Brief Library / AI Marketing Prompts for Restaurants and Cafés
AI Marketing Prompts for Restaurants and Cafés
42 copy-paste briefs for menus, posts, food photos, promo videos, replies and emails, plus a 30-day content plan prompt.
Marketing a restaurant, cafe or bakery takes time you do not have. This pack gives you 42 copy-paste briefs, plus a 30-day plan prompt, so you can get usable menus, posts, photos and clips from the AI tools you already use. Each brief has labeled parts: text briefs use ROLE, CONTEXT, TASK, CONSTRAINTS and OUTPUT. Photo and video briefs use their own clear parts. Examples use fictional places like Morning Crumb and Ember & Oat.
Works with: Claude or ChatGPT for text, image models for food photos, video models for short promo clips
Use the same structure every time. Every brief in this pack follows it (Directed brief (text, photo, video)):
ROLE
Who the AI should act as for this job.
CONTEXT
Facts about your place, guests and goal.
TASK
The one thing you want made.
CONSTRAINTS
Limits on length, tone, format and what to leave out.
OUTPUT
The exact shape of the answer you want back.
SUBJECT
The dish, drink or place in the picture.
SURFACE
What the subject sits on and what surrounds it.
LIGHT
Direction, softness and color of the light.
CAMERA
Lens in mm, angle, aperture and distance.
COMPOSITION
Aspect ratio, framing and empty space.
STYLE
The overall look, kept realistic.
AVOID
Things the AI must not add or do.
SHOT
The type of video shot and its purpose.
MOTION
What moves, how fast and in which direction.
DURATION
Clip length in seconds and key timings in ms.
6 free restaurant marketing prompts
Copy a brief, replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with your details and paste it into your AI tool.
Menu writing
Dish descriptions
Your menu lines are bare names or long and vague.
ROLE: You are a menu copywriter for a neighborhood cafe.
CONTEXT: Ember & Oat is a [CITY] cafe with a [CUISINE_STYLE] menu. Guests are [GUEST_TYPE]. Tone: [TONE].
TASK: Write a description for each dish below using only the ingredients I list.
DISHES AND INGREDIENTS: [DISH_LIST_WITH_INGREDIENTS]
CONSTRAINTS: 12 to 20 words per dish. Lead with the main ingredient. No invented sourcing claims, no words like best or famous. One cooking method or texture per dish.
OUTPUT: A table with columns Dish, Description, Word count. Then 2 dishes rewritten in a second tone for comparison.
Tip: Add one sentence about how a dish is actually made to get more specific wording.
Social posts
Weekly post plan
You never know what to post on Monday.
ROLE: You are a social media planner for a small restaurant.
CONTEXT: [VENUE_NAME], [CUISINE_STYLE], in [CITY]. Platforms: [PLATFORMS]. Posting days: [NUMBER_OF_POSTS] per week. This week we have: [NEWS_AND_SPECIALS]. Staff time available: [MINUTES_PER_DAY] minutes a day.
TASK: Plan one week of posts.
CONSTRAINTS: Mix of 3 content types. Each post needs a real photo or clip we can shoot in under 10 minutes. No giveaways or discounts unless listed above.
OUTPUT: Table with Day, Platform, Format, Photo or clip to shoot, Caption draft (up to 40 words), Best time slot to test.
Tip: Name your slowest day so the plan puts a stronger post there.
Food photo prompts
Hero dish
You need a main menu or website image.
SUBJECT: [DISH_NAME] as served at Ember & Oat, with [REAL_INGREDIENTS] visible and plated as in [REFERENCE_PHOTO_OR_DESCRIPTION].
SURFACE: [PLATE_TYPE] on a [TABLE_MATERIAL] table.
LIGHT: Soft window light from camera left, 5200K, gentle shadow on the right.
CAMERA: 50mm lens, f/2.8, 35 degree angle, 40 cm from the plate.
COMPOSITION: 4:5 ratio, dish fills 60% of the frame, empty space at top.
STYLE: Natural, realistic food photography, true colors.
AVOID: Ingredients not on the real dish, extra garnish, fake steam, text, logos, distorted utensils, extra fingers.
Tip: Match the plate and portion size to what the kitchen actually sends out.
Promo video shots
Steam rising
You want a warm, close shot of a hot dish.
SHOT: Close-up of steam rising from a hot dish, for a 3 second b-roll insert.
SUBJECT: A bowl of [HOT_DISH_NAME] with real [INGREDIENTS] on a wood table at Ember & Oat.
CAMERA: 85mm lens equivalent, locked off, 30 cm from the bowl, slight low angle.
MOTION: Steam drifts upward at slow speed, about 1 cm per second. No camera movement.
LIGHT: Dark background, soft backlight from the right, 4500K.
DURATION: 3 seconds, steam visible from 0 ms.
AVOID: Fire, smoke, extra ingredients, hands, text, logos, fast motion.
Tip: Ask for an 8 second version and trim the best 3 seconds.
Reviews and messages
Reply to a 5-star review
A guest left a warm review and you want a personal reply.
ROLE: You are the owner of a small cafe replying to a guest.
CONTEXT: Venue: Morning Crumb. The review text: [PASTE_REVIEW]. Reviewer first name: [FIRST_NAME]. Dishes they mention: [DISHES].
TASK: Write a thank you reply.
CONSTRAINTS: 30 to 50 words. Mention one specific thing from the review. Sound like a person, not a script. No promises of free items. Do not claim facts not in the review.
OUTPUT: Three versions with different openings, each signed [OWNER_NAME].
Tip: Rotate the three versions so replies do not look copied.
Email, SMS and events
Monthly newsletter
You send one email a month to regulars.
ROLE: You are an email writer for a neighborhood cafe.
CONTEXT: Venue: Ember & Oat. Month: [MONTH]. News: [NEWS_ITEMS]. New menu items: [NEW_ITEMS]. Events: [EVENTS_WITH_DATES]. Voice: [TONE].
TASK: Write the newsletter.
CONSTRAINTS: 180 to 250 words total. Subject line up to 45 characters, preview text up to 80. 3 short sections with headers. One main call to action: [CALL_TO_ACTION]. No fake urgency. Include a plain footer line with address and an unsubscribe reminder.
OUTPUT: Two subject line options, preview text, email body, and footer.
Tip: Keep the same three sections each month so readers know what to expect.
How to use these briefs
Copy one brief and replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with your real details before you paste it.
Paste text briefs into Claude or ChatGPT, photo briefs into an image model, and video briefs into a video model.
Use only real prices, hours, ingredients and quotes. If you do not have one, leave the placeholder and ask the AI to flag it.
Check every allergen, price, date and claim yourself before anything goes public.
Make AI food images match the dish you actually serve. Attach a real photo as a reference when the tool allows it.
Change one line at a time, such as the tone or the word count, and run the brief again.
What is in the full pack
AI Marketing Prompts for Restaurants & Cafés: Menus, Posts & Promo Videos
Menu writing: 6 briefs. Six text briefs for the words on your menu. Give the AI your real ingredients and it will keep the copy honest.
Social posts: 8 briefs. Eight text briefs for planning and writing posts. They use your real facts and never invent offers or quotes.
Food photo prompts: 8 briefs. Eight photo briefs for image models. AI images must match the real dish you serve, so use a reference photo and never show food you do not make.
Promo video shots: 8 briefs. Eight short shots for video models, each built to be cut together into a clip. Keep the food true to your real menu.
Reviews and messages: 6 briefs. Six text briefs for replies and guest messages. They keep your voice calm, honest and free of made-up details.
Email, SMS and events: 6 briefs. Six briefs for the messages and pages that go beyond social. Each one uses your real dates, offers and terms.
A 30-day content plan prompt: 1. One master brief that builds a month of posts, photos and videos from your real facts.
Format: instant download, a PDF, a page with a Copy button for every brief and a plain text file
Use the briefs in your own and client work. Do not resell or share the pack. One-time price, no subscription.
FAQ
How do I write a restaurant marketing prompt?
Give the model the same parts every time: ROLE, CONTEXT, TASK, CONSTRAINTS, OUTPUT, SUBJECT, SURFACE, LIGHT, CAMERA, COMPOSITION, STYLE, AVOID, SHOT, MOTION, DURATION. Fill each part with specifics such as sizes, timings, counts and what to avoid, instead of adjectives. The free briefs on this page show the full structure filled in.
Which AI tools does it work with?
Text briefs work in Claude or ChatGPT. Photo briefs are written for image models and video briefs for video models. You paste them into whichever tool you already use.
What format do I get?
You get an instant download: a PDF, a page with copy buttons for each brief, and a plain text file. Every brief is ready to paste after you fill in the placeholders.
Can the AI handle allergen information safely?
No. The allergen brief only formats facts you give it and marks missing items as NEEDS CHECK. You must verify every allergen with your recipes and suppliers before printing or posting.
Will the AI food images look like my real dishes?
Not automatically. The photo briefs ask you to describe your real dish and use a reference photo when the tool allows it. Always compare the result to what you serve, and do not use images that show food you do not make.
