Book a restaurant reservation with ChatGPT agent (failure case)

Posted

Aug 2, 2025 by Anthony Shoosh (@AnthonyShoosh)

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Last checked

Oct 16, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Outcome

ChatGPT agent took about 5 minutes just to reach the reservation page, then handed back; the poster called it a waste of time.

Agent

ChatGPT agent

Strengthened by us to avoid the problem in the source. Not tested by the poster. It doesn't change what happened in the source.

Here's a task I'd like your help with. Read it all the way through before you start.

Goal: Book a restaurant table for me as quickly as possible.

Check with me first: Which restaurant (or area and cuisine), what date and time, and how many people?

What I'll give you:
- Restaurant name or [AREA + CUISINE]
- Date, time and party size
- Name, phone and any dietary needs for the booking

Rules:
- Go straight to the restaurant's booking page or a booking site like OpenTable or Resy. Don't browse around.
- If you haven't reached a booking page within 3 minutes, stop and send me the best direct booking link instead.
- If my time isn't available, offer the two closest times before booking.
- If it asks for a card, a login or a deposit, stop and hand it to me.
- Confirm the booking only with the details I gave.

Output: A confirmed booking (name, date, time, party size, confirmation number) or a direct booking link with the times available.

If anything here is unclear or missing, ask me instead of guessing.

You'll know it worked when: I have a booking, or a one-tap link, within a few minutes.

Book a restaurant reservation for me.

Here's a task I'd like your help with. Read it all the way through before you start.

Goal: Book a restaurant table quickly, or hand me a ready booking link within 2 minutes.

Quick check first: tell me if anything below is missing or unclear.

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Restaurant or area and cuisine
- Date, time and party size
- Name, phone and dietary needs

Rules:
- Go straight to the restaurant's booking provider (e.g. OpenTable, Resy) rather than browsing.
- If the slot is free, fill details and stop at confirm.
- If not, offer two nearest times.
- Time-box: if it takes more than 2 minutes, send me the direct link instead.
- Fill in dietary needs in the booking form notes.

What went wrong before, and how to avoid it:
- Last time it took 5 minutes to reach the booking page then gave up: go direct to the provider and time-box.

Checkpoint: Wait for my yes before confirming.

If you get stuck: If booking needs a card, login, CAPTCHA or two-step code, hand over immediately; never guess or store passwords.

Verify before you finish: Confirm the details on the confirmation page.

Output: Booking confirmation or a direct link with the slot.

Done when: I have a table or a one-click link fast.

Source

https://x.com/AnthonyShoosh/status/1951524727605837921