CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Lake Charles, LA
Full-service restaurants in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 130 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 23-person team.
- Establishments
- 130CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,965mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 53.5U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 260th of 925areas by count
How many full-service restaurants are in Lake Charles, LA?
There were 130 full-service restaurants in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants). They employed 2,965 people in mid-March and paid $68.0 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 260th out of 925 areas with published figures for full-service restaurants.
Measured against its 243,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 53.5 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 76.0, so Lake Charles, LA is 29.6% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 22.8 employees, compared with 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $22,947, 18.1% below the national $28,018.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 130 | 3,085 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,965 | 71,744 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $68,039,000 | $1,710,325,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.8 | 23.3 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $22,947 | $23,839 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 53.5 | 67.1 | 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.
Team sizes at full-service restaurants in Lake Charles, LA
Of the full-service restaurants in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 21.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 33.1% 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 | 28 | 21.5% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 15 | 11.5% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 35 | 26.9% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 38 | 29.2% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 14 | 10.8% | 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 Lake Charles, LA
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for full-service restaurants in Lake Charles, LA:
- The restaurant calls a guest to confirm a reservation.
- An event planner calls about a private room.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
Texting guests
Restaurants text reservation confirmations and table-ready alerts.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for a 23-person full-service restaurant
The average full-service restaurant in Lake Charles, LA has 22.8 employees, so a 23-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 23 users would run $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $459.00 a month for 23 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,772 less than RingCentral for a full-service restaurant in Lake Charles, LA 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 | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Lake Charles, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (131 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets guests in Lake Charles, LA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 131 | Central | 1999 | 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.
What full-service restaurants in Lake Charles, LA get with Callata
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.
Porting a number you already use in Lake Charles, LA 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 Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 130 full-service restaurants in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 2,965 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 23-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users cost $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $459.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Lake Charles, LA use?
Area code 337 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.