The way diners discover restaurants is changing. Once, it was enough to have good SEO and show up on Google Maps. Today, guests are asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI-powered concierges for recommendations — and they’re expecting instant, accurate answers.
That’s where AEO: Answer Engine Optimisation comes in.
For restaurant brands, AEO is about ensuring your venue, menu, and story appear in these AI-driven answers — so when someone asks “Where’s the best Mexican restaurant in Soho with outdoor seating?”, your restaurant is the one recommended.
What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?
AEO is the process of optimising your content so AI-powered answer engines can easily find, understand, and recommend your restaurant.
SEO was about ranking high on Google’s blue links.
AEO is about being the answer when someone asks a natural-language question like:
“What’s the best steakhouse in Mayfair?”
“Which restaurants near me have vegan-friendly menus?”
“Where can I book a late-night dinner in Shoreditch?”
If your restaurant isn’t optimised for these conversational queries, you risk disappearing from the discovery journey altogether.
Why AEO Matters for Restaurants
AI is becoming the new discovery channel
Diners are moving beyond Google Maps and review sites. They’re trusting AI assistants for fast, curated recommendations.One answer = less visibility
Search engines gave users 10 blue links. Answer engines usually give one or two answers. That means visibility shrinks — and the stakes for optimisation skyrocket.Local intent is stronger than ever
Most restaurant-related queries are hyper-local: “near me,” “tonight,” “best in [neighbourhood].” AEO ensures your restaurant is the answer in those moments of high intent.Menus matter more
Structured, well-optimised menus help AI engines match your dishes to guest intent (e.g. “best gluten-free pizza in London” or “where to get truffle pasta in Manchester”).
How Restaurants Can Optimise for AEO
Structure your content for natural-language queries
Use FAQs on your site that answer diner-style questions like:“Do you offer vegan options?”
“Is there outdoor seating?”
“Do you accept walk-ins?”
Leverage structured data (schema markup)
Add schema for menus, opening hours, reviews, and pricing so AI systems can pull accurate information directly.Keep local listings perfect
Make sure your Google Business Profile, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other listings are accurate and up to date. Inconsistent data hurts your chances of being recommended.Encourage reviews in natural language
AI engines scrape reviews to determine context. Encourage guests to leave reviews that mention details like dishes, atmosphere, and location.Optimise menus for searchability
Use descriptive dish names and clear dietary labels (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free). This helps AI match your menu to specific queries.
Examples of AEO in Action
Discovery: Your Italian restaurant is surfaced when a diner asks an AI app: “Where can I get the best carbonara in Covent Garden?”
Menus: Your vegan options appear when someone asks: “What’s a good vegan brunch spot near King’s Cross?”
Operations: Guests easily find answers to FAQs like opening times or group booking policies without staff needing to respond manually.
The Future of Restaurant Marketing is AEO
Restaurants have always competed for visibility, but the game is changing. With answer engines providing fewer, more direct recommendations, the winners will be the brands that optimise early for AEO.
By making your restaurant the answer, you’ll capture more high-intent diners, strengthen your reputation, and future-proof your digital presence.
Final Thoughts
For restaurant brands, AEO is the next essential evolution of digital marketing. Just as SEO became non-negotiable in the age of Google, AEO will define visibility in the era of AI-powered dining discovery.
At Snack London, we specialise in helping restaurants stay ahead of the curve — from SEO to AEO and beyond. If you want your restaurant to be the answer, not an afterthought, let’s talk.