AI assistant for restaurant bookings — what to ask and confirm

Finding a restaurant is easy until six people need the same evening, one needs step-free access and someone cannot eat gluten. An assistant is useful when it checks those details and follows through on the availability question.

Arlo is a personal AI assistant you can reach in iMessage or WhatsApp. It can research options, use connected websites and call a restaurant. This guide describes how to ask; it is not a report of a completed customer booking.

A useful restaurant request

Example: “Find a table for six near Trastevere this Saturday, between 7 and 8 pm. One person is vegan and one needs step-free access. Keep the menu around €40 each. Check availability and send me two options. Don't book or agree to a deposit yet.”

That gives Arlo the outcome, constraints and stopping point. If your date or location is ambiguous, it needs to ask before making assumptions.

Detail	What to specify
Time	Date, local time and acceptable alternatives
People	Party size, including children if relevant
Area	Neighbourhood and how far you will travel
Budget	Per person or total; whether drinks are included
Requirements	Dietary needs, allergies, access and seating
Authority	Research only, ask before booking, and any permitted deposit

What Arlo can check

Arlo can compare published menus and booking options, then use a website or phone call to ask about the details that remain. A menu label is not confirmation that a kitchen can safely accommodate an allergy. Ask for direct confirmation from the restaurant when the requirement affects whether someone can eat there.

Availability can change between research and checkout. A blocked slot, failed login or unanswered call may leave the task incomplete. The useful result identifies the options checked and the blocker, rather than presenting a reservation that has not happened.

Before you confirm

Check the venue, date, local time, party size and name on the reservation. Read the deposit and cancellation terms, and confirm any charge before allowing it. After booking, ask for the confirmation reference or the restaurant's confirmation message.

“Found two suitable places” means research is complete. “Called but no answer” means the availability check is incomplete. “Confirmed for six at 7:30, with reference…” is the kind of evidence to look for after a successful reservation. These are example outcome formats, not actual booking receipts.

When the group has not agreed on a time

Start with group planning, then hand off the booking. Finding a table before anyone has chosen a date can create more work than it saves. The delegation guide shows how to separate research from a commitment.

Cost and availability

Research, website actions and calls use your Arlo allowance. Check current pricing, including talking and hold time, before a long task. A subscription does not include the restaurant's own deposit or meal price. If a call is needed, confirm that Arlo can reach that destination; a supported messaging channel does not establish calling coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Can Arlo book a restaurant for me? Arlo can research options, check a website or call about availability, and help arrange the reservation with the access and approval needed. The task is complete only when the restaurant or booking system confirms it.

Can it check dietary and access needs? Yes. Include the specific requirement in your request and ask for direct confirmation where needed. An online menu alone does not establish that an allergy or access requirement can be accommodated.

Will it pay a deposit without asking? Spending money needs your authorization. State whether a deposit is allowed and ask to review its amount and cancellation terms before committing.

Do I need to connect my email first? Connect an account only if the task needs it. Researching options does not automatically require inbox access; using a reservation account or retrieving a confirmation may require a connection.

Ask Arlo about a table, or first compare personal assistants you can text.