AI in Your Restaurant: How Operators Can Save Hours, Increase Profit, and Build Smarter Systems Today

https://restauranttopia.com/

Episode Summary
In this high-energy, highly practical episode, Brian Seitz and Dave Ross break down the real-world, right-now ways AI can support restaurant operators. Whether you're hesitant, curious, or already all-in, this conversation will help you understand how to use AI to cut time-wasting tasks, improve menu performance, strengthen training, and build your own custom GPT to run sharper operations.

AI isn't a trend — it's the next major shift in how restaurants operate. And the opportunity? Massive. Dave and Brian share exactly how they're using AI daily and walk through simple, battle-tested use cases that any operator can start implementing this week.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

✔ Why AI in restaurants is not a fad — and why ignoring it puts operators behind
✔ Real use cases for AI in restaurants:

• Menu engineering & PMIX analysis in minutes
• Staff training + SOP creation
• Inventory and ordering optimization
• Marketing workflows (newsletters, social media, content)
• Customer service, phone ordering, and reservation automation

✔ How to create your own custom GPT for your restaurant

• What to upload
• How to train it
• How to empower managers and staff with a "digital assistant"

✔ What to avoid when starting with AI

• Privacy pitfalls
• Over-automation
• Connecting systems too quickly

✔ Quick wins to try this week

• Replace 5–10 weekly Google searches with AI prompts
• Use voice prompting to train your AI assistant on the go
• Build SOPs, onboarding documents, or menu descriptions with a single prompt
• Use AI for specials based on your current order guide

Sample Prompts You Can Copy & Use

Menu Engineering Prompt:
"Analyze this PMIX and identify my highest-margin items, items that need attention, and any dogs I should consider removing. Provide recommendations for pricing and promotion."

Training Prompt:
"Create a step-by-step SOP for training new hosts at a neighborhood casual dining restaurant."

Marketing Prompt:
"Draft a 6-week social media content plan for a locally-owned restaurant. Include post copy, themes, and calls to action."

Custom GPT Setup Prompt:
"I want to build an AI agent for my restaurant that handles menu innovation, staff training, and marketing. Ask me every question you need to fully understand my business and build the right system."

Take Action

If you're new to AI, start small:
1️⃣ Download ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or your preferred tool.
2️⃣ Use AI instead of Google for one full day.
3️⃣ Upload a simple restaurant document and ask it to make improvements.
4️⃣ Create your own custom GPT once you're comfortable.

Small habits add up — and they will make you faster, sharper, and more profitable.

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