Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 9, 2026
PhoneChef AI is a service of PhoneChef & Company ("PhoneChef", "we", "us"). It answers phone calls and takes orders for restaurants using an AI assistant. This policy explains what information we collect and how we use it, for three groups of people: people who call a restaurant that uses PhoneChef, our restaurant clients, and visitors to phonechef.ai.
Information from callers
When you call a restaurant that uses PhoneChef, our AI assistant tells you at the start of the call that it is an AI assistant and that the call is recorded. We collect:
- The audio recording of the call and a written transcript
- Your order: items, quantities, special instructions and total
- The name you give for the order
- The phone number you are calling from, used for the order and for the text messages described below
- Call details such as date, time and length
Information from restaurant clients
- Business contact details: restaurant name, owner name, email address and phone numbers, including alert numbers for the owner and any shift leads
- Business details: menu, prices, hours, sales tax rate and service instructions
- Account and billing details. Card payments are handled by our payment processors; we do not store full card numbers.
Information from website visitors
If you fill in a form on phonechef.ai, such as the free-trial sign-up or a demo request, we collect what you enter, such as your name, restaurant name, email address and phone number. We use it to respond to you. We do not use advertising or analytics trackers on this site.
How we use information
- To answer calls, take orders and calculate totals
- To send orders to the restaurant and show them on the restaurant's order screen
- To send the order-related text messages described below
- To alert the restaurant when an order needs attention
- To check order accuracy, fix errors and support our restaurant clients
- To bill clients and manage accounts
We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it for advertising.
Text messages (SMS)
PhoneChef AI sends transactional text messages only, about an order you placed by phone with a restaurant that uses PhoneChef. We never send marketing or promotional texts.
How you opt in
When you place an order by phone, the assistant tells you that we may text the number you are calling from, and that you can reply YES to get updates. Our first text asks you to opt in:
El Camino Taco Co. ordered via PhoneChef: Reply YES for updates on your order by text. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.
Nothing else is sent to your number until you reply YES. If you don't reply, we send nothing more about that order. We record the date and time of your YES.
What we send after you reply YES
- If the kitchen has not confirmed your order within about 5 minutes: "El Camino Taco Co. ordered via PhoneChef: Your order PC-1234 isn't confirmed yet. We've alerted the kitchen staff and will keep reminding them."
- If the restaurant takes payment in advance: a secure payment link for your order, and a confirmation once it is paid.
Restaurant owners and the shift leads they name may also receive operational alerts, for example when an order has not been accepted. Shift leads reply YES before they receive any.
Frequency
Message frequency varies. Usually one to four messages per order, and none when the kitchen confirms your order promptly.
Cost
Message and data rates may apply. PhoneChef does not charge you for these messages.
Stop and help
Reply STOP at any time to stop receiving texts. You'll get one confirmation and nothing more unless you reply START or YES. Reply HELP for help, or email info@phonechef.ai.
Carriers
Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Privacy
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text-messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. See our Privacy Policy.
Who we share information with
- The restaurant you called receives your order, name and phone number so it can prepare your order.
- Service providers that help us run the service, only for that purpose: voice and AI processing, text-message delivery, hosting and database, email delivery, workflow automation, and payment processing.
- When required by law, for example to respond to a valid legal request.
Mobile numbers are shared only with the providers that deliver our text messages, and only to deliver them.
How long we keep information
- Call recordings and transcripts: no longer than one year, then deleted.
- Order records and client account records: as long as needed to provide the service to the restaurant and to meet legal, tax and accounting requirements.
- Text-message opt-in and opt-out records: as long as needed to honor your choice.
Security
Information is sent over encrypted (HTTPS) connections, and access to order and account data requires a login and is limited to the restaurant's own account and PhoneChef staff who need it. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your information.
Your choices and rights
You can ask us what information we hold about you, or ask us to correct or delete it, by emailing info@phonechef.ai. If you called a restaurant, include the phone number you called from and the approximate date so we can find the call. We may need to verify your request, and some records may be kept where the law requires. You can stop text messages at any time by replying STOP.
Children
Our service is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page.
Contact
PhoneChef & Company. Email info@phonechef.ai.