🤖 Why AI Matters for Hospitality & F&B in 2026
AI adoption in hospitality & F&B is accelerating:
- 72% of restaurants now use AI for menu engineering, staff scheduling, or marketing (source: Statista, 2025).
- $18B projected global AI spend in hospitality & F&B by 2026.
- 3x faster guest response times and +40% higher customer satisfaction with AI-powered chatbots.
Ready to future-proof your business? 🚀 The hospitality industry is undergoing a digital revolution, and AI is at the forefront of this transformation. From automating routine tasks to creating personalized guest experiences, artificial intelligence is helping restaurants, cafés, and pubs work smarter, not harder.
Save Time
Reduce administrative work by up to 70% with AI tools that automate social media, menu design, and customer communications.
Reduce Costs
Cut design, marketing, and operational expenses by leveraging AI to create professional content without specialist hires.
Increase Revenue
Grow your bottom line with data-driven menu engineering, targeted promotions, and enhanced customer engagement.
At Epicurean Digital Consultants, we constantly test and implement the latest AI tools, bringing enterprise-level technology to independent food businesses. This page is updated weekly with our latest findings and practical ways to implement these tools in your operations.
Featured AI Tools
Sora (OpenAI)
Transform simple text descriptions into cinematic-quality videos for menu items, promotional content, and restaurant atmosphere.
Hospitality Use Case
Create stunning 10-15 second promotional videos for new menu items without hiring a videographer.
Before vs. After
From £500 per video with professional videography to £15-30 per video with AI, ready in minutes instead of days.
Gemini (Google)
Google's powerful AI system that can understand and generate text, images, and code—perfect for content creation and business intelligence.
Hospitality Use Case
Build landing pages for seasonal menus, special events, and promotions in minutes without coding knowledge.
Before vs. After
From 2-3 days of web development work to just 30 minutes of AI-assisted content generation.
11Labs
Generate ultra-realistic, natural-sounding voiceovers and narration for your marketing content, training materials, and menu introductions.
Hospitality Use Case
Create professional narration for chef videos, menu explanation videos, and virtual restaurant tours.
Before vs. After
From hiring voice talent at £200+ per recording to generating unlimited voiceovers for £16/month.
MidJourney
Create stunning, photorealistic images of food, interiors, and restaurant atmospheres from text descriptions in seconds.
Hospitality Use Case
Generate professional food photography for menus, social media, and advertisements without hiring a photographer.
Before vs. After
From £300+ per professional food photography session to £30/month for unlimited AI-generated images.
AI of the Week
Nano Banana for Menu Photography
This week, we're spotlighting Nano Banana, the breakthrough AI tool for generating ultra-realistic food images and interactive menu visuals. Nano Banana is making headlines in 2025 for its ability to instantly create mouthwatering photos and dynamic menu experiences that boost customer engagement and sales.
Success Story: Mango Tree London
Mango Tree, a popular restaurant in London, needed fresh visuals for their new fusion menu and wanted to stand out in a competitive market. With Nano Banana, they created interactive menu images and engaging food videos in less than a day—no expensive photo shoots required.
"Nano Banana helped us launch our new menu with stunning visuals and interactive features that wowed our guests. We saw a 35% increase in online orders and our social media engagement doubled within a week. It's the most powerful AI tool we've used in 2025!"
Priya Patel, General Manager
Key Benefits
- Instantly create interactive menu images and videos for new dishes
- Test customer reactions with AI-generated visuals before launch
- Update seasonal menus and specials in minutes, not days
- Save up to 90% compared to traditional food photography and video production
Practical Applications
Here's how to implement these AI tools in your hospitality business, with step-by-step guides that anyone can follow, regardless of technical expertise.
Using Sora for Menu Promotion Videos
Write a Detailed Dish Description
Start with a rich, detailed description of your dish, including ingredients, plating style, lighting, and atmosphere.
"A close-up of a perfectly plated tiramisu dessert on a white porcelain plate, with a dusting of cocoa powder and a mint leaf garnish. The camera slowly moves around the dessert, showing layers of mascarpone cream and coffee-soaked ladyfingers. The scene is set in a warm, rustic Italian restaurant with soft, golden lighting."
Generate the Video with Sora
Input your description into Sora and specify the desired length (typically 10-15 seconds works best for social media).
Pro tip: Add "cinematic quality, 4K resolution, food photography style" to your description for best results.
Add Your Branding and Text
Use a simple video editor like CapCut to add your logo, dish name, and call-to-action.
Distribute Across Channels
Share on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Use as website headers or in-store digital displays.
Results You Can Expect
Time Saved
~5 hours per video
Cost Savings
£300-500 per video
Engagement Increase
+42% on average
Example results from our client implementations:
- Italian bistro saw 52% more clicks on promoted dishes
- Cocktail bar reported 38% increase in featured drink orders
- Bakery achieved 3.2x ROI on paid social using AI videos
Using Gemini for Landing Page Creation
Provide Event/Menu Details
Ask Gemini to create a landing page for your special event or seasonal menu with specific details about your offerings, dates, and theme.
Request HTML & CSS
Ask for complete HTML and CSS code that can be directly implemented on your website or through platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.
Refine & Implement
Review the generated page, request refinements if needed, then implement on your website platform.
Sample Prompt
"I need a landing page for my restaurant's Valentine's Day special event. We're offering a 4-course prix fixe menu for £75 per person including a glass of champagne. The theme is 'Romance in Paris'. The menu includes: Starter options of French onion soup or goat cheese salad; Main course options of beef bourguignon or salmon en croute; Dessert options of chocolate soufflé or crème brûlée; and a cheese board to finish. We need to emphasize limited availability and include a booking form. Our brand colors are burgundy and gold. Please create the complete HTML and CSS for a responsive landing page that I can add to my website."
Using 11Labs for Menu Narration
Write Menu Item Descriptions
Create compelling descriptions for featured menu items that you want to highlight in videos or audio guides.
Select Voice & Style
Choose from 11Labs' library of voices or clone a voice that matches your brand personality (with proper permissions).
Generate & Implement
Create audio files and add them to your videos, QR code experiences, or digital menu boards.
Using Nano Banana for Food Photography
Craft Detailed Food Prompts for Nano Banana
Create detailed descriptions of your dishes, including ingredients, plating style, environment, and desired photographic style.
"An overhead shot of a perfectly plated avocado toast on rustic sourdough bread, topped with poached egg, microgreens, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of olive oil. The toast is served on a matte black ceramic plate against a light wooden table. Natural morning light is coming from the left. Professional food photography style, sharp focus, f/2.8 aperture, 85mm lens. (Prompt for Nano Banana)"
Generate Multiple Variations with Nano Banana
Create 4-10 variations of each dish to find the perfect angle and presentation.
Edit & Implement Nano Banana Images
Make minor adjustments in photo editing software if needed, then use images across your marketing materials.
Pro Tips for Nano Banana Food Images
- Use "food photography", "professional", "award-winning", and "Nano Banana" in your prompts
- Specify lighting: "natural light", "soft lighting", or "golden hour"
- Include camera details: "85mm lens", "shallow depth of field"
- Mention specific food photographers: "style of David Loftus"
- Create a consistent aesthetic across all images by using the same style descriptors
Weekly AI Updates
Stay ahead of the competition with our weekly AI tool updates specifically for hospitality businesses. Each Friday, we'll send you the latest tools, practical applications, and case studies.
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Request a Demo
Want to see these AI tools in action with your specific business needs? Schedule a personalized demo where we'll show you how to implement these tools for your unique situation.
Custom Implementation Plan
We'll create a tailored strategy for your specific business needs.
Live Tool Demonstration
See the tools in action with your own menu items, space, and brand.
ROI Analysis
We'll provide a detailed breakdown of expected time and cost savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about AI tools for restaurants and hospitality businesses
Still Have Questions?
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