Despite constant headlines about AI transforming restaurants, most operators haven’t fully adopted it. They’re experimenting carefully, using AI where it saves time, improves marketing or helps them make better decisions, and keeping people at the centre of hospitality.
We gathered views from 49 restaurant owners, operators and executives across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, and they were candid about where AI does and doesn’t help.
Key research highlights
- 49 restaurant owners and operators interviewed
- 81% expect to increase AI usage in the coming years
- 86% say they’re comfortable using AI
- Only 26% currently use AI in day-to-day restaurant operations
- 80%+ believe AI will improve efficiency and customer experience
- 67% of respondents were independent restaurant owners
Adoption is growing, carefully
The restaurant industry isn’t rushing into AI. Most operators are comfortable with the technology but choose carefully where to use it. The biggest opportunities today are much simpler than robot servers or fully automated kitchens.
Most common AI use cases
| AI application | Restaurants using it |
|---|---|
| Sales & revenue analysis | 47% |
| Menu & inventory insights | 34% |
| Guest & marketing analytics | 32% |
| Menu optimization | 26% |
| Marketing automation | 19% (full-service restaurants) |
| Customer ordering | 6% |
Operators are putting back-office efficiency ahead of automating anything customers see.
Restaurant owners want AI that saves time
The benefit owners mentioned in interview after interview was time. They described AI as a way to get rid of repetitive admin, and none of them saw it as a replacement for staff.
Examples included:
- Creating reports in seconds instead of hours
- Writing social media content
- Drafting email campaigns
- Building employee training manuals
- Forecasting inventory
- Reviewing sales trends
One bakery owner said reporting that used to mean late nights of manual analysis now takes just five seconds, so managers can run the business instead of digging through spreadsheets.
The biggest gain is the extra time restaurant teams get to spend with guests.
Marketing is where AI works best so far
Marketing is where AI is already producing measurable value. Operators are using ChatGPT and similar tools to:
- Write social media posts
- Generate email campaigns
- Respond to Google Reviews
- Create promotional flyers
- Write menu descriptions
- Brainstorm seasonal campaigns
According to Toast’s research:
- 32% already use AI for guest and marketing analytics
- 28% use AI for marketing automation
- Several operators reported creating content in minutes instead of hours
It’s helping small restaurant teams do more with less, rather than replacing marketers.
Owners still have serious concerns
Not everyone is convinced, and many operators were frustrated after trying AI. Their biggest concerns were:
- Incorrect recommendations
- Data privacy
- Unclear ROI
- Losing the human touch
- Staff resistance
- Constant fact-checking
One owner summed it up:
“If I have to double-check everything, I’ll just do it myself.”
Another said AI sometimes creates more work, because its output needs a lot of correcting before it can be used.
Top AI barriers
- Identifying the right use cases
- Poor data quality
- Lack of technical skills
- Cost uncertainty
- Privacy concerns
- Employee adoption
The best operators use AI alongside human judgment
Successful restaurants never let AI run on its own. They:
- Validate AI recommendations
- Review reports manually
- Pilot one tool at a time
- Train managers before rollout
- Measure ROI before expanding
The high-performing restaurants in the research combined AI with strong operating processes instead of expecting the technology to solve everything.
Independent restaurants face different challenges than chains
Large restaurant brands have dedicated technology teams and bigger budgets, and independents don’t. Smaller operators do have one big advantage, though: they can move faster.
The people we spoke to broke down like this:
- 67% were independent restaurants
- 45% operated in fast-casual or QSR
- 35% represented casual dining
- 20% came from fine dining and pubs
Many independents said they’d taken up affordable AI tools for marketing, menu analysis and customer feedback rather than paying for enterprise software.
What owners expect next
Restaurant owners don’t think AI will replace hospitality. They expect it to become an assistant working in the background.
What operators expect AI to improve
- Smarter forecasting
- Inventory management
- Personalized marketing
- Reservation management
- Customer service
- Staff training
Where Growtality fits into this future
One of the clearest findings is that owners don’t want dozens of disconnected AI tools. They want practical help with everyday operational problems.
Growtality helps restaurants use AI for marketing, customer engagement, analytics and growth while keeping the personal hospitality that successful restaurants are known for.
Final thoughts
Only 26% of restaurants currently use AI in their operations, yet more than 80% expect that to grow over the next few years.
The operators getting the best results use AI because it saves time, improves profitability, shows a measurable return, supports their staff and makes the guest experience better. Those reasons matter far more to them than the hype.
Questions owners ask
How many restaurants use AI in 2026?
In interviews with 49 restaurant owners and operators, only 26% used AI in day-to-day operations, while 86% said they're comfortable with it and 81% expect to use more of it in the coming years.
What do restaurants use AI for?
Most commonly sales and revenue analysis (47%), menu and inventory insights (34%) and guest and marketing analytics (32%). Owners mainly value AI for saving time on repetitive admin.
What stops restaurants adopting AI?
Identifying the right use cases, poor data quality, lack of technical skills, cost uncertainty, privacy concerns and getting staff to use it.
