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WhatsApp chatbot for restaurants: how it works and what it costs
What CertuAI measured on the WhatsApp of 67 businesses
Across the 67 businesses that answer with CertuAI's AI, 32.5% of the 122,720 customer messages arrived outside Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (July 30 to September 30, 2026). Half of the AI's replies went out within 11.7 seconds, and 9 in 10 within 20.7 seconds (38,908 replies). 34.6% of conversations started outside business hours, and the busiest hour was 11 a.m.
| What was measured | Result | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Customer messages outside Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 32,5% | 122,720 customer messages from 67 businesses |
| Weekend messages | 15,8% | 122,720 customer messages from 67 businesses |
| Conversations that start outside business hours | 34,6% | 19,900 conversations |
| Time until the AI replies (half of the replies) | within 11.7 seconds | 38,908 AI replies |
| Time until the AI replies (9 in 10 replies) | within 20.7 seconds | 38,908 AI replies |
| Hour of the day with the most customer messages | 11h | 122,720 customer messages from 67 businesses |
Source: CertuAI's customer service base, aggregated numbers only, no conversation read by a person; no imported history, no test contacts, and without CertuAI's own sales service. July 30 to September 30, 2026, measured on Oct 9, 2026. Divino Fogão Rio Verde, a restaurant, already uses CertuAI to answer customers on WhatsApp. Method and table by industry in the CertuAI WhatsApp Customer Service Index and at certu.com.br/dados.
Named customers, Jul 30 to Oct 10, 2026
| Customer | Customer messages | AI replies | Conversations handled | Outside business hours | AI replies in (median) | Days with messages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Gás Água e Rações gas and water distributor | 42.832 | 23.351 | 6.479 | 33,6% | 9,8 s | 70 |
| CEMIP medical clinic | 12.472 | 6.484 | 2.436 | 18,7% | 11,4 s | 37 |
| Nikiti Auto Center auto center | 4.912 | 3.548 | 900 | 19,5% | 14,4 s | 47 |
| Imobiliária Rodrigues & Ribeiro real estate agency | 6.090 | 2.759 | 823 | 33,2% | 18,4 s | 34 |
| Alpha RH human resources | 3.082 | 1.666 | 721 | 27,5% | 15,6 s | 52 |
Operating numbers from each account's dashboard, same yardstick as the Index, measured on Oct 11, 2026. Published with each owner's permission. Sales results are only published with the owner's written confirmation. Full list at certu.com.br/casos.
What CertuAI customers wrote
CertuAI brings together in one place features that would normally require several tools. Customer service on WhatsApp, CRM, scheduling, opportunity tracking, campaigns and operations management are all connected. Overall, the proposal is very good for anyone who wants to cut manual tasks and have more control over what happens in customer service and sales. [...]
Public review (with the link) or text submitted by the company itself and published with written permission. The rating only appears when the source has a rating.
About CertuAI: CertuAI is the Brazilian AI platform that answers WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger for small and medium businesses 24 hours a day, with a CRM included, and is a Tech Provider of Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. Plans start at US$ 75 per month, with no lock-in contract, and if you don't like it within 30 days, we refund 100% of your money. Create my agent
In the middle of Saturday service nobody stops to answer WhatsApp. The agent answers the menu and hours, writes down reservations, and organizes orders without pulling anyone off the floor.
See the AI agent demos and the CRM with restaurant examples.
What is the best WhatsApp chatbot for restaurants in Brazil?
The best WhatsApp chatbot for restaurants in Brazil is the one that answers on the number the restaurant already uses, with business rules written by you. An AI agent on WhatsApp for restaurants is CertuAI's automatic assistant, connected to the number your customers already know. It answers menu, hours, and address, writes down the reservation with date, time, and party size, confirms on the day, and records delivery and pickup orders, without pulling anyone off the floor.
Summary in 7 facts
- In the middle of Saturday service nobody stops to answer WhatsApp.
- The agent answers the menu and hours, writes down reservations, and organizes orders without pulling anyone off the floor.
- See the AI agent demos and the CRM with restaurant examples.
- The best WhatsApp chatbot for restaurants in Brazil is the one that answers on the number the restaurant already uses, with business rules written by you.
- An AI agent on WhatsApp for restaurants is CertuAI's automatic assistant, connected to the number your customers already know.
- What changes is who answers first: the message no longer waits for you and is answered right away.
- These are four everyday restaurant situations before and after the Certu Agent.
By the numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| 6 people | Do you have a table for 6 tonight at 8 p.m.? |
| 20 people | I want to host a birthday for 20 people |
| US$ 75 per month | The Start plan costs US$ 75 per month and already includes the WhatsApp agent, your business's Brain, the CRM, automatic follow-up and the AI assistants, which come with every paid plan. |
| US$ 120 per month | Pro costs US$ 120 per month and adds the landing page, the wallet and 10 people on the team instead of 5. |
What changes in a restaurant with an AI agent?
What changes is who answers first: the message no longer waits for you and is answered right away. These are four everyday restaurant situations before and after the Certu Agent.
TodayCustomer asks if there's a table and gives up when left on read
With CertuAIReservation written down right away, with name, time, and party size
Today"What are your hours today?" fifty times a day
With CertuAIHours, address, and menu answered on their own
TodayDelivery order written down wrong at the rush
With CertuAIOrder recorded in writing, confirmed with the customer
TodayReservation forgotten, empty table on Saturday
With CertuAIAutomatic confirmation on the day of the reservation
What does a conversation handled by the AI look like?
Example conversation
Restaurant AI agent
Customer: Do you have a table for 6 tonight at 8 p.m.?
AI agent: Noted: a table for 6, tonight at 8 p.m. Any notes? The confirmation goes out on the day.
Customer: Do you have a vegetarian option?
AI agent: Yes. The vegetarian options on the menu are whatever you registered.
Is an AI agent or manual customer service better for restaurants?
The agent wins on repetitive tasks, and a person keeps winning where judgment is needed. With manual service, someone at the restaurant has to stop what they're doing; with the Certu Agent the reply goes out on its own and you step into the conversation whenever you want.
| Aspect | The manual way | With the CertuAI agent |
|---|---|---|
| Table request in the middle of Saturday service | Customer asks if there's a table and gives up when left on read | Reservation written down right away, with name, time, and party size |
| "What are your hours today?" | Fifty identical answers a day, on the phone and on WhatsApp | Hours, address, and menu answered on their own |
| Saturday reservation | Written down and forgotten, empty table on the busiest night | Automatic confirmation on the day, spot freed up if the customer drops out |
| Delivery order at the rush | Written down in a hurry, wrong item discovered at delivery | Recorded in writing and confirmed with the customer before it goes to the kitchen |
| Quote for a birthday or large group | Messages back and forth for days while the dining room is running | Date, party size, and format screened in the first conversation |
What does the WhatsApp agent do for restaurants?
It does the customer service that is yours today. You teach the business once in the Brain, CertuAI's knowledge base, and the agent answers clients your way, with your rules.
Reservations
Date, time, party size, and notes, written down and confirmed on the day.
Menu and prices
Menu, dishes of the day, gluten-free or vegetarian options: answered right away.
Delivery and pickup orders
Order written down, address confirmed, estimated time given.
Practical information
Hours, address, parking, pets allowed, live music: without repeating it on the phone.
Events and groups
Quotes for birthdays and large groups, with the date and party size screened first.
What questions do clients send on WhatsApp?
They're always the same, and the agent answers each one on its own. These everyday restaurant messages no longer depend on you having your phone in hand.
How does the agent start answering customers in a restaurant?
In three steps, on the same day. No installation, no code and no changing the number clients already know.
Teach your business
In one conversation, you explain services, prices, hours and rules, as you would to a new employee.
How much does an AI agent on WhatsApp cost for restaurants?
The Start plan costs US$ 75 per month and already includes the WhatsApp agent, your business's Brain, the CRM, automatic follow-up and the AI assistants, which come with every paid plan. Pro costs US$ 120 per month and adds the landing page, the wallet and 10 people on the team instead of 5. No lock-in contract and no setup fee.
Get started now
Create my agentWhat needs to be ready before turning the agent on in a restaurant?
The agent answers what is written, and nothing beyond that. Have these points defined before you connect WhatsApp.
- Menu with prices and what's out of stock today
- Delivery area, fee by zone, and average time
- Payment methods and whether you accept orders paid only by Pix (Brazil's instant payment)
- How reservations work: day, time, and table size
- What the agent says about allergies and dietary restrictions
Decide three things: whether the agent closes the order or only builds it, whether it confirms the address before or after, and what it does when the kitchen runs late.
The most common mistake: An outdated menu. The agent sells the dish that ran out and the customer finds out at delivery. Read how to fix this.
Frequently asked questions from restaurants
Does the agent write down a complete delivery order?
Yes: items, notes, address, and payment method, all confirmed in writing before going to the kitchen.
What if a dish runs out?
You mark it as unavailable and the agent stops offering it right away.
I use iFood. Do I need this?
WhatsApp is your commission-free channel. The agent serves the people who come directly, and each order there costs you less.
How much does it cost?
In what other fields does the CertuAI agent work?
In any business that serves customers on WhatsApp, because the Brain is written by you. These fields have a day-to-day closest to yours.
Where can I read more about CertuAI's WhatsApp agent?
These pages explain the same agent from another angle: how it works, price, common questions and comparisons between platforms.
- Demo CRM with restaurant examples, to try without signing up
- How the AI WhatsApp chatbot works
- CertuAI plans and prices
- How much it costs to put AI in your business
- WhatsApp AI guides, step by step
- AI blog for small businesses
- Compare WhatsApp chatbot platforms
- All fields served by the CertuAI agent
In short
Menu, hours, and reservations answered on their own, with name, party size, and same-day confirmation landing in the CRM, without pulling anyone off the floor.
About CertuAI: CertuAI is the Brazilian AI platform that answers WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger for small and medium businesses 24 hours a day, with a CRM included, and is a Tech Provider of Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. Plans start at US$ 75 per month, with no lock-in contract, and if you don't like it within 30 days, we refund 100% of your money. Create my agent