americans (I’m sure Canada’s numbers are just as high) are using voice assistants, and three-quarters of those searches are looking for local businesses. That’s your potential customers, and they’re not finding you if you’re still playing by old-school SEO rules.

Google’s even rolling out these new AI-organized results that group restaurants into categories like “best rooftop terraces” or “waterfront dining.” It’s not just a list anymore—it’s curated, visual, and if you’re not in those categories, you might as well not exist.

What you should do: Make sure your Google Business Profile is ridiculously detailed. Answer common questions directly on your website in plain English. Think about how people actually talk, not how they type.

Here’s something wild… 👇

94% of restaurant marketers are already using AI. If you’re not, you’re behind. But this isn’t about being creepy or spammy. It’s about actually remembering what your customers like.

Imagine this… Someone orders your veggie burger three times. Next time they open your app, they see a promotion for your new plant-based special by Beyond Meat. That’s not invasive, that’s thoughtful. And it works. Restaurants doing this kind of personalization are seeing 15% more repeat customers and 25% higher response rates on their marketing.

The loyalty program stuff is getting smart too. Instead of “buy 10, get 1 free” for everyone, you can offer rewards that actually matter to each person. Your regular who always gets extra spicy? Send them a deal on that new hot sauce dish.

This is where AI really pays for itself. We’re talking about the unglamorous stuff that eats up your time and money.

Inventory: AI can look at your sales patterns and tell you exactly how much to order. Not too much (waste), not too little (86’d items). Places using this are seeing 20% better inventory turnover.

Scheduling: Stop guessing at staffing needs. Let AI predict your busy times based on actual data 👉weather, events, historical patterns and build your schedule accordingly.

Pricing: Yeah, dynamic pricing sounds sketchy, but done right, it’s just smart business. Offer lunch specials when you’re slow, charge a bit more on Saturday night when you’re packed anyway. Just be upfront about it.

Some restaurants have cut their food costs by 18% just by letting AI optimize their supply chain and purchasing.

Your equipment is expensive. When it breaks during dinner rush, it’s a nightmare. AI-powered sensors can tell you when your oven or fryer is about to die before it actually does. Restaurants using predictive maintenance are seeing 25% fewer equipment failures.

And those chains with AI voice ordering in the drive-thru? They’re not doing it to be fancy. It’s faster, more accurate, and frees up staff for more important things.

Look, I’m not going to pretend this is all sunshine and rainbows and those unicorns. There are real concerns:

It’s expensive. The upfront costs can be brutal, especially for independent operators. Solution? Start small. Cloud-based tools with monthly subscriptions instead of huge capital investments.

Your staff doesn’t know tech. Fair enough. That’s why you don’t overhaul everything at once. Start with something simple like a chatbot for reservations or automated email campaigns. Build confidence, then expand.

Customers worry about privacy. This is huge… 40% of diners are concerned about how their data is used. Be transparent. Tell people what you’re collecting and why. Make it clear you’re using data to make their experience better, not to creep them out.

People still want human interaction. Absolutely. AI should handle the boring repetitive stuff so your staff can actually be hospitable. Nobody wants to order from a robot when they’re celebrating an anniversary. Use tech to support your team, not replace them.

AI isn’t coming to restaurants 👉it’s already here. Your competitors are using it. Your customers expect it. The question isn’t whether to adopt it, but how to do it smartly.

Start with one thing. Maybe it’s getting your Google Business Profile dialed in for voice search. Maybe it’s a simple loyalty program that actually remembers customer preferences. Maybe it’s inventory software that stops you from throwing away thousands in wasted food.

The restaurants that win aren’t going to be the ones with the most technology. They’re going to be the ones that use technology to be more human more personal, more efficient, more focused on what matters: giving people a damn good meal and a memorable experience.

Don’t let the tech tail wag the hospitality dog. But don’t ignore it either.

P.S. — If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all this, you’re not alone. Start with one small change this month. Just one. Next month, add another. Before you know it, you’ll be ahead of the curve instead of scrambling to catch up.