How AI is Transforming Restaurants: Insights from Flipdish's CEO

AI is no longer reserved for tech giants. It’s changing how independent restaurant owners operate daily, from how they manage menus to how they speak to customers. We sat down with Conor McCarthy, CEO and co-founder of Flipdish, to explore how AI is unlocking real value in hospitality. With years of experience helping restaurants embrace digital transformation, Conor shares how AI is reshaping marketing, loyalty, and operational tasks, making life easier and business stronger for food operators of every size.

We spoke with Conor McCarthy, co-founder and CEO of Flipdish, to explore how independent restaurant owners can harness AI tools to grow smarter and work more efficiently.

How is AI currently being used in restaurants?

Until recently, most restaurants used AI indirectly. It operated behind the scenes; handling things like fraud detection or spam filtering. But with the rise of generative AI, restaurants now have tools that help with very real, day-to-day tasks like content creation, image enhancement, and campaign automation.

Why should restaurant operators care about AI now?

Because it frees up time. Restaurant owners are constantly balancing operations, customer service, and marketing. AI helps reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks. For example, planning a seasonal promotion used to take hours. Now, AI tools can automatically identify dates, write content, and push it out across platforms in minutes.

How is AI improving marketing and menu tasks?

Marketing has become more efficient. AI tools can generate campaign text, segment audiences, and schedule content, all without human input. The same goes for menu imagery. Instead of needing a DSLR camera and editing software, restaurant teams can now use AI-powered tools to enhance and clean up photos from a phone.

When it comes to digital menus, AI also assists with item tagging for compliance, tax rules, or kitchen routing. What used to be a frustrating, manual task now happens almost instantly.

Is AI having an impact on kitchen and back-of-house operations?

Yes. For example, AI can help route orders to the correct station in the kitchen, reducing errors and improving speed. It ensures menu items are properly tagged and processed, so orders move smoothly through the system. That kind of automation is especially valuable during peak hours.

Is there a growing gap between restaurants that use AI and those that don’t?

Definitely. Recent data from Zendesk shows that seven in ten customers already recognise a difference between brands that use AI effectively and those that don’t. Customers expect fast, accurate service, and AI helps restaurants deliver that consistently. Businesses that ignore these tools may struggle to keep up.

How is AI changing customer support in hospitality?

It’s streamlining the process. AI can sort incoming messages, route them to the right department, or even draft replies. This reduces response times and gives smaller teams the ability to offer high-quality support without extra staff.

Will AI replace jobs in restaurants?

Not at all. The real value of AI lies in removing repetitive, low-impact work so staff can focus on what really matters, which is delivering great service and hospitality. It’s similar to how spellcheck didn’t replace writers; it just made them more efficient.

What are some advanced ways AI is helping with loyalty and online presence?

AI is making loyalty programmes smarter. Instead of offering blanket discounts, businesses can now deliver personalised offers based on what customers actually order and when. For example, sending a deal for a regular’s favourite dish on a quiet Tuesday can drive repeat visits.

It’s also making website creation much easier. Flipdish, for example, uses AI to import customer reviews, match brand colours, and generate page copy. It’s possible to get a professional online presence up and running in hours, not weeks.

Where should a restaurant start with AI?

The key is to look at what tools you already use. Ask your suppliers if they include AI features. Look for time-consuming tasks that can be automated, like tagging, customer segmentation, or content generation. Don’t worry about building your own models, just start with practical tools that solve real problems.

Independent restaurants often have an advantage here. With fewer internal hurdles and closer tech relationships, they can adopt and adapt quickly, often faster than bigger chains.

Final thoughts

AI is already improving how restaurants run. It’s not about replacing people, it’s about giving teams more time to do what they do best. Operators who embrace AI now will have an edge in efficiency, loyalty, and customer satisfaction.