Restaurant phone answering service
During the rush, the phone at the host stand rings nonstop: "Are you open?", "Do you have gluten-free?", "Can I get a table for eight at seven?" Every one of those calls pulls a person away from guests in front of them. A restaurant phone answering service handles the repeat questions and captures the reservations and catering inquiries so your team can stay on the floor.
What it handles
- Hours, location details, parking and holiday hours, using the info you give it
- Menu questions: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy notes you provide (it won't guarantee allergen safety)
- Reservations and waitlist requests: name, party size, date, time, phone number
- Large parties, private events and catering: date, headcount, budget, contact details
- Messages for the manager (lost items, vendors, job applicants)
What it won't do
It doesn't take card payments or place orders into your POS. For takeout, it can point callers to your online ordering link or take a message, based on what you tell it.
Plans for restaurants
- Starter ($59.99/mo): Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, English only, no calendar booking. Usually not enough for evening and weekend service.
- Pro ($119.99/mo): 24/7, books reservations into the time slots you open, Spanish when the caller speaks Spanish, weekly results email.
- Premium ($149.99/mo): everything in Pro plus more minutes and a lower overage rate, your choice of receptionist name and voice, and (once texting is live) text confirmations and Google review-request texts.
Since restaurants are busiest nights and weekends, Pro or Premium is the realistic choice. See the pricing page. All plans include a 7-day trial.
Setup
Forward the restaurant line when nobody picks up within a few rings, or forward all calls during service. See how to forward business calls.
Try it
Try the restaurant demo on the demos page or press Talk to Riley and ask for a table for six on Friday. See also the restaurant industry page.
Frequently asked questions
Can it take reservations?
On Pro and Premium it offers real open slots from the calendar you set up and books them. Starter takes the request as a message.
Does it replace OpenTable or Resy?
No. It answers the phone. If you use a reservation platform, it can point callers there or take the details for you to enter.
Can it answer allergy questions?
It shares the allergy notes you give it and reminds callers to tell their server. It never promises a dish is allergen-free.
Do I need a new phone number?
No. You forward your existing number.