If your chef needs an answer at 7:15 p.m., what good is finding it in tomorrow’s report?
Toast’s 2026 Restaurant AI Report found that 53% of prompts to Toast IQ came during peak lunch and dinner service.
That finding comes from anonymized Toast IQ usage in Q2 2026. It isn’t a survey of every restaurant, but it tells us something useful: operators are reaching for AI while the work is happening.
Answers during service
At PlatePrep AI, that’s where we believe technology has to earn its place.
A cook needs the correct recipe and portion. A manager needs a clear prep plan. An owner needs to understand what changing ingredient costs mean for the menu.
Those needs don’t wait for a quiet afternoon in the office.
As restaurant operators ourselves, we’re building PlatePrep around the work our teams do every day: recipes, prep, training, communication and food-cost visibility.
Technology that earns its place
The practical test is simple: can your team find a reliable answer, understand it and use it when it matters?
AI should give people more time and confidence to deliver hospitality. Another tool that requires the owner to explain everything still leaves the owner carrying the load.
What’s the one question your team repeatedly asks that you wish they could answer without calling you?
Read Toast’s report: https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/restaurant-ai-report