restaurant-scout

name	restaurant-scout
description	Restaurant discovery, reservation platform detection, and deep-link routing. Use when the user wants to find a restaurant, make a reservation, check availability, or get a direct booking link for any dining venue.
homepage	https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
metadata	{"openclaw":{"emoji":"🍽️","requires":{"bins":["bash","python3","curl"]}}}

Restaurant Scout — EXECUTE THESE STEPS IN ORDER. DO NOT SKIP ANY.

Before anything else — defaults for missing fields

Missing field	Use
city	NYC
party_size	2
date	tomorrow (or today if "tonight")
time	19:30

---

STEP 1 — Log the request (exec, mandatory)

exec: bash /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/scout-log.sh scout_start restaurant="{name or vibe}" city="{city}" party={n} date="{YYYY-MM-DD}" mode={named|discovery}

---

STEP 2 — Load knowledge base (exec, mandatory)

exec: cat /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scout-knowledge.md

Note your user's [user:profile] defaults (home city, usual party). Note any [restaurant:Name|City] entries matching the request.

---

STEP 3 — Search (web_search, mandatory for discovery; skip only for named restaurants with a fresh knowledge entry)

Maximum 2 web_search calls total. Stop searching after 2 and move to Step 4.

For discovery (vague / cuisine-based request):

web_search: best {cuisine} restaurants {neighborhood or city} 2026

Pick the top 3 candidates from results. From search snippets, note any Chef name, vibe/ambience words, signature dishes mentioned — you'll use these in Step 5 and 6. Immediately move to Step 4. Do NOT narrate findings. Do NOT send any message.

For named restaurants with a fresh knowledge entry (<30 days): skip this step entirely.

For named restaurants with no or stale knowledge entry:

web_search: {restaurant name} {city} chef menu signature dishes ambience

From search snippets, note: chef name, vibe/atmosphere description, 2–3 signature dishes or menu highlights, any awards (Michelin stars, James Beard). You'll store these in Step 5 and use them in Step 6.

Query rules: plain text only, no site:, no OR, no AND, under 100 characters.

⚠️ After web_search completes: call build-deeplink.py immediately. Do NOT generate a text response first. Do NOT say "I found X restaurants, let me get the links." That narration IS the bug the user is complaining about. Go straight to exec.

---

STEP 4 — Build a deep link for EVERY candidate (exec, mandatory — one call per restaurant)

YOU MUST CALL build-deeplink.py FOR EVERY RESTAURANT. DO NOT write URLs by hand.

Use the platform and slug from either the knowledge base entry or the search results.

Resy:

exec: python3 /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/build-deeplink.py --platform resy --slug {slug} --city {resy-city-code} --party {n} --date {YYYY-MM-DD}

OpenTable:

exec: python3 /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/build-deeplink.py --platform opentable --slug {slug} --party {n} --date {YYYY-MM-DD} --time {HH:MM}

Tock:

exec: python3 /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/build-deeplink.py --platform tock --slug {slug} --party {n} --date {YYYY-MM-DD} --time {HH:MM}

SevenRooms:

exec: python3 /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/build-deeplink.py --platform sevenrooms --slug {slug} --party {n} --date {YYYY-MM-DD}

Direct / unknown platform:

exec: python3 /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/build-deeplink.py --platform direct --url {homepage-url} --party {n} --date {YYYY-MM-DD} --time {HH:MM}

Walk-in or call-only: No script needed. Note phone number from knowledge base.

If slug is unknown: fetch the restaurant's homepage to find it:

web_fetch: https://{restaurant-domain}

Scan for resy.com/cities/.../venues/{slug}, opentable.com/r/{slug}, exploretock.com/{slug}, sevenrooms.com/reservations/{slug}.

Multiple Nobu / chain locations: run build-deeplink.py for EVERY location. Never ask which one.

---

STEP 5 — Update knowledge base (write/edit, mandatory)

Update scout-knowledge.md — use the FULL enriched format, filling in whatever you gathered from Steps 2–3:

[restaurant:{Name}|{City}] Platform: {platform} | Slug: {slug} | City: {resy-code} | Phone: {phone} | Chef: {chef name if found} | Vibe: {one evocative sentence capturing decor/atmosphere/energy} | Dishes: {signature dishes, comma-separated} | Awards: {Michelin stars, James Beard, or other notable recognition} | Notes: {slot release time, walk-in tips, difficulty} | LastChecked: {today}

If Chef/Vibe/Dishes/Awards are unknown (search didn't reveal them), omit those fields — do not fabricate.

Also update [user:profile] — append this restaurant to RecentSearches, update CuisinePrefs and HomeCity if inferred.

exec: bash /home/openclaw/.openclaw/workspace/skills/restaurant-scout/scripts/scout-log.sh memory_store restaurant="{name}" platform={platform} note="stored"

---

STEP 6 — Respond in magazine style (only after Steps 1–5 are complete)

Write beautiful, evocative responses — like a well-edited food magazine, not a bot output. Use the Vibe, Chef, Dishes, and Awards from the knowledge base (or gathered in Step 3). If none of those fields exist for a restaurant, write naturally without them — never leave placeholder text like {Vibe}.

Named restaurant (full editorial card):

🍽️ **{Name}** — {Neighborhood}, {City}

_{Vibe sentence from knowledge base — the one-line atmosphere description}_

👨‍🍳 {Chef name} {· Awards if any, e.g. "· 3 Michelin stars"}
✨ **Must order:** {Dish 1} · {Dish 2} · {Dish 3}

{party} guests · {display date} · {display time}
→ [{label from build-deeplink.py}]({url from build-deeplink.py})
📞 {phone if available}
💡 {insider booking tip from Notes field}

Walk-in / call-only (same editorial richness, different CTA):

🍽️ **{Name}** — {Neighborhood}, {City}

_{Vibe sentence}_

👨‍🍳 {Chef} {· Awards}
✨ **Must order:** {Dishes}

Walk-in only — arrive by {smart time suggestion}.
📞 {phone}
💡 {tip}

Discovery — multiple candidates:

🍽️ {N} picks for {vibe/cuisine}, {city} — {party} guests · {date}

**1. {Name}** — {Neighborhood}
_{Vibe in one sentence}_
✨ {2–3 signature dishes}
{Platform} · [Book now →]({url from build-deeplink.py})
💡 {tip}

**2. {Name}** — {Neighborhood}
_{Vibe}_
✨ {Dishes}
{Platform} · [Book now →]({url from build-deeplink.py})

**3. {Name}** — Walk-ins only
_{Vibe}_
📞 {phone} — arrive by {time}

Channel-aware formatting: On iMessage/BlueBubbles, drop Markdown (**, _) and use emoji anchors + plain text. On Telegram, use full Markdown. Match the platform.

Allowed closing offer (optional): "Want me to check other dates or find more options nearby?"

---

Hard rules

1. Zero messages before Step 6. No "let me check", no "one moment", no "I'll look that up", no "I found X restaurants, I'll build the links now" — that last one is the most common bug. After searching, call build-deeplink.py immediately without narrating what you found.
2. Zero questions. City missing → NYC. Party missing → 2. Date missing → tomorrow.
3. Zero hand-crafted URLs. Every link comes from build-deeplink.py output. No exceptions.
4. Zero "want me to build links?" — you already built them in Step 4.
5. Zero "I can book for you." Scout routes. User books. FORBIDDEN: "I can attempt the reservation", "want me to try to snag it".
6. Knowledge base is a tool, not an answer. Reading the knowledge base does not authorize a response. Steps 4 and 5 must run before Step 6.
7. Fallback chain: If web_search fails → web_fetch homepage directly → web_fetch platform search page → knowledge base phone. Always deliver something.