How a Cajun Restaurant Grew Revenue with Restaurant Answering Service

How a Restaurant Answering Service Helped a Cajun-style Seafood Restaurant Increase Sales by 30% in Six Months

Cajun-style seafood restaurants have become a popular choice for families and groups across America, offering delicious, affordable meals that bring people together. These restaurants often focus on simple menus and straightforward preparation, making them appealing to many aspiring restaurateurs. But behind the scenes, running a restaurant is a whirlwind of challenges: managing costs, keeping up with customer demands, and maintaining quality service day after day—even with simple menus and prep.

But the reality of running the restaurant was far from the dream they envisioned. As they juggled endless tasks—cooking, managing orders, handling customers, and keeping the business afloat—they found themselves stretched to the breaking point. The long hours and relentless demands left them with little time for each other or their children. The very dream they had worked so hard to build was taking a toll on their health and happiness.

Just when they felt they couldn’t keep up any longer, they discovered a restaurant answering service that transformed their business. It wasn’t just about solving logistical problems—it was about reclaiming their dream, their time, and their family life. 

In just six months, this simple yet powerful restaurant answering service helped them boost their sales by 30% and brought new hope to their journey.

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Cajun Seafood: A Favorite Among Locals, Perfectly Suited to Their Tastes

Mrs. Wu and her husband opened their Cajun-style seafood restaurant in Texas several years ago. Their menu focuses on fresh seafood like shrimp, crab, and crawfish, complemented by bold flavors and unique sauces. “The flavors and affordability of our dishes make them a perfect fit for local tastes,” Mrs. Wu shared. “It’s great for family gatherings, and over the years, we’ve built a loyal customer base through word-of-mouth.”

The restaurant prides itself on affordability, with an average meal costing just $20 per person. Pre-pandemic, the couple ran a large dine-in operation, but like many businesses, they had to pivot during COVID-19. To cut costs, they shifted primarily to takeout while maintaining a small dine-in area.

Mr. Wu manages the kitchen, while Mrs. Wu oversees the front desk, supported by two part-time employees. The simplicity of their menu—shrimp, crab, potatoes, and corn seasoned with bold sauces—is a big plus. However, Mrs. Wu faces challenges due to the highly customized nature of customer orders. One customer might want shrimp with potatoes and corn in one bag, seasoned Cajun-style, while another requests Cajun garlic seasoning in a separate bag.

For Mrs. Wu, managing these customizations during peak hours often led to stress and mistakes. “If I got distracted or forgot a detail, customers would complain,” she admitted. Even on slower days, Mrs. Wu couldn’t leave the restaurant unattended, as every missed phone call meant a potential lost order.

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The Challenges of Managing Restaurant Phone Orders

Small business owners like the Wus often face staffing issues. In their case, Mrs. Wu tried hiring local workers to handle phone orders, but none worked out.

“We hired a local worker once, but they became unreliable. Then we hired a student, but they stopped showing up once school got busy,” Mrs. Wu said. “Eventually, I had no choice but to take over the phone orders myself. Hiring is easy, but finding reliable people is incredibly difficult.”

The strain of managing phone orders, training staff, and addressing customer complaints took a toll. “In my twenties, I had the energy to work these long hours,” Mrs. Wu explains. “But as I get older, working over 10 hours a day is exhausting. I barely have time to spend with my school-aged kids.”

With no time for rest or family, Mrs. Wu often felt overwhelmed. The couple realized they needed a sustainable solution, which is when they decided to explore a restaurant phone answering service.

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How a Restaurant Answering Service Changed Everything

The Wus discovered Tarro, a human + AI phone ordering system, and decided to give it a try. After a free one-month trial, they decided to make the restaurant answering service a permanent part of their operations.

Here’s what stood out to them:

1. Professional and Accurate Order Management
   Tarro’s trained operators handle customer inquiries with professionalism and ensure accuracy in every order. If they encounter an unusual request, they immediately contact Mrs. Wu for clarification before finalizing the order. This attention to detail eliminated errors and enhanced customer satisfaction.
2. Stress-Free Staffing
   With Tarro’s restaurant phone answering service, the Wus no longer needed to hire or manage staff for phone orders. Mrs. Wu noted, “Running a restaurant isn’t just about cooking. You have to hire, train, and worry about payroll and taxes. Tarro took all that off our plate, which saved us so much time and stress.”
3. More Time for Family
   By outsourcing to Tarro’s restaurant answering service, Mrs. Wu could finally step away from the restaurant during quieter hours. This gave her more time to spend with her children and focus on her health, which had suffered from years of overwork.

Reviving Delivery Services with a Human + AI Phone Ordering System

Before the pandemic, the Wus offered delivery to their customers, but had to stop due to costs and hiring headaches. Customers frequently asked why delivery was no longer available, and Mr. Wu felt helpless. “It’s not that we didn’t want to deliver,” he explained. “We just didn’t have the time or resources.”

Tarro’s human + AI phone ordering system made it easy to reintroduce delivery without the logistical headaches.

• Cost-Effective Delivery
  Tarro’s delivery service allowed the Wus to save on driver wages and third-party platform fees. Additionally, customers benefited from lower delivery costs, which increased repeat orders.
• Extended Reach
  With a delivery range of up to 15 miles, Tarro helped the restaurant tap into a larger customer base. This was particularly important for their loyal customers, many of whom live farther away.
• Cash Payment Options
  Many locals prefer paying with cash, and Tarro’s system accommodated this preference, making the service more flexible to their customers’ needs.

Low-Cost Marketing That Drives Results

Tarro didn’t just stop at managing phone orders and deliveries; it also provided a powerful marketing tool: text message promotions. These SMS campaigns allowed the Wus to send personalized offers directly to customers’ phones.

For example, during crawfish season, Tarro helped promote the dish via text messages, boosting daily sales by an additional 30 orders. Mrs. Wu remarked, “The promotions were perfectly timed and targeted. It was such an easy way to increase sales without spending a dime on advertising.”

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A 30% Sales Increase in Just Six Months

The Wus saw a remarkable transformation in their business within six months of using Tarro’s restaurant phone answering service and delivery solutions.

1. Labor Cost Savings
   By outsourcing phone orders, the Wus no longer needed to pay a full-time front desk employee, saving thousands of dollars in payroll each month. And, with Tarro’s pay-per-order model, they only paid for successful transactions, making it a cost-efficient solution.
2. Error-Free Orders
   Tarro’s trained operators ensured accurate order-taking, even during peak times. This eliminated the stress of dealing with customer complaints and improved overall satisfaction.
3. Increased Revenue
   September’s football season was a standout month, with the restaurant seeing a 20% increase in orders compared to the previous year. Combined with the reintroduction of delivery services, their monthly revenue grew from $100,000 to $130,000—a 30% increase.

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Why a Restaurant Phone Answering Service Is a Game-Changer

In today’s challenging economic climate, restaurants need to maximize efficiency while cutting costs. For the Wus, Tarro's restaurant answering service proved to be a game-changer.

But it wasn’t just about increasing sales—it was about bringing their American Dream back within reach. For years, the Wus had poured every ounce of energy into their business, sacrificing their health and family time to keep it running. With Tarro, they finally found a way to break free from the relentless grind.

Tarro’s restaurant answering service, coupled with its delivery and marketing solutions has given the Wus the ability to focus on what truly matters: building a better future for their family. By outsourcing the burdens of phone management and order-taking, they’ve unlocked the freedom to grow their business without compromising their well-being. For the Wus, Tarro isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline, helping them turn their dreams into reality while ensuring they have the time and energy to enjoy the journey.

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Conclusion

The Wus’ story highlights the transformative power of a restaurant answering service like Tarro’s. By outsourcing phone orders and leveraging delivery and marketing solutions, they not only grew their revenue but also regained precious personal time.

In Mrs. Wu’s words: “Tarro has been a lifesaver. They’ve helped us run our business more efficiently and given us the freedom to enjoy life again. We’re excited to see how much more we can grow with their support.”

For restaurant owners looking to boost sales, reduce stress, and optimize operations, a restaurant answering service might just be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Give us a call at [1-833-354-0686] or fill out the form below to book a meeting.

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