CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Nashville, TN
Full-service restaurants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area: 1,681 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 26-person team.
- Establishments
- 1,681CBP 2023
- Employees
- 44,152mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 78.2U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 31st of 925areas by count
The full-service restaurant market in Nashville, TN
There were 1,681 full-service restaurants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants). Together they reported 44,152 mid-March employees and $1.3 billion of payroll for the year. That ranks 31st of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.2 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 78.2 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people, 2.8% above the national rate of 76.0. Establishments average 26.3 employees, 26.1% above the U.S. average of 20.8. Payroll per employee comes to $29,981, 7.0% above the national $28,018.
| Measure | Nashville, TN | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,681 | 4,962 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 44,152 | 121,246 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $1,323,704,000 | $3,236,433,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 26.3 | 24.4 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $29,981 | $26,693 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 78.2 | 68.7 | 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 Nashville, TN
Of the full-service restaurants in Nashville, TN that had employees in March 2023, 21.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 37.0% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 368 | 21.9% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 254 | 15.1% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 325 | 19.4% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 447 | 26.6% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 285 | 17.0% | 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.
Calls a full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN has to catch
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.
Calls a full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN might handle in a typical week include:
- 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.
After-hours calls
After closing, callers want hours and reservations, which a greeting or AI receptionist can handle.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN
The average full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN has 26.3 employees, so a 26-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $648.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $780.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 26 people cost $519.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,132. 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 | $519.00 | $6,228.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $494.00 | $5,928.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $598.00 | $7,176.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $648.70 | $7,784.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $702.00 | $8,424.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $780.00 | $9,360.00 |
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.
Local area codes for full-service restaurants in Nashville, TN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 615 has the most, with 716 of 937 exchanges (76%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your guests recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | 716 | Central | 1954 | 629 |
| 629 | 174 | Central | 2015 | 615 |
| 931 | 47 | Eastern and Central | 1997 | 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.
Setting up Callata for a full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN
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.
If you already have a number in Nashville, TN, 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 there in Nashville, TN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 1,681 full-service restaurants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area in 2023. They employed 44,152 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 26-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 26 users cost $780.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $648.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $519.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in Nashville, TN use?
Area code 615 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 629 and 931. 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.