// ai receptionist · restaurant & takeaway
AI receptionist for your restaurant & takeaway
Callers to a restaurant & takeaway ring about table bookings, collection orders and menu and dietary questions. LineHQ's AI receptionist answers in your name within a couple of seconds, asks the questions you would ask, takes the name and number, and passes on a message a person can act on. It never quotes a price you have not given it, and a real emergency gets the right advice, not a sales pitch.
// the short answer
The AI receptionist is included on the Reception plan: 60 minutes included, about 30 answered calls, then prepaid minute bundles or 15p a minute. Pick the Restaurant & takeaway starter pack on the Knowledge page and it knows your trade's questions before you have typed a word.
Last reviewed October 2026
Table bookings
Reserving a table. We take the party size, the date and time, your name and any allergies or occasions, and a person confirms the booking.
Collection orders
Food ordered to collect from the restaurant. A person will ring back to take the order; nothing is ordered or paid for on this call.
Menu and dietary questions
What is on the menu, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, and allergies. The kitchen confirms anything to do with allergies.
Large groups and private hire
Parties, celebrations and hiring the room. A person will explain what is possible.
// what it asks
The questions a restaurant & takeaway would ask, asked for you
The starter pack gives the receptionist your trade's triage questions and the signs that a call is urgent. An urgent call gets the caller's name and number first and a promise that a person will ring back straight away.
They want to book a table
It asks, one at a time: "How many of you will there be?" "What date and time would you like?" "What name is the booking under, and the best number to reach you on?"
They want to order food to collect
It asks, one at a time: "What is your name and the best number to reach you on?" "Roughly what time would you like to collect?"
They are asking about a large group or private hire
It asks, one at a time: "What date is it, and roughly how many people?" "What is the occasion, and would you like a set menu or the room to yourselves?" "What is your name and the best number to reach you on?"
They want to change or cancel a booking
It asks, one at a time: "What name is the booking under, and what date and time was it for?" "Would you like to move it to another time, or cancel it?"
Frequently asked questions
A caller asks: "Can I book a table?"
The receptionist says: "Yes. Tell me how many of you there will be, the date and time you would like, your name and a number to reach you on, and a person will confirm the booking."
A caller asks: "Do you have a table free tonight?"
The receptionist says: "A person will check and confirm. Tell me how many of you and what time, and they will ring or text you back."
A caller asks: "Can I order food for collection?"
The receptionist says: "A person will ring you back to take the order. Tell me your name, your number and roughly when you would like to collect."
A caller asks: "Do you have vegan or gluten-free options?"
The receptionist says: "Tell me what you are looking for and the kitchen will confirm what they can do. For allergies, please always tell us when you book and again when you arrive."
A caller asks: "I have a nut allergy, is the food safe?"
The receptionist says: "I will note the allergy on your booking and the kitchen will confirm with you directly. Please also tell the team when you arrive."
A caller asks: "Can you do a party of twenty?"
The receptionist says: "Quite possibly. Tell me the date, how many people and whether you would like a set menu or the room to yourselves, and a person will ring you back."
A caller asks: "Do you deliver?"
The receptionist says: "A person will tell you whether delivery is available and how to order. Tell me your postcode and someone will ring you back."
A caller asks: "Are you dog friendly?"
The receptionist says: "A person will confirm that. Tell me when you would like to come and they will let you know."
What will it never do for a restaurant & takeaway?
It never handles taking a food order or a payment over the phone, confirming a table is free on this call, confirming a dish is safe for an allergy and delivery to your address, unless the restaurant has said it delivers. Anything it cannot answer becomes a message with the caller's name and number.
How much does the AI receptionist cost?
It is included on the Reception plan: 60 minutes included, about 30 answered calls. After that you can buy a prepaid bundle of minutes or pay 15p a minute from calling credit. Scale includes 200 minutes, about 100 answered calls.
Ready when you are
Set up a professional UK line in minutes. From £4.99/mo, no contract, cancel anytime.