Business phone system for full-service restaurants in Connecticut
3,484 full-service restaurants operated in Connecticut in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 3,484CBP 2023
- Employees
- 58,365mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 94.8U.S. 76.0
- State rank
- 25th of 51by count
How many full-service restaurants operate in Connecticut
The Census Bureau counted 3,484 full-service restaurants in Connecticut in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511). They employed 58,365 people in mid-March and reported $1.8 billion in annual payroll. That is the 25th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Full-service restaurants make up 3.9% of the 89,234 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Connecticut has 94.8 full-service restaurants, 24.7% above the national rate of 76.0. The average establishment has 16.8 employees against 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $30,347, 8.3% above the U.S. figure of $28,018.
| Measure | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 3,484 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 58,365 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $1,771,184,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.8 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $30,347 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 94.8 | 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.
Full-service restaurants by metro area in Connecticut
Census published full-service restaurant counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Connecticut. The largest is Hartford, CT, with 1,073 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 100% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 1,073 | 19,450 | 91.8 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 1,006 | 16,364 | 103.4 |
| New Haven, CT | 566 | 9,297 | 98.1 |
| Waterbury, CT | 345 | 4,660 | 74.6 |
| Norwich, CT | 303 | 6,087 | 107.2 |
| Torrington, CT | 123 | 1,370 | 107.8 |
| Putnam, CT | 68 | 1,137 | 69.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at full-service restaurants in Connecticut
29.2% of Connecticut's full-service restaurants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 26.3% nationally. 49.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,018 | 29.2% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 693 | 19.9% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 739 | 21.2% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 817 | 23.5% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 217 | 6.2% | 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 Connecticut
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 Connecticut as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to full-service restaurants in Connecticut:
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
- An event planner calls about a private room.
- A customer calls in a takeout order.
When nobody can pick up
After closing, callers want hours and reservations, which a greeting or AI receptionist can handle.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 17-person full-service restaurant
Full-service restaurants in Connecticut average 16.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 17-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 17 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $510.00 a month and 17 on Ooma Office Pro cost $424.15. On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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.
Area codes in Connecticut
Connecticut has 4 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your guests know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 475 |
| 860 | 782 | Eastern | 1995 | 959 |
| 475 | 291 | Eastern | 2009 | 203 |
| 959 | 163 | Eastern | 2014 | 860 |
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 in Connecticut
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Connecticut, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many full-service restaurants are in Connecticut?
3,484 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 58,365 people in mid-March.
Which Connecticut metro area has the most full-service restaurants?
Hartford, CT, with 1,073 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 17-person full-service restaurant?
$510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $339.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Connecticut number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.