5 Must-Have Catering Inquiry Chatbots for Restaurants
Running a restaurant or catering business today means juggling a thousand moving parts—from booking reservations and answering menu questions to...
Running a restaurant or catering business today means juggling a thousand moving parts—from booking reservations and answering menu questions to managing online orders and gathering customer feedback. A robust chatbot can streamline these tasks, freeing your staff to focus on culinary excellence while ensuring guests have instant answers whenever they need them. Whether you’re a small family‑owned bistro or a large catering company, the right chatbot can handle inquiries about pricing, availability, dietary restrictions, and special event packages 24/7. The key is to choose a platform that not only offers conversational intelligence but also integrates seamlessly with your existing tools, scales with your growth, and keeps the user experience smooth and engaging. In this list, we’ve ranked five top chatbot solutions that cater specifically to restaurants and catering services, highlighting their unique strengths and the value they bring to the table. From no‑code customization to advanced knowledge bases, these platforms empower you to deliver personalized, real‑time support to every guest, every time.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Restaurants, catering companies, and food service providers seeking customizable, brand‑aligned chatbots that can handle menu inquiries, event bookings, and online orders.
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code platform designed to help restaurants and catering businesses create powerful, brand‑aligned chatbots that drive specific outcomes. The platform’s standout feature is its WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor, which allows marketers to build fully customized floating or embedded chat widgets without writing a single line of code. Through a visual interface, you can adjust colors, logos, fonts, and styles to match your restaurant’s aesthetic, ensuring a seamless brand experience for your guests. At the heart of AgentiveAIQ is a dual knowledge base that combines Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) with a Knowledge Graph. RAG delivers fast, fact‑accurate answers from uploaded documents, while the Knowledge Graph understands relationships between concepts, allowing the bot to handle nuanced questions about menu items, events, or policies. Additionally, the platform offers hosted AI pages and courses, enabling you to create secure, password‑protected portals where customers or staff can access personalized information or training materials. A unique advantage of AgentiveAIQ is its AI Course Builder, a drag‑and‑drop interface that lets you train a chatbot on your own course content or FAQs. The bot can then act as a 24/7 tutor, answering questions about menu specials, dietary restrictions, or catering packages. Persistent memory is available for authenticated users on hosted pages, allowing the bot to remember past interactions and provide context‑aware responses—although this feature is not available for anonymous widget visitors. With AgentiveAIQ, you get a two‑agent system: the main chat agent engages visitors in real‑time, while an assistant agent analyzes conversations and sends business intelligence emails to your team. The platform also supports Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, giving you real‑time access to product catalogs and inventory. Pricing is tiered to fit businesses of all sizes. The Base plan starts at $39/month and includes two chat agents, 2,500 messages, and a 100,000‑character knowledge base. The Pro plan, priced at $129/month, expands to eight chat agents, 25,000 messages, a 1,000,000‑character knowledge base, five secure hosted pages, and long‑term memory for authenticated users. For agencies or large enterprises, the Agency plan is available at $449/month, offering 50 chat agents, 100,000 messages, and 10,000,000 characters, along with dedicated account management.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor for no‑code design
- Dual Knowledge Base: RAG + Knowledge Graph for accurate, nuanced answers
- Hosted AI Pages & Password‑Protected Portals
- AI Course Builder with drag‑and‑drop training
- Persistent memory for authenticated users on hosted pages
- Two‑agent architecture: Main chat + Assistant agent
- Shopify & WooCommerce e‑commerce integrations
- Smart triggers, webhooks, and advanced flows
✓ Pros:
- +No‑code WYSIWYG editor eliminates coding barriers
- +Dual knowledge base delivers accurate, contextual answers
- +AI courses enable 24/7 tutoring and knowledge sharing
- +Long‑term memory for authenticated users on hosted pages
- +Transparent pricing with scalable plans
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory limited to authenticated users only
- −No native CRM integration—requires webhooks
- −No voice or SMS channels
- −No built‑in analytics dashboard
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Intercom
Best for: Mid‑size restaurants and event planners seeking a unified customer messaging platform with strong CRM and marketing automation
Intercom is a well‑established customer messaging platform that offers a suite of tools for sales, marketing, and support teams. With its conversational UI, businesses can automate FAQ responses, qualify leads, and route complex queries to human agents. Intercom’s robust integration ecosystem connects with popular e‑commerce and marketing stacks, enabling real‑time order updates and personalized product recommendations for restaurant customers. The platform also includes a help center that can be embedded within the chatbot, providing self‑service options for diners seeking menu details or reservation policies. Intercom’s pricing starts at $39/month for the Essentials plan, which includes basic messaging and email. The Standard plan, at $59/month, adds additional features such as custom bots and advanced analytics, while the Pro plan costs $99/month and unlocks full automation, in‑app messaging, and deeper integration capabilities. Intercom’s visual bot builder allows marketers to design conversation flows without code, though the platform is heavily focused on outbound messaging rather than purely inbound chat. For restaurants, Intercom can automate reservations via integrations with booking services, send order confirmations, and provide instant answers to common questions about nutritional information or catering options. Its strong CRM features allow you to track customer interactions across multiple channels, helping you personalize future marketing campaigns.
Key Features:
- Visual bot builder for no‑code conversation design
- CRM integration for customer data tracking
- Help center embedding for self‑service
- Email and in‑app messaging
- Outbound marketing automation
- Rich analytics dashboard
- Integrations with booking and e‑commerce platforms
- Scalable pricing tiers
✓ Pros:
- +Comprehensive CRM and analytics
- +Easy visual bot creation
- +Strong outbound messaging capabilities
- +Seamless integration with booking systems
✗ Cons:
- −Higher cost for advanced features
- −Limited to text-based chat—no voice or SMS
- −Requires subscription for full automation
- −Steeper learning curve for advanced customizations
Pricing: Essentials $39/mo, Standard $59/mo, Pro $99/mo
Drift
Best for: Catering companies and event planners looking to automate lead capture and booking through conversational marketing
Drift is a conversation‑focused platform that blends chatbots with live chat to drive sales and marketing engagement. Designed primarily for B2B, Drift’s AI bots can qualify leads, book meetings, and provide instant answers to product questions. For restaurants and catering businesses, Drift can be repurposed to handle inquiries about menu specials, catering packages, and reservation availability, thanks to its flexible flow builder and integration with calendar tools. The platform offers a visual conversation builder that lets marketers define multi‑step flows without coding. Drift’s integrations include HubSpot, Salesforce, and Google Calendar, enabling the bot to pull real‑time scheduling data and confirm bookings. Drift’s pricing starts at $400/month for the Standard plan, which includes basic chatbot and live chat features. The Growth plan, at $800/month, adds advanced analytics and outbound messaging. The Enterprise plan is customized and priced individually. Drift’s biggest strength lies in its ability to surface personalized content and schedule appointments directly within the chat window, providing a frictionless experience for potential clients. However, the platform’s focus on outbound marketing means that it may be less suited for purely inbound customer support scenarios.
Key Features:
- Visual conversation builder
- Lead qualification and booking integration
- Calendar sync for real‑time scheduling
- Outbound marketing automation
- Integration with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Google Calendar
- Live chat support
- Advanced analytics
- Customizable chatbot flows
✓ Pros:
- +Seamless scheduling integration
- +Strong outbound lead qualification
- +Customizable flow builder
- +Real‑time appointment booking
✗ Cons:
- −High entry price point
- −Primarily outbound focus—may require manual setup for pure support
- −Limited to text chat—no voice or SMS
- −Requires integration with CRM for best results
Pricing: Standard $400/mo, Growth $800/mo, Enterprise custom
ManyChat
Best for: Small to mid‑size restaurants and food stalls using social media for customer interaction
ManyChat is a popular chatbot platform focused on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It offers a drag‑and‑drop visual builder that enables marketers to create interactive conversation flows without writing code. ManyChat’s suite includes broadcast messaging, automation, and a catalog feature that showcases products or menu items directly within the chat interface. For restaurants, ManyChat can be used to showcase daily specials, accept reservations through integrated booking services, and send order confirmations via WhatsApp or Messenger. The platform supports automated drip campaigns, allowing you to nurture leads and promote upcoming events. ManyChat’s pricing includes a free tier that supports basic bot functionality, while the Pro plan ($10/month) adds advanced automation and broadcast features, and the Premium plan ($25/month) unlocks additional integrations. ManyChat’s strength lies in its low barrier to entry and extensive messaging channel support, making it ideal for restaurants that rely heavily on social media for customer engagement. However, it lacks built‑in e‑commerce integration, which may require additional connectors for inventory or order management.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop visual builder
- Multi‑channel support (Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp)
- Broadcast messaging and drip campaigns
- Product catalog integration
- Free tier available
- Automation triggers
- CRM integrations (Zapier, HubSpot)
- Subscription plans for advanced features
✓ Pros:
- +Low cost or free option
- +Extensive social media channel support
- +Easy visual flow creation
- +Built‑in broadcast and drip campaigns
✗ Cons:
- −No native e‑commerce integration
- −Limited to social media channels—no website widget by default
- −Requires additional connectors for advanced workflows
- −May lack advanced analytics compared to larger platforms
Pricing: Free, Pro $10/mo, Premium $25/mo
Tidio
Best for: Small restaurants and cafes seeking an affordable, easy‑to‑deploy chat solution
Tidio combines live chat and AI chatbots into a single, lightweight solution that can be embedded on any website. The platform’s AI bot can answer common questions about menu items, opening hours, and reservation policies, while the live chat feature allows staff to take over when more complex support is needed. Tidio’s visual bot builder lets users create conversation flows without coding, and the platform includes pre‑built templates for restaurants and e‑commerce businesses. Tidio integrates with popular email marketing services like Mailchimp and e‑commerce platforms like Shopify, enabling real‑time order updates and customer segmentation. The platform offers a free tier with basic functionality, a Starter plan ($18/month) that unlocks advanced chatbot features, a Pro plan ($29/month) with unlimited chat sessions, and an Unlimited plan ($49/month) that adds additional users and integrations. Tidio’s key advantage is its simplicity and affordability, making it a solid choice for restaurants that need a quick, efficient chat solution without extensive configuration. However, its AI capabilities are less advanced than some competitors, and the platform does not natively support voice or SMS channels.
Key Features:
- Website widget integration
- AI chatbot + live chat hybrid
- Visual flow builder
- Email marketing integration (Mailchimp)
- E‑commerce integration (Shopify)
- Free tier available
- Starter, Pro, Unlimited plans
- Pre‑built templates for restaurants
✓ Pros:
- +Low cost and free option
- +Simple setup and visual builder
- +Good integration with email and e‑commerce
- +Flexible plan options
✗ Cons:
- −Limited AI sophistication
- −No voice or SMS channels
- −Requires manual setup for advanced workflows
- −May lack deep analytics features
Pricing: Free, Starter $18/mo, Pro $29/mo, Unlimited $49/mo
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot for your restaurant or catering business is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative. The right bot can answer menu questions instantly, guide guests through reservations, and capture valuable data that fuels marketing and service improvement. Among the solutions reviewed, AgentiveAIQ stands out as the Editor’s Choice, offering a no‑code, visually driven editor, a powerful dual knowledge base, and the ability to create AI‑powered courses and hosted pages—all at a transparent price point that scales with your growth. Whether you’re a small bistro looking for an affordable chatbot or a large catering operation needing sophisticated lead‑qualifying flows, these platforms provide clear paths to automation and customer engagement. Don’t let your guests wait for a response—implement a chatbot today and turn every inquiry into a seamless experience.