Background: Bringing Northern Italy to the Heart of Oakland

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In 2016, Joyce and Michele Belotti opened Belotti Ristorante and Bodega in Oakland. Inspired by Chef Michele Belotti’s roots just north of Milan, the restaurant celebrates the essence of Italian cooking: simple ingredients combined to create well-rounded and delicious dishes.

As Belotti Ristorante’s popularity and reputation grew, so did the number of calls. Messages quickly started piling up on their answering machine.

“During the day, if the floor staff was busy, phone calls would go straight to voicemail,” said Co-Owner Joyce Belotti. “They accumulate over time. Our host would come in the evening, start going through all the voicemails, and try to answer the phone during service.”

In early 2025, Joyce and her team had the opportunity to try out Hostie. They noticed the benefit straight away. Instead of phones pulling staff away from service, Hostie answered every call with care and kept the dining room guests front and center.

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“Before, during service, our phone would ring every ten seconds. It’s stressful, always feeling like the phone is ringing while there are people you have to tend to,” said Joyce Belotti, Co-Owner.

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Belotti Ristorante started using Hostie in April 2025, and the impact was immediate: Hostie now answers 90% of calls without transferring to a host.

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Challenge: Prioritize In-House Hospitality Without Missing A Call 

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With Hostie in place, Belotti Ristorante’s hosts no longer split their attention between their in-house guests and the phone. Hostie’s AI, Jasmine, handles every call. “It was the hope that it would allow them to focus more on customers during service,” said co-owner Joyce Belotti. “As opposed to having people waiting out the door to be seated, but they’re stuck on a very inquisitive phone call.”

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In just a few months, Jasmine answered more than 2,300 calls and fully resolved 90% of them without needing staff support. That means guests at the table get the attention they deserve, and callers always hear a friendly voice instead of voicemail.

Challenge: Handle Frequent Phone Calls While Maximizing Revenue 

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With Hostie integrated into their reservation system, Belotti Ristorante no longer loses revenue due to missed calls. Jasmine answers the phone around the clock and books reservations automatically — making sure every guest can secure a table, even after hours.

For the team, that means fewer interruptions during service. For guests, it means a smooth, reliable way to book whenever they call.

Since onboarding Hostie, Belotti Ristorante has seen a 15% increase in reserved covers, with overall covers climbing 12%.

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“It makes sense for restaurants to use Hostie if you have a phone service at all… All you need is for Hostie to answer, book, and fill a couple of your tables, and it more than pays for itself,” shared Joyce Belotti.

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Let Hostie handle the phones, so your team can handle the hospitality. Try it today.

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