How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot for a restaurant
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A restaurant gets the same questions at all hours: “do you have a table tonight?”, “are you open on Sunday?”, “does it contain gluten?”. A WhatsApp chatbot answers them instantly and leaves your team with what really needs a person.
What it can do for your restaurant
Well configured, a chatbot handles most repeated questions and manages bookings without anyone watching the phone.
- Answer opening hours, location, menu and allergens
- Take and confirm bookings, also out of hours
- Remind guests of their booking and notify changes
- Hand the conversation to a person when needed
What you need before starting
You do not need big infrastructure, but you do need things in order.
- A WhatsApp Business number connected to the official API
- Your information at hand: menu, hours, policies, allergens
- A booking system or calendar to connect it to
- A person to handle what the chatbot cannot
How to set it up, step by step
A good chatbot is built starting with what people ask most, not with what looks most impressive.
- List the 10 most frequent customer questions
- Connect the number to the official WhatsApp Business API
- Train the chatbot only on your real information
- Test it with real conversations before opening it
- Define when it hands off to a person
- Review conversations weekly and improve
Common mistakes
Most disappointing chatbots fail for the same reasons.
- Making up answers instead of saying “I don’t know”
- Leaving no way out to a person
- Messaging a customer first without an approved template: outside the 24-hour window, WhatsApp requires approved templates
- Never reviewing what it says
How long does it take?
It depends on scope. A simple one for FAQs and bookings is set up in a few weeks; integrating orders or a custom booking system takes longer. The usual approach is to start small and expand.
Want us to do it for you?
Tell us your case and we will propose a realistic solution with clear timelines and budget.