Best AI tools for restaurants (2026)
Last updated October 17, 2026 · Prices and features change, so check the linked sources before you buy.
1. The free one you may already have: your POS assistant
Toast IQ is a conversational assistant that answers questions about your sales and labour in plain language and can act inside Toast. Toast’s examples include updating menus, editing shifts, and “86 all items with avocado.” It became available to all U.S. Toast customers in October 2025 [1].
Square AI is a conversational assistant in the Square Dashboard that answers questions about sales, customers and staff from your own data. It launched in open beta for U.S. sellers [2].
2. Phone AI for reservations and takeout
| Tool | What it does | Price (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Slang AI | Voice AI for restaurants. Handles reservations through OpenTable, SevenRooms, Yelp and Resy, texts confirmations, routes VIPs to staff, and transfers to a human when needed [3]. | Core from $399/location/mo, Premium from $599 [3]. Slang usually gives you a new number to publish. Keeping your existing number is something to discuss during onboarding [3]. |
| Yelp Host | Yelp’s AI phone answering for restaurants. Yelp has announced OpenTable reservations and takeout ordering [4]. | See Yelp’s pricing page. |
3. General AI for the boring writing
Menu descriptions, allergen-friendly rewrites, job ads and replies to reviews are all good jobs for ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. Two rules: never let AI invent an allergen or ingredient claim, and read every review reply before it’s posted.
How to decide on phone AI
- For two weeks, count calls that go unanswered between 5 and 8 pm.
- Multiply by your typical reservation or takeout ticket. If that number is well above the monthly fee, run a trial.
- Test with your hardest calls: large parties, allergies, private events, and “are you open on the holiday?”
Your website gets the same questions, about hours, parking, patio and gluten-free options. A website chatbot that answers only from your own pages can deflect them. See what that should cost (we run Botday, so weigh our bias). For a ranked shortlist, try Adoptly’s Tool Picker.
FAQ
What AI tools should a small restaurant use first?
Start with the AI assistant in your POS if you have one. Toast IQ is included for U.S. Toast customers and Square AI is in the Square Dashboard. Use it for sales, labour and menu questions. Add phone AI only if you are losing calls at peak times.
How much does Slang AI cost?
Slang AI lists Core from $399 per location per month and Premium from $599 per location per month. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Can AI take restaurant reservations by phone?
Yes. Slang AI integrates with OpenTable, SevenRooms, Yelp and Resy to book reservations by voice. Yelp has announced OpenTable reservations and takeout ordering for Yelp Host.
Is it safe to let AI write menu descriptions?
For tone and wording, yes. Never let it invent ingredient, allergen or dietary claims, and have someone who knows the dish check every description.
Sources
- Toast: Toast Expands Toast IQ… (Oct 29, 2025)
- Square: Square AI, now in open beta
- Slang AI: Pricing
- Yelp blog: Yelp Host adds OpenTable reservations and takeout ordering