SMS Marketing5 min read

Restaurant Text Message Templates and Examples

Ten copy-paste restaurant text message templates for reservations, reminders, offers, reviews, and win-backs, with consent and STOP notes built in.

Farhad · Founder, GHL Spark

August 1, 2026

Cover illustration — a chat bubble with a spark on a dark green background, marked GHL Spark, SMS Marketing

In short

Restaurant text message templates that you can copy, paste, and personalize in minutes. This guide gives you ten short SMS scripts for loyalty welcomes, reservation confirmations and reminders, waitlist alerts, catering follow-ups, birthday and slow-night offers, review requests, win-backs, and new-menu announcements. Each one uses simple square-bracket tokens so you can swap in a name, time, or offer without rewriting anything. You will also get the consent and opt-out language that keeps texting legal, plus a quick-reference table of what to send and when. Texting works because people actually read it, but only if you get permission first and make leaving easy.

Key takeaways

Get explicit written consent before texting — no bought lists, no assumed opt-ins
Keep every text short, one idea per message, and lead with the value not the ask
Include STOP-to-opt-out language in the welcome text and honor it instantly
Personalize with square-bracket tokens so each message feels one-to-one, not blasted
Time matters — send reminders the day before and flash offers a few hours ahead

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Want restaurant text message templates you can copy, paste, and send today? This guide gives you ten short, proven SMS scripts — for loyalty welcomes, reservation confirmations and reminders, waitlist alerts, catering follow-ups, birthday and slow-night offers, review requests, win-backs, and new-menu announcements. Every template uses simple [square-bracket] tokens so you swap in a name, time, or offer in seconds. First, the rule that makes all of it work: only text people who gave you permission, and always let them opt out.

Why text messages work for restaurants

People read texts. Open rates for SMS sit far above email, and most messages get seen within minutes. For a restaurant, that immediacy is the whole point — a slow Tuesday can be filled with a well-timed offer, a reservation no-show can be prevented with a reminder, and a lapsed regular can be pulled back with a friendly nudge. The catch is that texting is personal, so it only works when guests actually want to hear from you and when each message respects their time.

Under the US TCPA, you need prior express written consent before sending marketing texts. That means the guest actively opted in — checked a box on your reservation or waitlist form, texted a keyword, or signed up at the counter — and you kept a record of it. Do not text people just because they once booked a table or left a business card. Your very first message should also tell people how to leave: a simple "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" line. Honor opt-outs instantly. If you set up your restaurant intake form templates with a clear consent checkbox, you collect permission the right way from the start.

The 10 restaurant text message templates

Copy these, replace the [tokens], and keep them short. Each is written to fit comfortably in a single text.

1. Loyalty opt-in welcome

Welcome to [Restaurant] rewards, [First name]! You'll get first dibs on specials and a treat on your birthday. Reply STOP anytime to opt out.

2. Reservation confirmation

Hi [First name], your table for [party size] at [Restaurant] is confirmed for [date] at [time]. See you soon! Reply C to change.

3. Reservation reminder

Reminder: your table at [Restaurant] is booked for tomorrow at [time]. Reply Y to confirm or C if plans changed. Can't wait to host you!

4. Waitlist ready

[First name], your table at [Restaurant] is ready! Please head to the host stand in the next [X] minutes. Thanks for waiting.

5. Catering / event inquiry follow-up

Hi [First name], thanks for asking about catering for [event]. I'd love to help — is [date] still the plan? Reply here or book a time: [link]

6. Birthday offer

Happy birthday, [First name]! Celebrate at [Restaurant] and your [free dessert / offer] is on us this week. Just show this text. Reply STOP to opt out.

7. Weekly special / promo

This week at [Restaurant]: [special], [price]. Available [days]. Book your table: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

8. Slow-night flash offer

Tonight only at [Restaurant]: [offer] from [time]. Walk in or reserve: [link]. First come, first served! Reply STOP to opt out.

9. Review request

Hi [First name], thanks for dining with us at [Restaurant]! If you enjoyed it, a quick review means the world: [link]. Thank you!

10. We-miss-you win-back

We miss you, [First name]! It's been a while — come back to [Restaurant] this month and enjoy [offer]. Reserve: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Bonus — new-menu announcement

[First name], the new [season] menu is live at [Restaurant] — think [dish] and [dish]. Come try it: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

When to send each message

Timing is half the battle. A reminder sent too early gets forgotten; a flash offer sent too late can't be acted on. Use this quick reference.

Scenario	Sample text	Timing
Loyalty welcome	Welcome to [Restaurant] rewards, [First name]!	Immediately after opt-in
Reservation confirmation	Your table for [party size] is confirmed for [date] at [time]	At time of booking
Reservation reminder	Your table is booked for tomorrow at [time]	Day before or morning of
Waitlist ready	Your table is ready — head to the host stand	The moment a table opens
Catering follow-up	Thanks for asking about catering for [event]	Within a few hours of inquiry
Birthday offer	Happy birthday, [First name]! [Offer] is on us	Morning of, or start of birthday week
Weekly special	This week: [special], [price]	Early in the week, late morning
Slow-night flash	Tonight only: [offer] from [time]	3-5 hours before service
Review request	A quick review means the world: [link]	A few hours after the visit
Win-back	We miss you — come back for [offer]	After 30-60 days of no visits

How to actually send and automate these

You can send these by hand from a business phone, but the value shows up when reminders and offers fire on their own. That takes a platform built for two-way SMS with automatic opt-out handling. HighLevel is one option many restaurants and agencies use: it sends and automates texts, keeps two-way conversations in one inbox, and removes anyone who replies STOP without you lifting a finger. That means a reservation reminder can trigger the day before automatically, and a win-back can go out on schedule to guests who haven't visited in 60 days.

Honestly, the tool matters less than the discipline: get consent, keep texts short, and honor opt-outs. Any compliant platform can do this — HighLevel just bundles it in one place. If you want to try that route, you can start a free HighLevel trial and set up the reminder and offer flows above.

Make the templates your own

The scripts here are a starting point, not a script to read robotically. Swap in your restaurant's voice, your signature dishes, and offers that fit your margins. Test one flow at a time — reservation reminders are the easiest win, since they cut no-shows immediately, and review requests quietly build your reputation. When you're ready to go further, our win-back campaign ideas for restaurants and guide on how to ask restaurant customers for reviews give you the full playbooks behind two of these templates.

For more on texting, offers, and filling tables, browse our Restaurant & Hospitality Marketing hub. If you'd like help setting this up done-for-you, take a look at our pricing or book a call and we'll map it to your restaurant.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need permission before texting restaurant customers?

Yes. Under the TCPA you need prior express written consent before sending marketing texts. In practice that means the customer actively opted in — checked a box, texted a keyword, or filled out a form — and you kept a record of it. Never text people from a reservation list, a purchased list, or business cards in a jar unless they clearly agreed to receive texts.

What does TCPA mean for a small restaurant?

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act governs marketing calls and texts in the US. For a restaurant it means three things: get written consent first, identify your business in messages, and always offer a way to opt out. Fines are per message, so sloppy texting can get expensive fast. When in doubt, only text people who explicitly asked to hear from you.

How do I collect text opt-ins the right way?

Add a clear checkbox on your online reservation or waitlist form, put a keyword on table tents (for example, "Text JOIN to 55555 for a free appetizer"), or ask at checkout. Always state what they are signing up for and how often you will text. A good restaurant intake form makes this easy — see our restaurant intake form templates for consent-ready fields.

What is the STOP requirement and do I have to include it?

Recipients must be able to opt out at any time, and "STOP" is the universal keyword. Your first message should tell people they can reply STOP to unsubscribe, and your texting tool must remove them automatically when they do. Do not text anyone after they opt out — that is one of the fastest ways to get complaints and penalties.

How often should a restaurant text its list?

For most restaurants, two to four marketing texts a month is plenty. Transactional texts like reservation confirmations and reminders do not count against that — those are expected and welcome. The moment your promotional texting feels like spam, opt-outs climb. Fewer, better-timed messages almost always beat a high volume of generic blasts.

What is the best time of day to send restaurant texts?

Late morning and early afternoon tend to perform well because people are thinking about food. Send slow-night flash offers three to five hours before service so guests can plan. Send reservation reminders the day before or the morning of. Avoid early mornings, late nights, and the middle of your own dinner rush when replies will get missed.

How long should a marketing text be?

Short. Aim for one idea and under 160 characters when you can. Lead with the benefit, name the restaurant, and give one clear next step — book, reply, or tap a link. Long paragraphs get ignored on a phone. If you need to say more, link to a page instead of stuffing it all into the message.

Should I use links in restaurant texts?

Yes, when there is a clear action like booking a table, viewing a menu, or claiming an offer. Use a short, branded link and send people to a fast-loading page. Keep it to one link per message so the next step is obvious. Skip links entirely for simple confirmations where the guest just needs to know they are set.

What tools can send and automate these texts?

Any compliant business-texting platform works. HighLevel is one option many restaurants and agencies use because it handles two-way SMS, automatic STOP opt-outs, and scheduled campaigns in one place, so reminders and offers can fire on their own. You can start a free HighLevel trial to test it, or use any tool that manages consent and opt-outs properly.

How do I win back customers who have not visited in a while?

A short, warm "we miss you" text with a small incentive works well — think a free dessert or a modest discount on the next visit. Keep it personal and time-boxed. For a full playbook on segments, timing, and offers, see our win-back campaign ideas for restaurants, and pair the text with a follow-up if they do not respond.

Can I text customers a request for a review?

Yes, if they opted in. Send it a few hours after their visit while the meal is fresh, thank them, and include a direct link to your preferred review site. Keep it low-pressure and make leaving a review one tap. Our guide on how to ask restaurant customers for reviews covers timing and wording in more depth.

Do transactional texts like reminders need consent too?

It is safest to treat them as needing consent as well. When a guest gives you their number to book a table, confirm that texting the reservation is expected. Purely transactional messages have more leeway than marketing ones, but the clean approach is a single opt-in that covers both, with STOP always available.

About the author

Farhad

Founder, GHL Spark

Farhad is the founder of GHL Spark, where he builds and white-labels GoHighLevel SaaS platforms for agencies and SaaS operators. He writes about the parts of GoHighLevel that actually break in production — A2P registration, onboarding, support load and automation.