How to use emojis in restaurant messaging

Emojis. Love them or hate them, they’re everywhere. From (sometimes cringe-worthy) menus to marketing campaigns, to the confusing texts you get from your mum trying to “be cool.”

But what role do they really play in the restaurant industry? Should you sprinkle them into your guest communications, or leave them off the table?

Let’s break it down.

Emojis make guests feel closer ❤️

A study reported in The Guardian found that using emojis in text messages makes people feel closer and more satisfied in their personal lives.

Why? Because emojis act as nonverbal cues. They signal attentiveness and emotional engagement -the little “I’m listening” nods that don’t come across in plain text.

Think about it:

• A 🍕 after “Your table is booked” feels warmer than a full stop.
• A 👍 in a confirmation message reassures guests you’ve got it handled.

For restaurants, the right emoji can make your communication feel less conservative and more like a conversation.

Where Emojis Work (and Where They Don’t) 📩

Not every platform is emoji-friendly.

A Hult International Business School study (via Forbes) found that 95% of workers are fine with emojis in team chats, but far fewer think they belong in emails, especially formal ones.

That same logic applies to restaurants:

• ✅ Great in guest texts, newsletters, and social media
• ⚠️ Use sparingly in emails (a smiley or 🍽️ here and there is fine)
• ❌ Avoid in your website copy – it risks looking cheap

The trick is to match the tool with the tone.

Emojis can be misunderstood 🤔

Here’s where things get tricky. Emojis don’t always mean the same thing to everyone.

Even the simple 👍 can range from:

• “Great, thanks!” (Millennials and older)
• to “Cool, whatever” (Gen Z sarcasm)

Some emojis can even take on hidden or subversive meanings, as seen in the hit Netflix series Adolescence, where certain emojis have been co-opted with darker connotations. The lesson?

Know your audience before you hit send.

So what’s the verdict? 🌟

Emojis are like seasoning. A little enhances the flavour, but too much overwhelms the dish.

For restaurants:

• Use emojis in texts, chat, and newsletters to create warmth and connection.
• Drop one in emails sparingly, to soften tone without hurting professionalism.
• Keep your website emoji-free – guests expect clean, quality design there.

In the end, emojis are the tech world’s version of face-to-face cues. A quick wink 😉, a smile 😊, or a toast 🥂 can turn a sterile message into something that feels human.

And in hospitality, that warmth is everything.

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