An AI receptionist for restaurants, so the rush does not cost you a reservation

What it handles for restaurants

A restaurant phone rings hardest during the exact window when every host, server and manager is slammed. An AI receptionist answers those calls so a reservation or a simple hours question does not go unanswered during the rush.

A reservation request, a question about tonight's hours, someone asking if you take walk-ins for a party of six — all arriving at once, right when every host and server is already moving tables and running food.

• Answers in your restaurant's name, 24 hours a day, including during peak dinner service when your host stand cannot pick up.
• Books reservations directly into your calendar or reservation system, based on the availability you give it.
• Answers common questions: hours, location, general menu highlights, and takeout or delivery availability.
• Takes a message for private events and large parties, so your events contact can follow up personally.
• Texts you a summary of every call, so nothing is lost during a busy shift.

None of this changes how your kitchen or dining room runs during a rush. Hosts keep seating tables and running food; the receptionist keeps the phone covered, so a reservation request or a simple hours question does not compete with the orders already in motion. A caller who cannot get through at 7pm on a Friday sometimes just tries the next restaurant instead — the receptionist gives that caller the same answer a slower Tuesday afternoon would get.

A typical call

Here is an illustrative example of the kind of call it handles — not a real client or an actual recorded call.

A caller wants a table for four on a Saturday night and asks if the restaurant can accommodate a gluten-free diet. The AI receptionist books the reservation using the availability you have given it, and for the gluten-free question, it tells the caller a staff member will confirm details when they arrive or call back, and notes it in the summary text: "New reservation: Sat 7pm, party of 4, asked about gluten-free options." A different caller asking only about tonight's closing time gets a direct answer and no message needed.

A second example: a caller asks if the restaurant can seat a party of six without a reservation on a Tuesday evening. The receptionist checks the availability you have given it, offers a time that works, and texts the host stand: "Walk-in party of 6 expected around 6:30pm."

What's included

The AI receptionist for restaurants comes bundled with the rest of the phone setup most restaurants need:

• The AI voice receptionist, answering 24/7
• A dedicated local business phone number, or your existing number moved over
• A professional IVR menu ("press 1 for reservations")
• Voicemail with email transcription
• A mobile-first website, with hosting and SSL
• A monthly report of your call and text activity

Pricing is being updated this month — see our current packages for the latest plans and setup fees. It also keeps answering after your dining room has closed for the night, so a caller checking tomorrow's hours or asking about a reservation still gets a quick answer instead of voicemail. If late-night or early-morning calls are also a gap, see our after-hours answering service.

Setup

1. A 30-minute kickoff call with Mark. We gather your hours, menu highlights, reservation availability, and the questions callers ask most.
2. We configure and test it. We set up your number, your menu and your receptionist, then you call your own number and try to break it.
3. We fix anything that is off and you go live, usually in about two weeks.
4. We keep tuning it. New hours, a seasonal menu change, a question it should answer: text or email us and we update it.

Try it before you buy

Call our demo line at (614) 926-0333 and talk to an AI receptionist yourself — ask it questions or have it play the receptionist for your own restaurant. You can also see how it works for a service business at our live demos, or read more on the AI receptionist page.

Local, and a real person behind it

JNM Professional Services is based at 1103 Schrock Rd, Suite 106C, Columbus, OH 43229, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. When you text us, a real person answers. We work with restaurants across Central Ohio in person and anywhere else remotely.

Common questions