Urbanspoon: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:49, 15 February 2025

Urbanspoon[edit]

Urbanspoon logo

Urbanspoon was a restaurant review and discovery service that provided users with information about dining establishments. It was founded in 2006 and became popular for its unique "shake to search" feature on its mobile app, which allowed users to find restaurants by shaking their device.

History[edit]

Urbanspoon was established in 2006 by a group of entrepreneurs in Seattle, Washington. The platform quickly gained traction due to its innovative approach to restaurant discovery and its integration with smartphone technology. In 2009, Urbanspoon was acquired by IAC, a media and Internet company.

Features[edit]

Urbanspoon offered a variety of features to help users find and review restaurants. These included:

Shake to Search: A feature that allowed users to shake their mobile device to receive a random restaurant suggestion based on their location and preferences.
User Reviews: Users could write and read reviews of restaurants, providing insights into the quality of food, service, and ambiance.
Restaurant Information: Detailed information about restaurants, including menus, hours of operation, and contact details.
Reservation System: Integration with reservation services to allow users to book tables directly through the app.

Acquisition and Transition[edit]

In 2015, Urbanspoon was acquired by Zomato, an Indian restaurant search and discovery service. Following the acquisition, Urbanspoon was integrated into Zomato's platform, and the Urbanspoon brand was eventually phased out.

Legacy[edit]

Urbanspoon was known for its user-friendly interface and innovative features that set the standard for restaurant discovery apps. Its "shake to search" feature was particularly popular and became a hallmark of the app's identity.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Urbanspoon''' was a restaurant information and recommendation service founded in 2006, based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington]]. It provided a platform for users to discover, rate, and review restaurants, as well as make reservations. Urbanspoon was known for its unique slot machine interface, which allowed users to shake their [[smartphone]]s to receive random restaurant suggestions based on location, type of cuisine, and price. The service was available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, covering thousands of restaurants in these regions.
+== Urbanspoon ==
-==History==
+[[File:Urbanspoon_logo.png|thumb|right|Urbanspoon logo]]
-Urbanspoon was launched by Ethan Lowry, Adam Doppelt, and Patrick O'Donnell in 2006 with the aim of creating a user-friendly and engaging way for people to discover and share restaurant experiences. The company gained significant attention with the launch of its app for the [[iPhone]] in 2008, which utilized the phone's accelerometer to create a slot machine effect for restaurant discovery. This innovative approach to restaurant selection helped Urbanspoon to stand out in the crowded field of online restaurant guides.
-In 2009, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[IAC]] (InterActiveCorp), which helped the platform to expand its reach and services. Under IAC, Urbanspoon continued to grow, adding features like table reservations and expanded user reviews.
+'''Urbanspoon''' was a [[restaurant]] [[review]] and [[discovery]] service that provided users with information about dining establishments. It was founded in 2006 and became popular for its unique "shake to search" feature on its mobile app, which allowed users to find restaurants by shaking their device.
-However, in 2015, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[Zomato]], an Indian restaurant discovery service and review site. Following the acquisition, the Urbanspoon brand was phased out, and its content and user base were integrated into Zomato's platform.
+=== History ===
+Urbanspoon was established in 2006 by a group of [[entrepreneurs]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. The platform quickly gained traction due to its innovative approach to restaurant discovery and its integration with [[smartphone]] technology. In 2009, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[IAC]], a media and Internet company.
-==Features==
+=== Features ===
-Urbanspoon's most notable feature was its slot machine interface, which allowed users to find restaurants by shaking their smartphone. This feature used the device's accelerometer to generate random restaurant suggestions based on selected filters such as location, cuisine, and price range. Other key features included:
+Urbanspoon offered a variety of features to help users find and review restaurants. These included:
-* '''User Reviews and Ratings:''' Users could write reviews and rate restaurants on a five-star scale, contributing to a restaurant's overall rating on the platform.
+* '''Shake to Search''': A feature that allowed users to shake their mobile device to receive a random restaurant suggestion based on their location and preferences.
-* '''Wishlists and Favorites:''' Users could create wishlists of restaurants they wanted to try and mark others as favorites.
+* '''User Reviews''': Users could write and read reviews of restaurants, providing insights into the quality of food, service, and ambiance.
-* '''Photos:''' Users could upload photos of their meals to accompany their reviews, providing visual insights into the dining experience.
+* '''Restaurant Information''': Detailed information about restaurants, including menus, hours of operation, and contact details.
-* '''Reservations:''' In partnership with services like OpenTable, Urbanspoon allowed users to make online reservations at participating restaurants.
+* '''Reservation System''': Integration with reservation services to allow users to book tables directly through the app.
-==Impact==
+=== Acquisition and Transition ===
-Urbanspoon played a significant role in the digital transformation of the restaurant industry, influencing how people discover and choose where to eat. Its user-generated content model empowered diners to share their experiences and opinions, while its innovative use of mobile technology made restaurant discovery fun and interactive. The platform's integration into Zomato has allowed its legacy to continue, contributing to the global expansion of online restaurant discovery and review services.
+In 2015, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[Zomato]], an Indian restaurant search and discovery service. Following the acquisition, Urbanspoon was integrated into Zomato's platform, and the Urbanspoon brand was eventually phased out.
-==See Also==
+=== Legacy ===
-* [[Yelp]]
+Urbanspoon was known for its user-friendly interface and innovative features that set the standard for restaurant discovery apps. Its "shake to search" feature was particularly popular and became a hallmark of the app's identity.
-* [[TripAdvisor]]
-* [[OpenTable]]
+== Related pages ==
 * [[Zomato]]
+* [[Restaurant review]]
+* [[Mobile app]]
-[[Category:Online food ordering]]
 [[Category:Defunct websites]]
-[[Category:Companies established in 2006]]
+[[Category:Restaurant guides]]
-[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2015]]
+[[Category:Internet properties established in 2006]]
-{{stub}}