A family from Japan is planning a trip to your city. Before they arrive, they want to book a dinner somewhere memorable. They find your restaurant, but the menu is in English and they are not sure what some dishes are. They want to know whether they need to book, whether there are options for a child who does not eat seafood, and whether they can pay by card. They would ask more confidently in Japanese.
Restaurant tourist enquiries come from visitors who want a good meal but face language and practical barriers. Answering in their language removes those barriers.
When tourists research
Many tourists plan meals before they travel, often late at night in their own time zone. Others search on their phones while walking around the city, looking for somewhere to eat within the next hour. Both need fast answers. Mobile search in particular is covered in how mobile visitors send enquiries.
What tourists ask
- Do I need to book?
- What time do you open?
- What is this dish?
- Do you have options for vegetarians, children or allergies?
- Do you accept cards?
- Is there a translated menu?
- How do I get there from the city centre?
Answering in their language
Visitor (in Japanese): Do we need a reservation for dinner on Saturday? Assistant (in Japanese): Booking is recommended for Saturday evenings, as it's usually busy. You can book online, and the kitchen can prepare seafood-free options for children. Cards are accepted.
SpideyChat for restaurants replies in the visitor's language using your existing English website. Hotels face the same challenge with international guests, as described in multilingual guests and the questions they ask before arrival.
Explaining the menu
Tourists often ask what dishes are. A short plain-language description for each dish on your website makes these answers possible in any language. It also helps local guests who do not know a particular ingredient.
Vouchers and experiences
Some tourists buy vouchers or book special experiences, like tasting menus, before arriving. Clear information on these helps, as covered in voucher and gift card questions from restaurant guests.
Groups and tour operators
Tour groups and operators sometimes enquire about group meals. These are valuable and should reach a manager, similar to catering enquiries described in catering and takeaway enquiries from your website.
Tipping and customs
Visitors from abroad often ask about local customs: whether service is included, whether tipping is expected and how payment works at the table. A short, friendly answer prevents awkwardness at the end of the meal and makes visitors feel looked after.
Local specialities
Tourists often want to try something local. They ask which dishes are traditional, what the restaurant is known for and what they should not miss. A short note on the menu marking local specialities, with a sentence on each, gives the assistant something to answer from and helps visitors feel they are getting an authentic experience rather than a generic one. If a dish has an unfamiliar name, add a plain description of what it contains and how it is served, so visitors can order with confidence.
Reviews travel far
Tourists who have a great experience often leave reviews in their own language on international travel sites. Those reviews bring more visitors from the same country. Good service in the first message is where that cycle starts.
To see how tourists' questions would be answered, try an assistant on your restaurant website, or see the features.