Reservations · Commission-free
A restaurant reservation system that never charges per diner
IAMenu includes a built-in reservation system inside your digital menu: guests book without downloading anything, you confirm or mark no-shows from your dashboard, and they get email reminders with a cancellation link. Zero commission per booking — you pay a flat plan from €39/month and that's it.
How do reservations work in IAMenu?
Everything happens inside the digital menu the guest is already browsing — the exact moment they decide to come.
1. Guest taps "Reserve"
From your QR menu or your Google/Instagram link. They pick date, time and party size — the calendar only offers slots based on your real opening hours.
2. You decide
The booking lands as pending in your dashboard. Confirm it with one tap, or let clear slots auto-confirm.
3. Automatic reminder
About 2 hours before, the guest gets a reminder email with a cancellation link — fewer empty chairs caused by forgetfulness.
4. Seated and measured
Mark the guest as seated, completed or no-show. Their history is stored: you will know who books and never shows up.
Direct bookings vs. reservation portals
Reservation portals bring discovery, but they charge per seated diner. For your direct bookings (Google, QR, Instagram, regulars) there is no reason to pay a toll.
| Aspect | Reservations with IAMenu | Typical reservation portals |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per diner | €0 — flat plan fee | Fee per seated guest |
| Where the guest books | On YOUR menu, under your brand | On the portal, next to your competitors |
| Customer data | Yours (history, no-shows, phone) | The portal's |
| Phone/WhatsApp bookings | 3-step manual entry with returning-customer detection | Usually outside the system |
| Anti no-show reminders | Automatic email ~2 h before, with cancellation link | Depends on the portal |
| Languages | Booking flow appears in the guest's menu language | Limited |
Reservation FAQs
How much does the IAMenu reservation system cost?
It's included in IAMenu's Professional (€39/month) and Premium (€69/month) plans, with no extra cost per booking or per diner. Unlike reservation portals, which typically charge a fee for every seated guest, with IAMenu 100 reservations cost the same as 0: your flat monthly fee.
Does the guest need an app or an account to book a table?
No. The guest opens your digital menu (via QR, Google or your website), taps "Reserve", picks a date, time and party size, and leaves their name and contact details. No apps, no sign-up. They receive an email confirmation with a link to cancel if plans change.
How do I manage no-shows?
Every reservation moves through clear states: pending, confirmed, seated, completed, cancelled or no-show. The system automatically emails a reminder about 2 hours before the booking with a cancellation link, and you mark no-shows from the dashboard. Each customer's history shows their bookings and accumulated no-shows, so you can decide with data.
Can I log reservations that come in by phone or WhatsApp?
Yes. In real hospitality most bookings still arrive by phone: the dashboard has a 3-step manual reservation flow (source → customer → date) that detects returning customers by phone number and shows you their history. Every reservation — web, phone, WhatsApp or walk-in — lands in the same list.
Can I limit party size or how far in advance guests can book?
Yes. You configure your booking policy: minimum lead time (e.g. no bookings for 30 minutes from now), maximum days ahead, minimum and maximum party size, and where the button appears on your menu. If you're closed on a given day, the calendar simply offers no slots.
What if I already use a reservation portal like TheFork or OpenTable?
You can use both. Many restaurants keep the portal for discovering new customers and use IAMenu for direct bookings (Google, Instagram, the QR at the door, regulars) — the ones that should never cost you commission. Every direct booking through your own menu is margin that stays with you.
Do reservations work in multiple languages?
Yes. The booking form appears in whatever language the guest is reading your digital menu in — the same automatic translation system that translates your menu covers the full reservation flow.
Reservations, orders and menu in one system
Reservations live inside your AI digital menu: the same system that translates your menu, detects allergens and takes QR orders at the table. One dashboard, one flat fee, zero commissions.