Wait Time & Waitlist Bot Template

The conversation, step by step

These are the messages and questions in the template as it comes. Words in brackets are filled in from your business details or from the visitor's earlier answers. A visitor sees only the steps that match the buttons they choose, and you can change any wording, add steps or remove them in the flow builder.

1. Current wait time for walk-ins at [Restaurant Name] is approximately [Default Wait Time (minutes)] minutes. Would you like to add your name to the waitlist?
   • Yes, add me
   • Make a reservation instead
   • Check back later
2. Great! What name should I put down? The visitor types a reply.
3. How many in your party?
   • 2
   • 3-4
   • 5+
4. Phone number for text notification when your table is ready? The visitor types a phone number.
5. The visitor is saved as a lead, tagged:
   • waitlist
   • walk_in
6. Thanks, [visitor's guest name]! We have your details: Party of [visitor's party size] Estimated wait: [Default Wait Time (minutes)] minutes We'll text you at [visitor's guest phone] when your table is ready. Please stay nearby!
7. To make a reservation, please call us at [Restaurant Phone] or use our reservation bot. We'd be happy to book a table for you!
8. No problem! Feel free to check back anytime for updated wait times. We hope to see you soon at [Restaurant Name]!

What you get with each lead

Every lead this template collects appears in your Alma leads inbox with the answers the visitor gave and these tags, so you can sort and follow up: waitlist, walk_in. Alma emails you when a new lead arrives. On the Growth plan and up you can also send leads to other software through Zapier, and the Agency plan adds webhooks.

Questions your flow does not cover

A template answers the paths it was built for. To answer other questions in the visitor's own words, add AI answering for $25 a month: it replies from business information you provide as text, which the Alma team loads into your bot. The article on how a knowledge base chatbot works explains what to write.

For more on using a chatbot in this kind of business, see our page on chatbots for restaurants.

More restaurants & hospitality templates

• Restaurant Info & ReservationsHandle menu questions, hours, reservations, and online ordering.
• Restaurant Welcome & NavigatorGreet visitors and direct to reservations, menu, hours, or ordering.
• Table Reservation BotBook tables with date, time, party size, and special requests.
• Menu Navigator BotHelp guests explore the menu with categories and dietary filters.
• Online Ordering BotTake pickup and delivery orders with menu item selection.
• Hours & Location BotShare business hours, location, parking, and contact information.