(Without Losing Your Mind or Hiring Your Nephew Who “Knows TikTok”)
Running a restaurant is already a full-time circus — juggling food, staff, suppliers, bookings, complaints, and a toaster that only works if you kick it just right. And then someone says:
“You really need to be posting more on Instagram.”
Brilliant. Because clearly what you need is more to do.
But here’s the good news: with a little help from ChatGPT (and a few other clever AI tools), you can become a social media machine — without burning out, selling your soul, or giving up and posting a blurry picture of chips with the caption “yum.”
Let’s show you how.
⚠️ Quick heads up: We’re big fans of ChatGPT (obviously), but it’s not the only clever tool in the kitchen. Below, we’ve also chucked in a few others worth having in your digital apron pocket. And you probably should get a paid version!
| What You Need | Tools to Try |
|---|---|
| Captions & content ideas | ChatGPT, Jasper, Copy.ai |
| Fancy AI food photos | ChatGPT (DALL·E), Midjourney (for artsy types), Canva |
| Pretty graphics & flyers | Canva, Adobe Express, Snappa |
| Snappy promo videos | Runway ML, Pika Labs, CapCut |
| Scheduling posts | Buffer, Later, Planoly, Hootsuite |
| Email newsletters | Mailchimp, Beehiiv, Brevo |
| Who’s liking what? | Metricool, Not Just Analytics, SocialBlade |
Right — now that’s sorted, let’s crack on with how to actually use this stuff.
✏️ 1. Write Captions That Don’t Sound Like a Robot
You know the ones:
“Try our food. It is good. #yummy”
No. Absolutely not.
Instead, tell ChatGPT:
“Write a cheeky caption for our Triple Cheese Smashburger photo. Include a pun.”
And boom:
“We’re not saying this burger will change your life… but we’ve seen people cry. 🧀 #GrilledToPerfection #CheesusTakeTheWheel”
📸 2. Fake It Till You Make It (With AI Images)!
Haven’t snapped a pic of your new tiramisu martini yet? Don’t panic. Just describe it to ChatGPT:
“A creamy espresso cocktail in a coupe glass, topped with chocolate shavings and a dusting of cocoa.”
And voilà — a perfectly Instagrammable image, without the faff of lighting, angles, or cleaning your lens.
Great for:
- Menu teasers
- ‘Coming soon’ hype
- Posts where the chef refuses to wait for the camera
Obviously make sure the image is a genuine reflection of the product to avoid misleading advertising and unhappy customers!
📅 3. Plan a Month of Posts Over Your Morning
Coffee
Seriously. Tell ChatGPT:
“Give me 30 Instagram content ideas for an independent brunch café in Manchester.”
You’ll get:
- “Meet the team” posts
- Behind-the-scenes shots
- Q&A polls on Stories
- National Avocado Day content (yes, that’s a thing)
- Cheeky memes about queueing for hash browns
Sorted.
🛠️ 4. Repurpose Everything Like a Pro
Got one good photo? Squeeze every last drop of content from it.
Ask ChatGPT to:
- Turn it into a tweet
- Write a TikTok voiceover
- Add hashtags for Instagram
- Draft a Facebook post your mum would share
One photo = four platforms = genius.
💬 5. Respond to DMs Without Sounding Like a Bot
(or a Karen)
Need to politely tell someone you don’t do gluten-free Yorkshire puddings on Tuesdays?
Ask ChatGPT:
“Write a friendly, warm reply to someone asking about gluten-free options, even though we only have a few.”
Result:
“Hi there! We’ve got a couple of tasty gluten-free dishes — our team will be happy to guide you through them when you visit. We’re always working on more too, so keep your eyes (and tastebuds) peeled!”
Boom. Kind, helpful, and no passive-aggressive emojis in sight.
🎁 6. Promote Events Without Looking Like a Bad
PowerPoint
Got a quiz night? Bottomless brunch? Wine tasting?
Tell ChatGPT:
“Create a five-post Instagram campaign for our upcoming 90s-themed pizza party, and generate an image of a pepperoni pizza in neon sunglasses.”
Suddenly you’ve got:
- A poster
- A caption
- A story reminder
- A hype reel script
- And a pizza that looks like it DJs on weekends
💡 7. Let Your Brand’s Personality Shine Through
People follow people — not just food.
Ask ChatGPT for:
- 10 “this or that” poll ideas (mimosa vs. Bloody Mary?)
- 5 questions for followers (pineapple on pizza: yay or betrayal?)
- 10 memes about coffee addiction (don’t lie, you know you need them)
It’s the little things that build your online vibe.
TL;DR: ChatGPT Is Your New Social Media Sidekick
— Use It
You’re already busy running the show. Let AI do the bits that take ages, stress you out, or get forgotten after the lunch rush.
Start with:
- Captions
- Post ideas
- AI-generated dish pics
- Replies to messages
- Event promo plans
And build from there.
