CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA
Full-service restaurants in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area: 236 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 236CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,390mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 84.7U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 164th of 925areas by count
The full-service restaurant market in Cedar Rapids, IA
County Business Patterns counts 236 full-service restaurants (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants) in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area for 2023. They employed 4,390 people in mid-March and paid $93.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 164th out of 925 areas with published figures for full-service restaurants.
Measured against its 279,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 84.7 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 76.0, so Cedar Rapids, IA is 11.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 18.6 employees, compared with 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $21,294, 24.0% below the national $28,018.
| Measure | Cedar Rapids, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 236 | 2,459 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,390 | 44,032 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $93,481,000 | $909,687,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 18.6 | 17.9 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $21,294 | $20,660 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 84.7 | 75.9 | 76.0 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Establishment size: full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA
Of the full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA that had employees in March 2023, 22.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 42.4% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 54 | 22.9% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 46 | 19.5% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 60 | 25.4% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 57 | 24.2% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 19 | 8.1% | 10.8% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA
Restaurants take reservations, takeout orders and catering inquiries by phone during the same rush when staff are busiest. Unanswered calls during service often mean lost covers. That holds for full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for full-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA:
- An event planner calls about a private room.
- The restaurant calls a guest to confirm a reservation.
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
Business texting for full-service restaurants
Restaurants text reservation confirmations and table-ready alerts.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
Phone system pricing for a 19-person full-service restaurant
The average full-service restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA has 18.6 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $474.05 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $570.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,292 less than RingCentral for a full-service restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Cedar Rapids, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 319 has the most, with 183 of 190 exchanges (96%). A local number lets guests in Cedar Rapids, IA call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 319 | 183 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 563 | 7 | Central | 2001 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for full-service restaurants
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Cedar Rapids, IA is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many full-service restaurants are there in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 236 full-service restaurants in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 4,390 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA use?
Area code 319 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 563. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a full-service restaurant?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.