Reservation Wars, AI in the Dining Room, and the Future of Hospitality!!
5/25/202641 min
The reservation wars are heating up, as SevenRooms (via DoorDash) seeks to challenge OpenTable and Resy with a major play. Adrienne and Joe tell us why this is just the beginning, and how technology and AI are changing the dining experience. In this episode, we also discuss: Why dining experiences have become a huge focus for big tech (and your credit card company) The influence of social media on culinary trends and menu design The evolution of restaurant operations from analog to digital (and why we may be moving back) A shift in power for how restaurants are able to book reservations The initial rise of reservation platforms like OpenTable, Tock, and Resy The role of AI in restaurant operations and guest experience Should we trust AI to get involved in our reservations? Walk In Confession: Joe’s first restaurant convention (a coming of age) Follow the show: @chefscutpod Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham Follow Joe: @insta.flamm
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAdrienne Cheatham· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Today on The Chef's Cut, we're talking about the reservation wars and AI. Restaurants used to run on hospitality and instinct. Now they run on algorithms, data, and platforms, and the question is whether technology is making dining better or just more transactional. We're asking should restaurants try to optimize for social media or good food?
Joe Flamm· Host0:34
You can't write a menu based on Instagrammable moments.
Adrienne Cheatham· Host0:37
Are tech-backed reservation platforms actually helping restaurants? It's like a gamified version of getting like that little dopamine hit when you score that reservation. And is all of this even better for guests? Restaurants are one of the last spaces in this world that require human connection. But first, Chef's Cut Nation, you know what time it is. We need 10 seconds of your day. Please don't forget to rate and review wherever you get your pods, and if you're watching on YouTube, hit Subscribe. Your support has gotten us this far, and it'll help keep us going. [upbeat music] Joe, you had a pretty big weekend this past week in Chicago. There was a lot going on.
Joe Flamm· Host1:24
We had the NRA show in town, and I'm not talking about Rifles A. [laughs] I'm talking about the restaurant