CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in New York, NY-NJ
Full-service restaurants in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area: 19,706 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 16-person team.
- Establishments
- 19,706CBP 2023
- Employees
- 318,739mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 98.8U.S. 76.0
- Rank
- 1st of 925areas by count
The full-service restaurant market in New York, NY-NJ
County Business Patterns counts 19,706 full-service restaurants (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area for 2023. They employed 318,739 people in mid-March and paid $11.7 billion in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 1st out of 925 areas with published figures for full-service restaurants.
Measured against its 19.9 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 98.8 full-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 76.0, so New York, NY-NJ is 30.0% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 16.2 employees, compared with 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $36,716, 31.0% above the national $28,018.
| Measure | New York, NY-NJ | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19,706 | 19,661 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 318,739 | 321,790 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $11,702,743,000 | $11,327,130,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.2 | 16.4 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $36,716 | $35,200 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 98.8 | 99.0 | 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 New York, NY-NJ
Of the full-service restaurants in New York, NY-NJ that had employees in March 2023, 37.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 26.3%). 56.6% 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 | 7,399 | 37.6% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 3,745 | 19.0% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 3,537 | 18.0% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 3,589 | 18.2% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 1,434 | 7.3% | 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 New York, NY-NJ 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.
A few of the calls that come in to full-service restaurants in New York, NY-NJ:
- A guest calls to book a table for six on Saturday.
- A customer calls in a takeout order.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
Texting guests
Restaurants text reservation confirmations and table-ready alerts.
Texts sent from a local business number in New York, NY-NJ have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a full-service restaurant in New York, NY-NJ
The average full-service restaurant in New York, NY-NJ has 16.2 employees, so a 16-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $399.20 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $480.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $319.00 a month for 16 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,932 less than RingCentral for a full-service restaurant in New York, NY-NJ 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 | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
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 New York, NY-NJ
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 201 has the most, with 761 of 3,908 exchanges (19%). A local number lets guests in New York, NY-NJ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 761 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 732 | 742 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 973 | 643 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 536 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 631 | 341 | Eastern | 1999 | 934 |
| 862 | 320 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 296 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 269 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
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 New York, NY-NJ
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 New York, NY-NJ 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 New York, NY-NJ?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19,706 full-service restaurants in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2023. They employed 318,739 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 16-person full-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 16 users cost $480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $319.00.
What area code should a full-service restaurant in New York, NY-NJ use?
Area code 201 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 732 and 973. 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.