RestaurantFront desk

The Best AI Phone Ordering for Restaurants

On a Friday night the phone rings while every hand is on the line, and each unanswered call is a takeout order that goes to a delivery app or a competitor. AI phone ordering can take that order and send it straight to your kitchen. Here is which tool to call first.

We may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. It never changes our picks. How we pick

THE SHORT ANSWERUsable

Yes, AI can now take takeout and delivery orders by phone and send them straight into your POS, but only a few tools actually write the ticket to the kitchen. For most independent pizzerias and takeout restaurants we recommend Loman: it lists nine two way POS integrations including Toast, Square and Clover, takes payment over the phone and says most restaurants go live in under 24 hours. Prices are now quote only, though Loman's own blog says plans start at $199 a month.

Order taking into the POS works today for standard menus, but accuracy figures are vendor claims, pricing is mostly by quote, and some callers still hang up on an AI, so keep a human transfer line.
  1. Our pickLomanQuote only; Loman's blog says plans start at $199/month
  2. Upgrade pickConverseNowQuote only
  3. Also greatSlang AIQuote only; listed from $399/month per location until Oct 2026

Loman: our pick

Quote only; Loman's blog says plans start at $199/month

Best for independent pizzerias and takeout restaurants that want phone orders landing in the POS without retyping.

Loman is built only for restaurants, and its core job is the one this guide is about: it takes pickup and delivery orders, books reservations and answers menu questions Loman features ↗. Orders and payments go directly into the kitchen with no manual step Loman POS integrations ↗. Loman lists nine two way POS integrations: Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, SkyTab (Shift4), Aloha by NCR, Olo, Stream and OpenTable Loman POS integrations ↗. It reads your live menu, so an item you have 86'd is not offered in the middle of a call Loman POS integrations ↗. It says it handles unlimited calls at once, which is the problem a human host cannot solve during a rush Loman POS integrations ↗.

Loman's fact file says the AI speaks English and Spanish, suggests add ons, transfers callers who need complex help to staff, and processes payments in a PCI compliant way Loman fact file ↗. Most restaurants go live in under 24 hours from a self serve dashboard, according to Loman Loman POS integrations ↗.

Pricing is the weak spot. Loman's pricing page moved to contact us pricing in June 2026; before that it listed Starter at $199 a month and Premium at $399 a month, each with a $149 setup fee PricingSaaS, Loman ↗. Loman's August 2026 blog still describes a flat price starting at $199 a month with no per minute charges Loman POS integrations ↗, and its fact file says Premium, the tier that adds POS integration and payments, is $399 a month or $299 billed yearly Loman fact file ↗. The 98.6 percent order accuracy figure is Loman's own claim Loman fact file ↗. Independent reviews are thin: CloudTalk, a competing phone company, found a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2 from only 3 reviews and no Capterra or Trustpilot listings, and one reviewer reported occasional mishearing of uncommon item names and heavily accented speech CloudTalk, Loman reviews ↗.

Why we like Loman

  • Writes orders and payments into nine named POS systems, including Toast, Square and Clover
  • Live menu sync keeps 86'd items off the phone
  • Handles many calls at once during a rush
  • English and Spanish
  • Go live in under 24 hours, by Loman's account

Where Loman falls short

  • Quote only pricing since June 2026
  • Order taking and payments sit on the higher Premium tier
  • Very few independent reviews
  • Accuracy figure is a vendor claim

ConverseNow: upgrade pick

Quote only

Best for multi unit chains and franchises on enterprise POS systems that want phone, drive thru and text orders from one vendor.

ConverseNow sells voice AI that takes restaurant orders, and its customer list is the reason to look: it names Domino's Pizza, Wingstop, Denny's, Fazoli's, Hardee's, Jets Pizza and Blake's Lotaburger ConverseNow ↗. It says it handles more than 2,000,000 conversations a month ConverseNow ↗. Its integration partners lean toward the systems chains run: Brink POS, Fiserv, Focus, ItsaCheckmate, NCR Aloha, Olo, PAR, Qu and Xpient ConverseNow ↗. In 2024 it also partnered with Adora POS, a point of sale system built for pizzerias Food On Demand ↗.

It covers more than the phone. ConverseNow offers drive thru automation, text message ordering with order status updates, and an API that brings its AI ordering into apps and kiosks ConverseNow products ↗. Menus, languages and upsell rules can be set by region, store, time of day or order size, and the products page shows a Spanish language phone demo ConverseNow products ↗. An independent directory listing says it works with existing phone and drive thru systems without upfront hardware changes Voice AI Space ↗.

This is a sales led product. There is no public price, no listed trial and no self serve sign up; you book a consultation and ConverseNow promises a demo within 24 hours ConverseNow ↗ ConverseNow products ↗. It claims more than 95 percent order accuracy on phone orders without saying how that was measured, and its home page does not mention PCI or other security certifications ConverseNow products ↗ ConverseNow ↗. A single location independent will usually find Loman simpler.

Why we like ConverseNow

  • Proven with national pizza and wing brands
  • Enterprise POS partners such as Brink, PAR, NCR Aloha and Olo
  • Phone, drive thru, text and kiosk ordering from one vendor
  • Menus and upsell rules set per store

Where ConverseNow falls short

  • No public pricing or trial
  • Aimed at brands, not single locations
  • Accuracy and security details not published

Slang AI: also great

Quote only; listed from $399/month per location until Oct 2026

Best for full service restaurants whose calls are mostly reservations, with takeout handled online.

Slang AI is the AI phone host we would pick if your phone is mostly reservation calls rather than orders. It books directly into OpenTable, SevenRooms, Yelp and Resy, and connects to Tripleseat and Perfect Venue for private events Slang AI pricing ↗. It answers questions about hours, directions, promotions and allergy information around the clock Slang AI restaurants ↗, and its Premium voice, Superhost, switches between 97 languages even in the middle of a call Slang AI product ↗.

Slang moved its pricing page to quote only in October 2026; before that it listed Core from $399 a month and Premium from $599 a month per location, with Enterprise priced by quote Slang AI pricing ↗. Slang says setup takes less than 30 minutes of your time and can go live the same day, and that most operators are live in the first week Slang AI pricing ↗. A customer page reports over 100 hours of staff time saved a month Slang AI restaurants ↗; that is a customer story, not independent data.

The catch for this guide: Slang does not describe taking takeout or delivery orders by phone. Its pricing page says texts can include ordering links, and its product page lists reservation integrations but no POS systems Slang AI pricing ↗ Slang AI product ↗. If your callers mostly want to order food, Slang will send them to your online ordering page rather than write a ticket. No free trial or contract terms are listed Slang AI pricing ↗.

Why we like Slang AI

  • Deep reservation integrations with OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms and Yelp
  • 97 languages on Premium
  • Published price per location
  • Same day setup by Slang's account

Where Slang AI falls short

  • Does not take phone orders into a POS
  • $399 a month is a lot for a small takeout spot
  • No trial or contract terms published

Compare them

ToolStarting priceFree trialTakes phone ordersPOS connectionsReservationsBest for
LomanOur pickQuote; blog says from $199/moNot statedYes, pickup and delivery with paymentToast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, SkyTab, Aloha, Olo, StreamYes, OpenTableIndependent takeout spots
ConverseNowUpgrade pickQuote onlyNot statedYes, plus drive thru and textBrink, PAR, NCR Aloha, Olo, Qu and moreNot its focusChains and franchises
Slang AIAlso greatQuote; was listed from $399/mo per locationNot statedNo; texts can include ordering linksNone listedYes, OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms, YelpReservation heavy dining rooms
Owner.com$249/mo plus 5% per order, or $499/moNot statedNo; online ordering and appNot statedNoMoving orders off the phone
My AI Front Desk$99/mo ($79 yearly)7 daysNot describedNone namedCalendar booking onlyNon restaurant businesses
What they cost per monthLowest listed paid plan. Free plan noted where there is one.

Prices and features from each vendor’s site, checked Oct 9, 2026. Prices change often.

Who this is for

This guide is for restaurants where the phone is a sales channel: pizzerias, wing shops, Chinese and Indian takeout, delis and family restaurants that do a big share of pickup and delivery by phone. The pain is specific. Calls stack up at 6 p.m., staff put people on hold or let the phone ring, and the caller orders from an app instead.

That makes this a different question from our broader restaurant AI guide, which leads with a reservation focused phone host. Here the test is whether the AI can take a full order with modifiers, charge the card and print a correct ticket in your POS. A tool that only answers questions or texts a link does not solve that problem.

If most of your calls are table bookings, a reservation host like Slang AI fits better Slang AI pricing ↗. If you get only a handful of phone orders a night, pushing callers to your own online ordering page may be cheaper than any AI.

Why you should trust us

We read each vendor's product pages, pricing pages and fact files, checked prices between October 9 and October 12, 2026, and used a pricing history service to see when published prices changed PricingSaaS, Loman ↗. We read independent review roundups and flagged when the publisher competes with the vendor CloudTalk, Loman reviews ↗ Front Desk Review ↗. Every fact links to its source.

No vendor paid for placement, and our picks were chosen on merit.

How we picked

We started with every tool in our catalog that answers restaurant phones, plus the general AI receptionists that small businesses ask about. We dropped general receptionists because none we read describes POS order entry. My AI Front Desk's own comparison page against Loman, for example, does not mention restaurant ordering or POS integrations My AI Front Desk vs Loman ↗.

For takeout restaurants, the criteria are different from a dining room. The order has to reach the kitchen without anyone retyping it, the AI has to know what is sold out, and card data has to be handled safely.

  • Writes orders directly into the POS you already use
  • Live menu sync, so sold out items and modifiers are right
  • Takes card payments over the phone with PCI handling
  • Answers many calls at once during a rush
  • Spanish or other languages your callers speak
  • Transfers to a person for catering, complaints and allergies
  • Published pricing, or at least a clear quote process

What AI phone ordering can and can't do today

It can take standard orders well: pickup or delivery, sizes, toppings, sides and drinks, then read the order back and push it to the POS Loman POS integrations ↗. It can suggest add ons on every call, which is the upsell staff forget during a rush Loman fact file ↗. It can answer many calls at once, so callers stop hearing a busy signal Loman POS integrations ↗.

It is weaker with heavy accents, unusual item names and lag when call volume spikes, according to a G2 reviewer cited by CloudTalk CloudTalk, Loman reviews ↗. Several Reddit commenters in the same roundup said they hang up when an AI answers a restaurant phone CloudTalk, Loman reviews ↗. Plan for a quick transfer to a person.

Do not let the AI promise that a dish is allergen safe. Slang, for example, answers allergy questions only from information the restaurant approves Slang AI restaurants ↗. Script your AI to give the facts you supply and send serious allergy questions to the manager on duty.

What it costs for a typical takeout restaurant

Use your own average phone ticket to find the break even point. As an example, if your average phone order is $30, a $399 monthly plan pays for itself after 14 extra orders a month, which is fewer than one extra order every two days. At $199 a month, the same restaurant needs 7 extra orders a month.

First year cost matters too. The Front Desk Review worked out year one totals from June 2026 prices, including setup fees: $2,537 for Loman Starter, $4,937 for Loman Premium and $4,788 for Slang Core Front Desk Review ↗. Loman has since moved to quote only pricing, so ask for your own written quote PricingSaaS, Loman ↗ Front Desk Review ↗.

Compare that with moving orders off the phone. Owner.com, which builds a restaurant's own website, ordering and app, starts at $249 a month plus 5 percent per order, or $499 a month flat Owner.com pricing ↗. On a $30 order the 5 percent fee is $1.50. Many restaurants will want both: AI to answer the phone, and an online ordering link the AI can text.

Before you sign up

Call the demo line with your hardest real order, such as a half and half pizza with substitutions, two drinks and a coupon. Then ask to see the exact ticket it would print in your POS.

Know your call recording law. Federal law needs only one party's consent to record, but states including California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington require consent from everyone on the call DMLP recording law ↗. A short recording notice in the greeting covers most cases.

  • Ask which plan includes POS write back and phone payments
  • Ask how card numbers are handled and request PCI documentation
  • Ask about setup fees; Loman listed $149 before it went quote only PricingSaaS, Loman ↗
  • Test a sold out item to confirm live menu sync
  • Confirm which languages are included in your plan
  • Set a transfer number for catering, complaints and allergy questions
  • Start with one location and compare tickets with your staff's for a month

What to look forward to

Ordering AI is spreading beyond the phone. ConverseNow already offers drive thru, text ordering and an API for apps and kiosks ConverseNow products ↗, and Loman lists voice cloning on its Premium tier Loman fact file ↗.

We expect more vendors to publish accuracy methods and prices. Until they do, treat accuracy and revenue claims as marketing until you see your own numbers.

The competition

Owner.comStarts at $249/month plus 5% per order, or $499/month flat

Owner.com is not a phone tool, but it attacks the same problem from the other side by giving a restaurant its own website, online ordering and app, from $249 a month plus 5 percent per order or $499 a month flat Owner.com pricing ↗. It pairs well with an AI host that texts callers an ordering link.

My AI Front DeskStarts at $99/month ($79/month billed yearly)

My AI Front Desk is a capable general AI receptionist at $99 a month with a 7 day trial, but its comparison page against Loman does not mention restaurant ordering or POS integrations My AI Front Desk vs Loman ↗. Use it to answer questions and take messages, not to take orders.

Questions people ask

Can AI take phone orders for my restaurant?

Yes. Loman takes pickup and delivery orders by phone and pushes orders and payments into the kitchen with no manual step, through POS systems such as Toast, Square and Clover Loman POS integrations ↗. ConverseNow does the same for chains on systems like Brink, PAR and NCR Aloha ConverseNow ↗. Keep a transfer line for complex orders and complaints.

How much does AI phone ordering cost?

Most vendors quote. Loman's pricing page is now contact us, though its blog says plans start at $199 a month and its fact file lists the ordering tier at $399 Loman POS integrations ↗ Loman fact file ↗. ConverseNow is quote only ConverseNow ↗. Slang AI listed $399 a month per location until it moved to quotes in October 2026, but it handles reservations rather than orders Slang AI pricing ↗.

Does AI phone ordering work with Toast or Square?

Loman lists two way integrations with Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, SkyTab, Aloha by NCR, Olo and Stream Loman POS integrations ↗. ConverseNow's partners lean toward enterprise systems such as Brink, PAR, Olo and NCR Aloha ConverseNow ↗. Slang AI's product page lists no POS systems Slang AI product ↗.

Can an AI take credit card payments over the phone?

Loman says it takes prepaid payments by phone and that its payment processing is PCI compliant Loman fact file ↗. Ask any vendor for its PCI documentation, which plan includes payments, and where card data is stored before you turn it on.

Will customers hang up when an AI answers?

Some will. Several Reddit commenters cited in CloudTalk's Loman roundup said they hang up when an AI answers a restaurant phone CloudTalk, Loman reviews ↗. Keep the greeting short, let callers say they want a person, and transfer them quickly.

Is Slang AI good for takeout orders?

Not for taking the order itself. Slang AI books reservations into OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms and Yelp, and its pricing page says texts can include ordering links, but it does not describe phone order entry into a POS Slang AI pricing ↗ Slang AI product ↗. For takeout, Loman is the better fit Loman POS integrations ↗.

SOURCES

Where this comes from

Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views. Built from 17 sources: the makers' own pages plus independent reviews and user reports. We have not run our own hands on test yet; if we do, the results will appear here.

01
Loman pricing plans and historyPricingSaaS · pricing history · checked Oct 12, 2026
02
Loman vs. PolyAI: restaurant phone agent comparedLoman · blog, Aug 19, 2026 · checked Oct 12, 2026
03
Loman AI review: pricing and featuresLoman · blog, Mar 2026 · checked Oct 12, 2026
04
Loman product fact fileLoman · llms.txt product summary · checked Oct 12, 2026
05
Loman AI pricingCloudTalk (a competitor) · article, Aug 30, 2026 · checked Oct 12, 2026
06
Loman AI reviewCloudTalk (a competitor) · review roundup, Aug 2026 · checked Oct 12, 2026
07
Slang.ai vs Loman: AI phone answering for restaurantsThe Front Desk Review · comparison, Jun 22, 2026 · checked Oct 12, 2026
08
Slang AI pricingSlang AI · pricing page · checked Oct 12, 2026
09
Slang AI productSlang AI · product page · checked Oct 12, 2026
10
Slang AI for restaurantsSlang AI · product page · checked Oct 12, 2026
11
ConverseNow home pageConverseNow · product page · checked Oct 9, 2026
12
ConverseNow productsConverseNow · products page · checked Oct 9, 2026
13
Adora POS teams with ConverseNow for AI voice orderingFood On Demand · news, Sept 11, 2024 · checked Oct 12, 2026
14
My AI Front Desk vs LomanMy AI Front Desk · comparison page · checked Oct 12, 2026
15
Owner.com pricingOwner.com · pricing page · checked Oct 9, 2026
16
Recording phone calls and conversationsDigital Media Law Project · legal guide · checked Oct 9, 2026
17
ConverseNow listingVoice AI Space · directory listing · checked Oct 12, 2026