Key Takeaways
- Restaurant SMS compliance splits reservation traffic from marketing. Mixing them on one template is the usual complaint.
- The number on the reservation SMS is the one guests will STOP. Honor it on promo lists.
- Quiet hours are your scheduler. The gateway does not know last seating.
- You bring the Android and operator credit. Platform pricing is devices plus send volume.
- Free is 300 SMS lifetime — not a weekend cover-blast.
Reservations are not a blast list
Restaurants want table reminders from the same mobile guests already called. An Android SIM gateway does that. Compliance notes exist because the same radio will send “2-for-1 shots” at 23:40 if the CRM dump is lazy.
We meter devices and volume. You fund airtime. Counsel owns the statute. This page keeps lanes from mixing.
STOP
Booking vs promo
“You’re booked Friday 19:30, reply 1 to confirm” is transactional if it stays on that booking. “Show this SMS for 10% off dessert” on the same body is a promo rider. Split templates.
“If the manager can edit the reminder to add a brunch blast, you do not have a policy. You have a shared Notes app.”
Message classes
| Class | Example | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | Hold, remind, cancel, waitlist ping | Event-triggered; no coupon |
| Service | “Your table is ready” | Short; staffed two-way if you invite replies |
| Marketing | Menu drop, holiday hours as a sale | Opt-in list + STOP |
| Staff | Shift change | Internal list; still not a guest dump |
STOP at the host stand
Guests text STOP to the reminder number. Auto-reply and STOP must suppress campaigns. Decide in writing whether booking SMS continues. Train hosts not to argue by SMS.
Lists: contacts. Two-way: inbox.
FCC unwanted texts for US-ish expectations. Your city may differ.
Quiet hours and alcohol
Scheduled SMS does not know last call. Late-night promo on a SIM guests associate with the restaurant is how you earn a complaint. Alcohol specials have extra local rules — ask counsel, do not invent them here.
Isolate any loyalty OTP. OTP should not sit behind Friday reminder waves.
Next steps
Split booking vs promo templates, wire STOP, canary one seating. Setup: pairing. Plans: pricing.
Related product pages
Jump to the live product docs for this topic—not another long-form article.
- SMS API documentationLive endpoint reference
- device and SMS volume pricingPlans and allowances
- Security and Trust CenterCompliance and posture
- Android SMS gateway product guideDefinition, product, and how to buy
