It is a dance-pop, trap-pop, electronic and Eurodisco song, with lyrics that feature oral sex double entendres involving food.

[7] According to Hugh McIntyre from Forbes, the track's rhythm features "breezy, summery, 90's-invoking vibes" and a beat that gradually builds, eventually becoming "undeniable".

[8] MTV writer Sasha Geffen calls the track "a smorgasbord" of double entrendres with food saying that "...'eating' can only mean two things",[4] with Anna Gaca of Spin explicitly noting its connotations of oral sex.

[7][15] To promote the song on the day of its release, Perry went to Times Square in a food truck to hand out cherry pies to fans.

[3] Three days later, she and Migos performed it at the 2017 Met Gala after Perry also sang her songs "Chained to the Rhythm", "Dark Horse", and "Firework".

[17][18][19] Entertainment Weekly's reviewer Nolan Feeney gave "Bon Appétit" a B+ rating writing, "she is back to garish, stupid-fun party jams that don't even try to be subtle about cramming in as many sex metaphors as possible in three-and-a-half minutes.

"[21] NME writer Jamie Milton calls "Bon Appétit" a "recipe for greatness", and "supremely confident, addictive, steamed-up sound of summer 2017".

[22] Chris Willman of Variety said "Bon Appétit" is, "a gleefully ridiculous exercise in chewing the comedic scenery by presenting female sexuality as a four-course-plus meal", noting Perry is moving "further into a pure EDM-pop realm here".

[25] In a negative review, USA Today contributor Jayme Deerwester criticized the track's production as "unsubstantial and ultimately unsatisfying".

[34] In the United States, the song opened at number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated May 20, 2017, with first week digital downloads of 18,000 copies and an airplay audience of 3.8 million.

[40][41] Dent De Cuir directed the song's music video, which was released on May 12, 2017, and features chef Roy Choi.

In a scene heavily inspired by the 1988 film Beetlejuice, the patrons are then bound, gagged and then dismembered by the chefs as Perry then dances on a pole.