A couple have tickets for a 7:30pm show. They want dinner first, somewhere near the theatre, and they want to be sure they will finish on time. They find your restaurant, see "pre-theatre menu available" and have four questions before they will book. If nobody answers them in the next few minutes, they will book the place next door that lists everything clearly.
Set menus and early dinner deals are great for filling quieter slots. They also come with more questions than an ordinary booking.
Why these guests are different
Pre-theatre guests are on a deadline. They cannot linger, and they know it. They want certainty about timing before they commit. Set menu guests more generally want to know exactly what they get for the price. Both groups decide quickly, and both will choose the restaurant that gives the clearest answer.
The questions that come up every time
Most restaurants get the same handful:
- What times does the set menu run?
- How many courses, and what are the choices?
- What does it cost, and does it include drinks?
- Are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options available?
- Will we be finished by a certain time?
- Is it available on weekends?
Menu questions of all kinds are covered in menu questions that should never reach your front of house. Set menus add timing to the mix.
Example conversations
Here are scripts based on answers a restaurant might publish. Your own answers should come from your own menu page.
Guest: What time does your pre-theatre menu run? Assistant: The pre-theatre menu is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday. It's two courses for a fixed price, or three courses with dessert, as shown on the menu page.
Guest: We have a show at 7:30. Will we be done in time? Assistant: The pre-theatre menu is designed for guests heading to a show. If you let the team know your show time when booking, they'll pace the meal so you finish comfortably. Would you like to book a table?
Guest: Is there a vegan option on the set menu? Assistant: Yes, the set menu includes a vegan main and starter, listed on the menu page. If you have an allergy, please mention it when booking so the kitchen can advise.
Guest: Can we get the set menu on a Saturday night? Assistant: The set menu runs until 6:30pm on Saturdays. After that, the main menu is served.
When the menu changes
Set menus often change with the seasons, and out-of-date information causes more problems than no information. We covered this in seasonal menus and the questions they create. Whenever the set menu changes, update the website first so answers stay accurate.
Capturing the booking
A clear answer is only useful if it leads to a booking. SpideyChat for restaurants can answer these questions from your own pages and then point guests to your booking page, or capture their name, party size, preferred time and show time for staff to confirm. Show times are worth capturing, because they help the kitchen pace service.
Other questions from the same guests
Theatre and event guests often ask about nearby parking or how long it takes to walk to the venue. If your restaurant is near a theatre, a short note on your site about walking time helps. The same principle of answering location questions clearly is covered in answering service area questions.
Restaurants offering takeaway alongside set menus will recognise similar patterns in local pickup and click and collect questions answered.
Getting started
Publish your set menu with clear times, days, courses, prices and dietary options, and add a line about finishing in time for shows. Then let guests get answers the moment they ask. See how it works on the features page, or try SpideyChat on your own site.
A few minutes spent tidying the set menu page often pays back in the first week, because the guests who need these answers are ready to book as soon as they get them.