Restaurant show teases AI

Boston’s New England Restaurant & Bar Show is pitching artificial intelligence as a working tool for operators, not a concept demo, ahead of its April 26-27 event. (totalfood.com) The show is scheduled for April 26-27, 2026 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, and the official site says it will bring together 300-plus exhibitors, education sessions, culinary demos and networking for restaurant and foodservice buyers across New England. (newenglandrestaurantbarshow.com) The education schedule includes a Sunday session called “The Soul in the Machine,” which says artificial intelligence is reshaping back-of-house work while operators still need “human connection” in service. (newenglandrestaurantbarshow.com) That framing lands as restaurant owners keep looking for labor and cost relief. The National Restaurant Association said in February that 2026 restaurant and foodservice sales are projected to reach $1.55 trillion, but operators still face persistent cost pressures and cautious consumer spending. (restaurant.org) The same trade-show preview says restaurant costs are up nearly 35 percent since the pandemic, spanning food, labor and energy, while diners are eating out less often. Stephen Clark, chief executive of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said the event is meant to connect operators with “tools, education, and vendor relationships.” (totalfood.com) Artificial intelligence in this setting usually means software that helps with ordering, staffing, forecasting and menu analysis, rather than robots replacing dining-room staff. The show preview says attendees will be able to compare “AI-powered software platforms” alongside equipment, beverage products and operating services on the floor. (totalfood.com) The event is also being sold as an advocacy stop. The schedule includes a Monday session on Massachusetts restaurant regulation moderated by the state association’s government affairs director, and the preview says National Restaurant Association public affairs staff and lobbying teams will be part of the program. (newenglandrestaurantbarshow.com, totalfood.com) That policy angle matches the national group’s broader push this year. The National Restaurant Association’s March 10-12 Public Affairs Conference in Washington was billed as the industry’s largest grassroots advocacy event and focused on helping operators speak directly with lawmakers. (restaurant.org) For restaurant owners in the Northeast, the Boston pitch is straightforward: two days to shop vendors, sit through sessions on regulation and labor, and test whether artificial intelligence tools can cut waste or save time fast enough to matter. (newenglandrestaurantbarshow.com, totalfood.com)