Participation Rules
Everything you need to know about how Black Foodies Week works — from eligibility to the championship.
Eligibility
- Black-owned restaurant located in Tarrant County, TX (Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Kennedale, Euless, Bedford, Hurst, or surrounding areas)
- Must have an active phone number for your restaurant
- Must be willing to forward your phone line to an AI receptionist during the program (we handle the setup)
- No franchise fee, no cost, no catch — participation is 100% free
Cost to you: $0. The AI receptionist alone is a $497/month value. You get it free for the entire 8-week program. Win or lose, you keep your call data.
What Every Participant Gets
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| AI Receptionist | Answers calls 24/7, books tables, handles FAQs. Powered by AppointmentChat. $497/mo value — free for the program. |
| Your Data | Every call, booking, and question tracked in a real-time dashboard. The data is yours to keep regardless of outcome. |
| Community Spotlight | Featured on BFW social media, the restaurant directory, and the bracket. Organic exposure to 375K+ Tarrant County residents. |
| Local DID Number | Your own 817 or 682 area code number that forwards to the AI. Feels local to your customers. |
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Now | Applications open. 40 spots total. |
| June | In-person recruitment. 15-minute setup calls for accepted restaurants. |
| July 1 | All 40 AI receptionists go live. Bracket revealed. Voting begins. |
| Weeks 1–2 | Round of 32 (16 matchups) |
| Weeks 3–4 | Sweet 16 (8 matchups) |
| Week 5 | Elite 8 (4 matchups) |
| Weeks 6–7 | Final 4 and Championship |
| August 31 | Champion crowned live |
Bracket Structure
- 32 restaurants seeded into the bracket
- 8 wildcards placed outside the bracket — they still get the AI receptionist, still earn votes, and still appear in the restaurant directory
- 40 total participants — everyone gets the same technology and spotlight regardless of bracket vs. wildcard status
Bracket vs. Wildcard — What's the Difference?
Bracket restaurants compete head-to-head in matchups each round. Wildcards compete on the leaderboard — they accumulate votes the same way, but they aren't in a direct matchup. If a bracket restaurant drops out or becomes inactive during the program, the highest-ranked wildcard takes their spot.
Wildcard is not a consolation prize. You get the exact same AI receptionist, the same data dashboard, the same social spotlight, and the same post-program offer. The only difference is whether you're in a head-to-head matchup or competing on the open leaderboard.
How the 40 Spots Are Filled
- Applications are reviewed in the order received. First 40 accepted restaurants are in.
- Rico assigns each restaurant to bracket (32) or wildcard (8) based on how many good matchup pairings are available. The goal is every bracket matchup tells a story.
- If your city or cuisine type is already well-represented in the bracket, you may land in the wildcard pool — but you still participate fully.
How Matchups Are Seeded
Rico builds each matchup by hand. This isn't random — every pairing is designed to create a conversation the community wants to have. He looks at three things about each restaurant:
| Factor | What Rico Looks At | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | City, neighborhood, side of town | An Arlington spot paired against a Fort Worth spot — east side vs. west side |
| Cuisine | Type of food, style of service | A soul food spot vs. a Caribbean spot — different traditions, same community |
| Tenure | How long you've been open | A 15-year neighborhood staple vs. a restaurant that opened last year — legacy meets new energy |
A single matchup often combines multiple factors. A newcomer Caribbean spot in Arlington vs. an OG soul food spot in Fort Worth hits geography, cuisine, and tenure all at once — that's the kind of matchup that gets people talking.
Matchup Themes You Might See
- East vs. West — Arlington restaurants vs. Fort Worth restaurants. City pride on the line.
- Legacy Neighborhoods — Stop Six vs. Como, Polytechnic vs. Riverside. The neighborhoods that built this community.
- Suburb Showdowns — Mansfield vs. Grand Prairie, Euless vs. Hurst. Suburban restaurants proving they belong.
- Cuisine Wars — Soul Food vs. Caribbean, BBQ vs. Seafood, Vegan vs. Comfort. Different flavors, same bracket.
- Newcomers vs. OGs — Opened in the last 2 years vs. 10+ year veterans. Fresh energy vs. deep roots.
What Happens Each Round
In each round, both restaurants in a matchup accumulate votes from their customers over the round period. At the end of the round, the restaurant with more votes advances. The other restaurant is eliminated from the bracket — but keeps their AI receptionist running for the rest of the program.
Eliminated doesn't mean cut off. Your AI keeps answering calls, your data keeps building, and you stay in the restaurant directory until August 31. The bracket determines the champion — the technology is yours for the full 8 weeks regardless.
The Tournament at a Glance
Fort Worth VS Jerk Paradise
Arlington
Earn votes on the open leaderboard
Scroll horizontally on mobile to see the full bracket flow
How Voting Works
The community decides the winner. Every interaction with your restaurant earns votes:
| Action | Votes | Why This Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Call your restaurant (AI answers) | 1 vote | Demonstrates the AI product |
| Book a table or appointment via AI | 3 votes | High-intent action — they want to eat there |
| Visit and tag your location on social | 2 votes | Foot traffic proof — they showed up |
| Share on social tagging @blackfoodiesweek | 1 vote | Organic reach for the whole program |
Your job: Be great at what you do. Tell your customers to call using your BFW number and tag you on social. The AI handles the rest — every call is automatically tracked as a vote.
Prizes
Champion
6 months of free AI receptionist service ($2,982 value). Keep your number, keep your data, keep booking 24/7.
Runner-Up
3 months of free AI receptionist service ($1,491 value).
Every Participant
Keeps their call data, dashboard access, and analytics from the entire 8-week program. No strings attached. No expiration.
What Happens After You Apply
- Apply — Fill out the 2-minute form. We review every application.
- Acceptance — We text you within 48 hours to confirm your spot.
- Setup Call — 15-minute call with Rico. We collect your hours, menu basics, and booking preferences. That's it.
- AI Goes Live — We assign you a local phone number, build your AI receptionist, and test it. You forward your calls or share the new number with customers.
- Bracket Reveal (July 1) — All 40 restaurants go live simultaneously. Community voting begins.
- 8 Weeks of Competition — Do what you do. The AI tracks everything automatically.
- Champion Crowned (August 31) — Live announcement. Winner and runner-up get extended free service.
What We Ask of You
- Forward your restaurant phone to the AI number (or share the new BFW number with customers) — we walk you through this on the setup call
- Tell your regulars about BFW and encourage them to call + visit + tag
- Post about BFW on your social channels (we provide templates and graphics)
- Be responsive to texts from the BFW team during the program
We will never ask you for money. There is no upsell during the program. After the 8 weeks, we will share your stats and offer an optional paid plan — but there is zero pressure and zero obligation.
Questions?
Call or text Rico directly: 682-777-4778
This is a community program built by BetterTarrant.com, powered by AppointmentChat.
40 spots. First come, first served. Applications close when we fill up.
Apply Now