Best AI phone answering services for restaurants in 2026
Case study
Conor Robinson
Quick answer: Sadie is the best AI receptionist for restaurants that want every call answered and reservations sent straight into their system, with flat monthly plans and unlimited calls. Here is how it compares with Slang AI, Loman, Hostie and Smith.ai.
At a glance
Sadie: best overall for answering every call 24/7 and taking reservations, with OpenTable, SevenRooms, Now Book It, Libro, ResDiary, Square and Deliverect.
Slang AI: best for full-service restaurants on Resy or OpenTable that want texting and lots of languages.
Loman: best for takeout and delivery, with orders and payments sent to your POS.
Hostie: best for independents who want calls, texts and messages in one place.
Smith.ai: a general AI receptionist with live human backup, not built for restaurants.
Full disclosure: this is Sadie's blog, so we've put ourselves first. Everything below about other providers comes from their own websites, checked in November 2026. Use it as a shortlist, then hear each one take a real call before you decide.
The problem: calls ring out when you're busiest
The phone rings hardest at 7pm, when your host is seating a four-top and two guests are waiting at the door. Every call that goes to voicemail is a table that may go somewhere else, and every call your host picks up pulls them away from the room.
An AI receptionist for restaurants answers every call, handles the routine ones (hours, menu, reservations, directions) and sends the rest to your team. The question is which one fits your restaurant.
What to look for
Every call, every hour: including the rush, after close, and several calls at once.
Your reservation system: reservations should go straight into the platform you already use, not just into a message.
Speed to go live: days, not weeks, and no new hardware or phone number.
A clean handoff: calls that need a person should reach the right person with the details already captured.
Pricing you can predict: a flat monthly fee or a clear per-call rate, with nothing hidden for busy months.
The 5 best AI receptionists for restaurants at a glance
1. Sadie
Best for: Every-call coverage and reservations, US, CA, UK, IE and AU
Reservation and POS connections: OpenTable, SevenRooms, Now Book It, Libro, ResDiary, Square, Deliverect
Published pricing: From $149 per month in local currency, unlimited calls
2. Slang AI
Best for: Full-service restaurants on Resy or OpenTable
Reservation and POS connections: OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms, Yelp, Tripleseat
Published pricing: From $399 per location per month
3. Loman
Best for: Takeout and delivery ordering
Reservation and POS connections: Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, OpenTable, Resy and more
Published pricing: Not published (demo)
4. Hostie
Best for: Calls and texts in one inbox
Reservation and POS connections: None named on its site
Published pricing: Not published
5. Smith.ai
Best for: Human backup for any business
Reservation and POS connections: No restaurant platforms listed
Published pricing: $150 per month for 75 calls
1. Sadie: best overall for restaurants
Sadie is an AI receptionist built for restaurants. It answers every call 24/7, handles several calls at once, takes reservations and answers guest questions, and keeps your existing phone number. Trusted by 2,000+ restaurants, it goes live in under 24 hours with no training or technical lift.
Plans are flat monthly with unlimited minutes and unlimited simultaneous calls: Answers (from $149 a month in local currency) for calls and guest questions, Reserves for reservations and deposits, and Orders for takeout with POS integration. Calls that need a person are transferred automatically.
Where Sadie stands out is coverage outside the US. Alongside OpenTable, SevenRooms, Square and Deliverect, it works with Now Book It (Australia), ResDiary (UK and Ireland) and Libro (Canada), the systems many independent restaurants actually run on.
Answers every call, including the dinner rush and after close.
Sends reservations straight into your reservation system.
Live in under 24 hours on your current number.
Takes secure deposits to cut no-shows.
Watch out for: takeout ordering and POS integration sit on the Orders plan, so check your POS is supported if the phone is mainly an ordering line.
Best for: restaurants and groups in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia that want every call answered and reservations taken without staff on the phone.
2. Slang AI: best for full-service restaurants on Resy
Slang AI calls itself "the AI Superhost for Restaurants". It takes reservations through OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms and Yelp, sends text confirmations and links, and can transfer guests to staff instantly. Its higher plan covers 97 languages.
Pricing: starts at $399 per location per month (Core) and $599 (Premium), per its website.
Best for: full-service restaurants on Resy or OpenTable that want texting and wide language coverage.
3. Loman: best for takeout and delivery
Loman focuses on phone orders. It takes pickup and delivery orders, collects card payments over the phone and sends tickets to your POS, with connections including Toast, Square, Clover and SpotOn. It also takes reservations and supports 55 languages.
Pricing: not published; you book a demo for a quote.
Best for: pizzerias, quick-service and takeout-heavy restaurants where the phone is mainly an ordering line.
4. Hostie: best for calls and texts in one place
Hostie answers calls and texts and pulls calls, texts, emails, Instagram and Google Maps messages into one inbox. Guests can see menus, make reservations and place takeout orders, and staff can jump into a conversation live. Its Premium plan covers 20 languages.
Pricing: plans are listed without prices on its website.
Best for: independent restaurants that get as many texts and DMs as calls.
5. Smith.ai: best if you want a human backup
Smith.ai is a general AI receptionist for any business, backed by live receptionists in North America. It isn't built for restaurants: its site lists no restaurant reservation or POS integrations.
Pricing: $150 per month including 75 calls (about $2 per call), per its website.
Best for: owners who want a person on standby and don't need reservations sent into a reservation system.
How fast can you go live?
Most restaurant-specific services now go live within a day or two. Sadie goes live in under 24 hours, Slang says it can go live the same day, and Loman quotes 24 to 48 hours (its FAQ says under a day). The real time sink is getting your hours, menu and policies right, so have them ready before setup.
What does it cost?
Restaurant-specific services usually charge a flat monthly fee per location: Sadie starts at $149 a month with unlimited calls, and Slang AI at $399. General receptionists like Smith.ai charge by the call, which adds up in a busy month. To compare fairly, give every provider the same numbers: your weekly call volume, how many are reservations, and how many need a manager. Then compare the full quote, including setup and extra-usage terms.
How to choose
Want every call answered and reservations sent straight in? Start with Sadie.
Full-service on Resy? Look at Slang AI.
Mostly takeout and delivery? Look at Loman.
Lots of texts and DMs? Look at Hostie.
Need a human on standby? Look at Smith.ai.
Whichever you shortlist, test the same three calls on each: a simple question, a reservation with a last-minute change, and a request that needs a manager. Listen to how each one handles the third.
Hear Sadie take a real call
See how Sadie answers your restaurant's calls and sends reservations straight into your system. 15 minutes, no commitment.
FAQ
What is the best AI receptionist for restaurants in 2026?
Sadie is the best overall for restaurants that want every call answered 24/7 and reservations sent straight into OpenTable, SevenRooms, Now Book It, Libro, ResDiary, Square or Deliverect. Slang AI, Loman, Hostie and Smith.ai each suit narrower needs.
How much does an AI phone answering service cost for a restaurant?
Restaurant-specific services usually charge a flat monthly fee per location: Sadie starts at $149 a month with unlimited calls and Slang AI at $399 per location. General receptionists like Smith.ai charge by the call, from $150 per month for 75 calls.
How quickly can an AI receptionist go live?
Sadie goes live in under 24 hours on your existing number. Most restaurant-specific services go live within one to two days.
Can an AI receptionist take restaurant reservations?
Yes, if it connects to your reservation system. Sadie sends reservations into OpenTable, SevenRooms, Now Book It, Libro and ResDiary, among others. General receptionists without these integrations can only take a message.
Will I need a new phone number?
No. Sadie works with your current restaurant number, so guests call the same number they always have.
Does Sadie work outside the US?
Yes. Sadie serves restaurants in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia, and integrates with local platforms like Now Book It, ResDiary and Libro.
