Hospitality
AI receptionist for restaurants
The short answer
Last updated
Calls we handle
Calls restaurants get, answered.
- Table reservations (tonight or weekend)
- Large group and function bookings
- Dietary and allergen questions
- Changing or cancelling a booking, or running late
- Opening hours and menu questions
- Gift vouchers
- Lost property
Urgent calls
Escalated to you.
- Allergic reaction or suspected food poisoning after dining: 111 if severe, then alert the manager.
- Complaint about a booking lost on arrival.
- Supplier or delivery failure before service.
Software
Works with Square for Restaurants, NowBookIt, ResDiary, SevenRooms and more.
Square for Restaurants
Syncs every callCreates an order and looks up the customer by phone or email in Square during the call - AU only, no NZ Square site currently. Not a table-reservation system.
How it connects to Square for RestaurantsNowBookIt
Partner accessFirstVoice can integrate with NowBookIt through its partner API program (booking creation and webhooks), pending NowBookIt's partner approval.
How it connects to NowBookItResDiary
Partner accessWe can pursue a ResDiary integration through their partner certification process, but no self-serve public API or automation route is confirmed yet.
How it connects to ResDiarySevenRooms
Partner accessCan integrate with SevenRooms once approved through SevenRooms' partnerships programme.
How it connects to SevenRooms
Also: me&u (incl. Mr Yum), OpenTable, Quandoo, TheFork.
What a missed call is worth
Typical restaurants prices in NZ.
Rules we script around
Regulations for restaurants.
General information, not legal advice.
- NZ IPPs.Source
- Allergens: for unpackaged food, allergen information must be "displayed with the food or can be requested from the supplier" (covers NZ and AU). The AI must not guarantee a dish is allergen-free; it routes to staff.Source
- No-show fees must not be unfair terms.Source
- Card-guaranteed bookings by link only (PCI DSS).Source
Are missed calls during service costing my restaurant bookings?
Often, yes. A phone ringing out during a rush can mean a lost booking or takeaway order, because the caller simply tries somewhere else. An AI receptionist answers when your team can't, takes reservation requests and answers questions about hours, parking and dietary options, so staff can keep serving.
Will diners mind an AI answering the restaurant phone?
Some will, and plenty of people say they dislike it. It works best for quick jobs like opening hours, directions and simple booking requests. For large groups, functions or complicated dietary needs, make sure it passes the caller to a person or takes a message for a callback.
What does FirstVoice do with urgent calls for restaurants?
It flags allergic reaction or suspected food poisoning after dining, complaint about a booking lost on arrival and supplier or delivery failure before service to you straight away, or transfers the call live on Growth and Scale. Emergencies are directed to 111.
Does FirstVoice work with Square for Restaurants?
Creates an order and looks up the customer by phone or email in Square during the call - AU only, no NZ Square site currently. Not a table-reservation system. It also works with NowBookIt, ResDiary, SevenRooms and me&u (incl. Mr Yum).
How much does an AI receptionist cost for restaurants?
Connecting Square for Restaurants is included from Growth at $597 a month. Starter is $297 a month with calendar booking.