Effective customer service is a necessity in the service and hospitality industry. But achieving success requires effective communication and coordination between superiors and their immediate staff, among staff, and between staff of different units and departments.
If you’re a supervisor and you need to tell the kitchen staff about an order or communicate with floor staff about something they should do, you can reduce movements on the restaurant floor by simply using a Two-Way radio.
Walkie talkies are a great accessory for restaurant staff to communicate and get things done. If you own one, this would mean getting a walkie talkie for every staff.
Before you start worrying about how much that would cost, there are some products that offer multiple radios in a single pack at quite affordable prices.
For a restaurant, range shouldn’t exactly be a problem as most restaurants could simply measure a 100m both ways.
The very large ones will rarely measure a mile in area. However, you’ll need walkie talkies that are great for indoor use and can penetrate through walls.
This post provides a detailed review of the five (5) best walkie talkies for restaurants. It also features factors you should look out for before you make a buying decision, and that’s where we’ll begin.
Top 5 Two-Way Radios for Restaurants: By Best Feature
Buyer’s Guide: Critical Factors to Consider before you Select a Walkie Talkie for Restaurants
Before you go out to shop for a walkie talkie to cater to your restaurant needs, you should consider a few factors, including the following;
1. Number of Radios in the Pack
Since you’re buying two way radios for a group, it is best to buy the same brand that offers multiple radios in a pack. This is likely to be more affordable and you won’t have to worry about connectivity or compatibility issues.
There are several brands out there that package multiple walkie talkies in packs of 5, 6, 8 and even 10. It is easier, cheaper and certainly more convenient.
2. Durability
Durability is another important consideration if you want a great walkie talkie for restaurants. If you run a restaurant with lots of traffic, it would mean frequent use of a walkie talkie.
Radios that are not sturdy or rugged enough to withstand rigor will give in and require replacement quickly. What you need is a walkie talkie that can resist some level of impact and keep you going all day long.
3. Waterproof
It is very unlikely that the rains will affect your talkie in a restaurant. However, you should never lose sight of the possibility that your radio can drop in the sink, into a bowl of liquid, or even get splashes of water, wine or drink all over it.
This is why your walkie talkie for restaurants should have a waterproof feature to protect it against damage.
4. Noise-cancelling Feature
Restaurants, especially high-street, popular ones are always buzzing with traffic. People come in and leave, others spend a great part of their time discussing passionately with friends.
Meetings, cutlery hitting against plates and side dishes, and the never-ending rush of footsteps.
All of these can make it quite difficult for walkie talkie users to hear, except the radio has a noise-cancelling feature or uses an earpiece that reduces noise. This is a huge factor as well.
5. Belt Clip/Neck Strap
A belt clip or neck strap would mean you don’t have to bother about handling your radio while you work. You can simply clip it to your belt or hang it around your neck to free your hands.
This is a really comfortable way to carry your walkie talkie around, especially if you need your hands for serving your customers.
6. VHF or UHF?
If you have to decide between a UHF or VHF band, then there are things you need to know about both frequencies.
While a VHF band will give you longer range, you’ll need UHF to penetrate through the walls of your restaurant.
It is best you get walkie talkies that operate on the UHF band to promote effective communication in your restaurant.
7. Size
Size is also an important factor. You do not want to hold on to a radio that is not portable while you attend to guests at your restaurant.
Even if you have it around your neck, you need something that is small enough to fit perfectly into your hands and not too heavy to cause a burden.
8. Accessories
Accessories are those additional items that make your use of a walkie talkie convenient and fun. For your restaurant, you’ll require a headphone and a functional, easy-to-use charger.
The headphone will ensure you can communicate with your colleagues or staff without the need to hold your radio. As for the charger, a universal USB charger is preferable because it is compatible with must power sources.
9. Battery Life
Although a restaurant will most likely provide you with sockets and power for recharging your walkie talkie battery (if they are NiMH lithium ion rechargeable batteries), it is still important to get one that won’t require charging up every other hour.
Your walkie talkie should last a while (at least up to 10 hours) before charging is needed. This will give you more talk time with very little interruptions.
Top 5 Walkie Talkies for Restaurants
1. DEWALT DXFRS300
Value for Money
From its sturdy design, great aesthetic exterior, water and shock-resistant features and great audio quality, the DXFRS300 is a truly amazing Two-Way radio for your restaurant communication needs.
The two radios in the pack each come equipped with 22 preset channels with more than 2000 combinations to help you find a secure channel with your team.
What’s more, this radio can connect with other radios on its channels over a distance of 250,000 sq feet and across 20 floors.
With its auto-squelch feature, this device shuts off unwanted noise and gives you crystal clear audio.
Finally, if you run a big restaurant with several floors, you’d have nothing to worry about because this DEWALT Radio has strong penetration abilities.
Specifications of DEWALT DXFRS300
- 22 Preset Channels
- 2,662 channel combinations
- Can cover a range of 250,000 sq ft
- 360° Swivel holster
- VOX feature for hands-free communication
- Available jack allows connection with accessories.
Pros and Cons of DEWALT DXFRS300
Pros:
- It is waterproof
- Radio is shock resistant, up to 2-meter drop.
- Power-saver option saves your battery life.
- Able to penetrate through walls.
- Able to operate hands-free
- Great to look at
Cons:
- May not be a budget choice for you.
2. Pxton Walkie Talkies for Adults
Best for Design/Portability
Pxton is a great brand and is one of the most portable standard walkie talkies you’ll find on the market. With rechargeable li-ion battery and built-in flashlight, this walkie talkie has amazing features that will support your restaurant work.
It is undoubtedly one of the best walkie talkies for restaurants with amazing reach and 16 channels to choose from. It also comes with earpieces to enable hands-free communication with the rest of the team.
Not just that, these earpiece has noise-reduction capability for smooth communication. What’s more, it is extremely affordable and offers great value for money.
Specifications of Pxton Walkie Talkies for Adults
- 16 channels
- UHF Frequency band
- 4 radios in the pack
- Built-in flashlight
- Amazing battery life
- Noise-reduction feature
- Hands-free feature
Pros and Cons of Pxton Walkie Talkies for Adults
Pros:
- Very portable
- Belt clip and neck strap for easy carry
- Can be operated hands-free
- Can work with earpiece
- Good battery life up to 24 hours
- Can go as far as 0.6 miles in buildings
Cons:
- Poor range
3. Retevis RT21 10-Radio Pack
Best for Accessories
Imagine you have 10 individuals working in your restaurant, this would be the perfect choice for you, and for under $200 too.
Retevis is a popular brand in the world of walkie talkies and is a great tool of communication for restaurants.
But it’s not just the radios and their affordability, the accessories like the acoustic earpiece, belt clip, hand strap, and other items are great extras to make for a satisfying use.
This is, indeed, one of the most affordable walkie talkies you will find anywhere.
The earpiece has the same design as those used by the Secret Service, so it’s not just cool, but also keeps the surrounding noise away.
Specifications of Retevis RT21 10-Radio Pack
- Uses 1100 mAh li-ion battery
- Includes acoustic secret service earpiece
- Secure call feature
- 16 channels
- VOX hands-free feature
- Black, mature exterior.
Pros and Cons of Retevis RT21 10-Radio Pack
Pros:
- Can cover up to a mile within buildings
- Durable and portable
- Great communication security
- Easy to use
- Clear signals
- Sufficient accessories for comfort.
Cons:
- Not waterproof
- Poor range
4. Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
Best Price
This is another great entry from Retevis. One amazing thing about the RT68 is the fact that its budget-friendly price doesn’t result in a compromise in quality.
It is a great piece of walkie talkie designed for restaurants and other indoor businesses like hotels and malls. The radio has access to 16 channels and can ensure clear and crisp audio from one end to the other.
The rotatable metal clips also means you can secure your radio set in any direction you choose. The acoustic, discreet earpiece also helps to shut out the noise and ensure you enjoy clear communication with your team.
Many users have alluded to the durability and strength of the Retevis RT68 as well as its efficient battery that can give you up to 12 hours of talk time.
Specifications of Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
- 16 channels
- 1200 mAh rechargeable battery
- Includes belt clip
- Also includes hand string
- Comes with a charging base for the 10 radios
- Squelch feature
- Hand’s free VOX function
Pros and Cons of Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- Easy charge setup
- Strong battery for longer talk time
- Belt clip and hand string for easy carry.
- Can be used hands free
- Battery saving function
- Extremely durable
Cons:
- Not waterproof.
5. Motorola T100 TalkAbout
Best Battery Life
This great-looking, sleek walkie talkie stands tall among many others. Made by Motorola, the TalkAbout series is known for many things, including its incredible strength, durability, good reach and coverage, as well as its great exterior design.
The radio is also designed to be water resistant and can withstand splashes or drops in water.
If what you desire is a long-lasting battery in your walkie talkie for restaurants, this is also a great place to start. It is easy to use, efficient, and portable with very large and visible buttons.
Specifications of Motorola T100 TalkAbout
- 22 channels
- Uses 3AAA Alkaline batteries
- Low battery alert function
- Compatible with FRS and GMRS radios
- Auto squelch feature
- Blue exterior design
- Belt clip
Pros and Cons of Motorola T100 TalkAbout
Pros:
- Great battery life up to 18 hours
- Multiple channel options for secure communication
- Belt clip helps with hands-free carry
- Includes a call tone to alert you
- Very durable
- Great to look at.
Cons:
- May not go beyond 0.5 miles within a building.
Comparison of Top 5 Walkie Talkies for Restaurants
| Belt Clip/Neck Strap | Battery Life | UHF/VHF | Rechargeable? | Channels | |
| DEWALT DXFRS300 | Yes | 10 hours | UHF | Yes | 22 |
| Pxton Radio | Yes | 24 hours | UHF | Yes | 16 |
| Retevis RT21 | Yes | 12 hours | UHF | Yes | 16 |
| Retevis RT68 | Yes | 12 hours | UHF | Yes | 16 |
| Motorola T100 | Yes | 18 hours | UHF | No | 22 |
Final Words:
Getting a walkie talkie for any purpose can be a hassle, especially if the success of your business could depend on it. With this review of best walkie talkie for restaurants, you have an array of products to choose from and get your restaurant moving. For us, the DEWALT DXFRS300 stands tall for many reasons, but any of the brands you choose here will serve your purpose and give you great value for your investment.
