AI is quickly becoming another way consumers decide where to eat, and new research from Menufy shows independent restaurants have an opportunity to benefit.
What the research found
80%
of consumers said they'd try a smaller, independently owned restaurant they'd never heard of if it were recommended by AI
Source: Menufy survey of 1,000 U.S. adults
The findings are getting attention, with Menufy's research recently featured by Yahoo! Finance and QSRWeb.
A New Way for Diners to Discover Local Restaurants
Restaurant discovery has changed significantly over the years. Diners have moved from word-of-mouth recommendations and traditional search engines to social media, review platforms, and now AI-powered tools.
For independent restaurants, that shift creates another opportunity to get in front of potential guests.
Menufy's research found that consumers are increasingly comfortable turning to AI for restaurant recommendations, including recommendations for businesses they may not have discovered otherwise. That could help level the playing field for independent restaurants competing for attention alongside larger, nationally recognized brands.
The takeaway for restaurant owners is simple: your digital presence matters wherever guests are searching. Keeping restaurant information accurate, consistent, and easy to find online can help AI-powered tools better understand your business and potentially surface it when diners are looking for their next meal.
Menufy in the news
Our research is getting some love from the press. Here's the coverage.
Yahoo! Finance
Menufy Survey Shows It's Time for Independent Restaurants to Get AI-Ready
Yahoo! Finance highlights Menufy's research and what the growing use of AI-powered restaurant discovery could mean for independent operators.
Read the coverage →QSRWeb
Menufy: 80% of Consumers Would Try AI-Recommended Independent Restaurants
QSRWeb takes a closer look at the survey findings and how artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for independent restaurants to reach guests.
Read the coverage →What This Means for Independent Restaurants
AI isn't replacing the ways guests already find restaurants. Instead, it's becoming another discovery channel restaurants should be thinking about alongside Google, social media, reviews, and their own websites.
For independent operators, that means the fundamentals still matter: maintaining accurate business information, building a strong online presence, earning guest reviews, and making it easy for diners to understand what makes your restaurant worth trying.
As restaurant discovery continues to evolve, Menufy will continue helping independent restaurants understand these changes and find practical ways to stay visible wherever their guests are searching.
Want to dig deeper into the research and learn how your restaurant can prepare for AI-powered discovery?