Hostie Adds Commission-Free Takeout Ordering

The AI-powered guest communications platform now lets restaurants take direct takeout orders without third-party commissions.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Dining Out

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a plain paper takeout bag beside a small stack of ceramic plates on a warm cream field. — Hostie has added commission-free takeout ordering to its AI platform, and early adopters have generated more than $200,000 in direct orders. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hostie has added commission-free takeout ordering to its AI-powered restaurant communications platform. Early adoption of the feature has generated more than $200,000 in takeout orders.

Why it matters

The feature lets restaurants capture direct takeout orders instead of relying on third-party ordering platforms that charge commissions. For San Francisco diners and restaurateurs, it offers a way to order directly from local kitchens.

Early adoption of the takeout feature generated more than $200,000 in orders, with 18,000 items ordered and a 70% order completion rate. The extraction does not specify how many restaurants are using the feature or how these figures compare with other ordering channels.

The players

Hostie

Hostie is an AI-powered guest communications platform for restaurants, based in San Francisco.

Randall Hom

Randall Hom is a San Francisco restaurateur who co-founded Hostie in 2024 after managing constant phone calls at his wine bar and pizza restaurant, Back to Back.

The details

Hostie's takeout add-on synchronizes with restaurant menus and item availability, and orders appear in real time in its central inbox alongside calls and texts. Completed orders transfer automatically to the point-of-sale system through integrations with Toast, Olo and Square, eliminating manual order entry. The feature expands the platform from calls and reservations to the full ordering process, including menu questions, modifications, add-on suggestions and confirmation.

2024: Hostie is co-founded by restaurateur Randall Hom.
Nov. 6, 2026: The takeout ordering feature is announced and available now.

Culture Shift

Restaurants have increasingly relied on third-party delivery and ordering apps that take commissions on each order. Hostie's commission-free takeout feature offers an alternative that keeps orders and customer relationships within the restaurant.

San Francisco diners who order takeout from participating restaurants may be able to place orders directly with the restaurant rather than through a third-party app. Restaurants that adopt the feature can route orders straight to their point-of-sale system for kitchen processing.

The takeaway

Direct ordering tools give restaurants a way to keep more revenue and customer relationships in-house. Diners who order takeout directly may find the process simpler when the restaurant handles it end to end.