By business · Food and drink

Instagram auto-replies for restaurants

Diners message when they are choosing where to eat, which is usually while your team is mid-service. Comment-to-DM sends the menu, the booking steps or the allergen guide at once, and leaves the questions that need a person for you. Below: words that suit a restaurant, four set-ups, freebies and what to check.

Updated 6 October 2026

Start free See the set-ups

Comment words for restaurants

Ask people to comment one word in your caption or video. Each word sends something different.

MENU: The current menu for lunch, dinner or sharing, with a note of the date it was last updated so a diner is not reading an old one.
TABLE: How to book: the booking page, how far ahead you open the diary, the group size where you need a call and any deposit.
HOURS: Opening times by day, the kitchen's last order, any holiday closures and whether you take walk-ins.
ALLERGY: Your allergen and dietary guide, and a clear note that a member of the team confirms any specific need before the table is booked.
PRIVATE: Private dining and parties: rooms and capacity, set menus, minimum spend, deposit and the date after which you stop taking bookings.
VOUCHER: Gift vouchers by amount, how they are sent, how long they last and how the person receiving one books a table with it.
SPECIAL: Tonight's specials or this week's, with the price and whether they run out, for people who reply to the daily Story.
BRUNCH: Weekend brunch: the hours, whether you take bookings, the set price and what the queue usually looks like at eleven.

4 set-ups to try

Each one shows the conversation it creates. After a comment, the first DM is plain text, as Meta requires, and the link follows once they answer.

Menu from a signature dish Reel
Someone comments on your post
MENU
Public reply under their comment
The menu is in your DMs 🍽️
First DM (plain text)
That dish is a favourite here. Are you thinking lunch, dinner or something to share with a group? Reply and I'll send the menu that fits, with the date it was last updated.Yes pleaseMenu: lunch, dinner and sharingSee the menu
Lunch, dinner and set menus differ, and a PDF saved last season is the most common source of a wrong price at the table. Asking which meal sends the right one and makes the date visible.
Table requests from DMs
TABLEHappy to help. How many of you are coming, and which day and time were you hoping for? Reply with those and I'll send how to book and what we can hold.Book a tableBook now
Party size decides which path fits: a table of two goes to the booking page, a table of twelve may need a call. DMFast cannot check availability, so the page checks the diary and you answer anything unusual.
Tonight's special from a daily Story
Replied to your story
SPECIALGlad it caught your eye. Are you hoping to come tonight, or planning ahead for the week? Reply and I'll send what's on, the price and the times we're open.This week's specialsSee the specials
Specials are posted around the time people choose where to go, and a reply means someone is deciding. Tonight or later changes what you send, and the card keeps the price visible so nothing surprises them at the table.
Allergy and dietary check before booking
ALLERGYThanks for checking first. Which allergy or dietary need should we know about? Reply with it and I'll send our allergen guide, and someone from the team will confirm anything specific with you.Allergen and dietary guideSee the guide
Never let an automatic reply say a dish is safe. The guide is your allergen chart with its date, and the allergen they name tells the team what to check. Someone must actually reply, so treat these messages as urgent.

Freebies worth commenting for

A one-page allergen chart for the whole menu, with the date it was last checked
The recipe for your signature dish, scaled for four, as a one-page card
A group-booking pack with set menus for 8, 12 and 20, deposit terms and cancellation rules
A first-visit guide: where to park, the nearest station, step-free access and whether dogs and prams are welcome
A quiet-times guide, with the hours when the dining room is calmest for families or a quiet dinner
A tasting-menu preview listing the courses and the optional drink pairings
A vegan and vegetarian guide to the menu, with which dishes can be adapted
A festive party planner with dates, per-head price and the last day to book

What diners ask a restaurant in DMs

Most questions arrive from people who have not decided yet, so a fast, clear answer can settle the choice. Automate the ones that never change and keep the ones where a mistake could cost you.

They ask	Send automatically	Answer yourself when
Are you open on Sunday?	The HOURS reply, with the kitchen's last order	A holiday or a private event has changed the day
Table for six on Saturday?	The TABLE guide and booking page	The group is large, or it is a night you are nearly full
Do you do gluten-free?	The ALLERGY guide and the team's follow-up	Always: confirm the dish and the kitchen's process
Can I bring my own cake?	A line in the TABLE reply with your policy	They want to bring something unusual or ask about a fee
Can we hire the back room?	The PRIVATE pack with capacity and set menus	Always: you quote for the date and the guest count
Do you sell vouchers?	The VOUCHER page	They want a custom amount or a delivery abroad

Tip: Treat an allergy message as urgent whatever the hour. The automatic reply buys you time, and it should say clearly that a member of the team will confirm details before anyone books.

Posts that earn comments, and the word for each

A slow shot of one dish being plated at the pass, with MENU for the full menu.
A four o'clock Story of tonight's specials on the chalkboard, with SPECIAL as the reply word.
A Story the morning two tables cancel, with TABLE so the people who reply can book them.
A weekend brunch Reel showing the queue and the food, with BRUNCH for hours and booking.
A tour of the private room set for a party, with PRIVATE for the pack.
A chef or a server introduced by name, with their permission, with MENU for what they would recommend.

The year has peaks: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day on its different dates around the world, summer for places with outdoor seating, and the party season from autumn through the festive weeks. Put the words live before the first announcement, and remember that comments only get a private reply within 7 days of posting.

From a comment to a booked table

The comment or message starts a DM that asks for the one fact you need: the meal, the party size or the allergy.
The card opens your menu, your booking page or your allergen guide. DMFast does not connect to a booking system or check availability, so the booking page does that.
For private dining and anything with an allergy, move to a call or an email. People expect a person, and the answer matters.
Do not rely on Instagram for booking reminders. Automated messages only reach someone within 24 hours of their last message, so a reminder the day before is usually not allowed. Use your booking system's email or text.

Rules and risks for restaurants

Allergens. Many countries require restaurants to be able to tell customers about major allergens in their food, and the rules differ by country. Check what applies to you, keep the chart current and never let a template say a dish is safe.
Prices and offers. Check that a menu or a deal shown in a DM is the one you are honouring, since an old PDF can cause a dispute at the table.
Deposits and cancellations. State the terms in the TABLE reply and on the booking page, so nobody says they did not see them.
Customers on camera. Ask before you post a guest's photo, and keep them out of shot if they say no.
Keywords. Use TABLE and MENU on the posts they belong to, because ordinary comments such as “great menu” can trigger them if they are set on every post.
Platform limits. One private reply per comment, a cap of 750 an hour and the 24-hour window for messages. DMFast stays under 700 an hour.

Messages to copy

Questions people ask

Can it take a table booking inside Instagram?

No. DMFast does not connect to booking software and cannot see your diary. The card opens the booking page you already use, and the first DM asks the group size and the day so the page link fits. You answer unusual requests yourself.

Can it answer allergy questions on its own?

It should not. Use it to send your allergen guide and to ask which allergy the diner has. Say clearly that a team member will confirm details, and have someone reply. AI replies use only the information you provide, so do not give them an answer for a specific dish.

Does it work for a restaurant with a Facebook Page?

Yes. Comments on your Page's posts and Messenger messages can get the same keyword replies, and many diners still use Facebook to find a local place. Story replies and “Only send to followers” are Instagram-only, so the SPECIAL Story set-up stays there.

Someone comments MENU on every post. Do they get a message each time?

No. Each person gets one answer a day from each auto-reply, so a repeat commenter is not sent the same message again. Comments made up of links or promo spam are skipped as well, so your inbox stays readable.

Can I remind people about their booking?

Not reliably through Instagram. Automated messages can only go to someone within 24 hours of their last message, so a reminder the day before is often outside it. Your booking system's own email or text is the better route for reminders.

We have several sites. Can they share one account?

Each Instagram account is handled separately. The Pro plan covers three accounts and the Business plan ten, so a group with separate accounts per site can run its own menu, hours and booking card for each. A shared account needs one set of words for all locations.

Related businesses

Words to know

More businesses

Answer every MENU comment in seconds

Pick a post and the word. DMFast replies under each comment, sends the DM and follows with your link once they answer, day and night. It can collect emails on the way. Free plan, no card.

Start free