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AI receptionist for caterers
For caterers who are plating a wedding when the next bride calls.
Saturday is a 150-person reception, and you are in a borrowed kitchen with no signal to spare. Meanwhile three couples are calling about next spring.
- TactlyThank you for calling Golden Fork Catering. I'm the virtual assistant, and this call may be recorded. How can I help?
- CallerHi, I'm Alana. We're getting married in May and need catering for about 120.
- TactlyCongratulations, Alana. Do you have a venue yet, and are you leaning toward plated or buffet?
- CallerThe Orchard Barn, and probably family style.
- Looking up open tasting times
- TactlyWe have tastings Thursday at 6:00 or Saturday at 11:00. Would either work for you?
- Booked: Wedding tasting for two, Sat 11:00 am
Can an AI receptionist work for caterers?
Tactly is an AI receptionist for catering companies. It answers inquiry calls while your team is on site at events, gathers the event date, venue, guest count, service style and dietary needs, and books a tasting or consultation into your booking calendar. It explains minimums and booking steps from your notes, never quotes prices you have not shared, and emails each inquiry to you with the full transcript.
The problem
Missed calls are missed work.
Caterers are busiest on the days they are hardest to reach. Events run on weekends and evenings, and that is when people planning their own events have time to call. An inquiry that sits in voicemail until Monday may already be booked with someone else.
Each inquiry also comes with the same handful of questions you need answered before a quote: date, venue, guests, buffet or plated, any restrictions. Tactly asks them every time, so your follow-up starts with a real picture instead of a phone number and a first name.
Calls it handles
The calls caterers get every day.
Is our date open?
Tactly cannot see your event bookings, so it takes the date and passes it on rather than promising availability.
Book a tasting
For couples and planners ready to move, it offers open tasting times from your booking calendar and confirms once the calendar accepts.
Corporate lunch requests
Office managers often want food next week. Tactly takes head count, delivery address and timing for your sales lead.
Menus and minimums
Service styles, guest minimums, staffing and rentals, explained from your notes. Anything custom becomes a message.
Setup tips
What to put in your notes.
Tactly answers only from what you tell it. These are the lines that matter most for caterers.
- List the details you need for every quote, like date, venue, guests and service style, so Tactly asks for each one.
- Write your guest minimums and how far ahead you book, and say plainly that Tactly should not promise a date.
- Open tasting times on your booking calendar only for slots your chef can actually cover.
Plans for caterers
Starter
$49/mo
For a solo owner who mostly needs the missed calls covered.
- 100 AI-answered minutes a month
- Then $0.35 a minute
- Every feature included
- Most popular
Pro
$99/mo
For a busy shop that wants nights, weekends and lunch rushes handled.
- 250 AI-answered minutes a month
- Then $0.29 a minute
- Every feature included
Growth
$199/mo
For a team that sends a large share of its calls to the receptionist.
- 600 AI-answered minutes a month
- Then $0.25 a minute
- Every feature included
FAQ
Questions, answered
Can Tactly tell a caller if we're free on their date?
No. It cannot see your event schedule, so it records the date and sends it to you. It can book a tasting or consultation from your booking calendar.
Will it give out catering prices?
Only prices you choose to write in your notes, such as a starting per-guest range. Anything else becomes a message for your quote.
Can inquiries go into my CRM?
Yes. Every finished call can be sent to Zapier or any https webhook, so inquiry details can land in a CRM, spreadsheet or team chat.
Restaurants, food and drink
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