Zest, a restaurant discovery application launched earlier this year, is innovating how users find dining options. On Thursday, the platform unveiled a new feature: an AI-driven “restaurant concierge” integrated into text messaging, akin to other AI services such as Instinct or Poke.
This launch underscores a growing trend among startups pivoting toward AI that streamlines user interactions, minimizing the need to open dedicated mobile applications. For Zest, this means providing restaurant recommendations directly within text messages and enabling users to book tables seamlessly on the spot.
“The agent is the product now,” said Mario Gomez-Hall, the founder and CEO of Zest. “When you text it, it responds based on your prior dining experiences and preferences without needing extensive interaction to learn your tastes,” he elaborated.
Founded in November 2024 with initial funding of $1.8 million from notable investors like Alexis Ohanian of 776 and Steve Jang of Kindred Ventures, Zest uniquely uses users’ credit card transactions to gauge their dining habits. This allows the app to provide personalized dining recommendations, be it in users’ hometowns or while traveling.
The app utilizes data from Plaid, a financial technology firm, to exclusively focus on food-related transactions, which enhances its capability to tailor suggestions.
The company’s recent initiative aims to address the common question: where should I eat? The concierge now enables users to receive suggestions via text and can verify availability and make reservations using services like OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms.
Users can interact with the Zest concierge by texting at (212) 470-6067. It can even be added to group chats, where it analyzes everyone’s preferences to suggest suitable dining options for the entire group. The concierge can resolve indecision using an in-chat voting feature and handle group reservations directly within the conversation.
Requests can range from specific cuisine types and dietary restrictions to local recommendations, with users able to inquire about restaurant amenities such as Wi-Fi availability. In testing, Zest‘s AI performed well, providing options tailored to user tastes while considering factors like time and party size.
Although securing open tables has been a service offered by various applications for years, the convenience of negotiating via text and obtaining real-time booking updates adds a fresh dimension to the dining experience.
The company initially tested the concierge feature last month but opted to delay the official launch to incorporate booking capabilities. Moving forward, Zest may expand its offerings beyond restaurant recommendations to include other businesses and shopping sectors.
By transitioning to text messaging, Zest aims to broaden its user base and increase revenue streams.
“Booking and ordering are our primary revenue sources. Currently, Zest can book tables through OpenTable or Resy, with plans to introduce food ordering soon,” noted Gomez-Hall. “This model allows Zest to learn your preferences faster than other general assistants by starting from your real dining history. This capability holds potential beyond mere meal suggestions,” he emphasized.
Editor’s Take
This development signifies a pivotal shift in the food discovery landscape. Users can anticipate a more integrated and effortless dining experience as they no longer need to juggle multiple applications. For businesses, this enhanced convenience may lead to increased patronage and loyalty. Moreover, the approach emphasizes how AI can facilitate and personalize everyday decisions, potentially reshaping user interactions in various sectors.
Source: techcrunch.com
