Urbanspoon: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:56, 9 February 2025

Urbanspoon

Urbanspoon logo

Urbanspoon was a restaurant discovery and review service that provided users with information about local dining options. It was founded in 2006 and became known for its unique "shake" feature, which allowed users to randomly discover restaurants by shaking their mobile devices.

History

Urbanspoon was founded in 2006 by Ethan Lowry, Adam Doppelt, and Patrick O’Donnell. The service quickly gained popularity due to its innovative approach to restaurant discovery and its user-friendly interface. In 2009, Urbanspoon was acquired by IAC, a media and Internet company, which helped expand its reach and capabilities.

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

Features

Urbanspoon offered several features that made it popular among users:

Shake to Search: Users could shake their mobile devices to receive a random restaurant suggestion based on their location and preferences.
User Reviews: The platform allowed users to read and write reviews of restaurants, providing a community-driven approach to restaurant recommendations.
Restaurant Information: Urbanspoon provided detailed information about restaurants, including menus, hours of operation, and contact details.
Reservation System: The service also offered a reservation system for users to book tables at participating restaurants.

Impact

Urbanspoon was one of the early pioneers in the online restaurant discovery space, influencing how people searched for dining options. Its integration of user-generated content and innovative features set a standard for future restaurant review platforms.

Related pages

References

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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]] [[discovery]] and [[review]] service that provided users with information about local dining options. It was founded in 2006 and became known for its unique "shake" feature, which allowed users to randomly discover restaurants by shaking their mobile devices.
-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 ==
-==Features==
+Urbanspoon was founded in 2006 by [[Ethan Lowry]], [[Adam Doppelt]], and [[Patrick O’Donnell]]. The service quickly gained popularity due to its innovative approach to restaurant discovery and its user-friendly interface. In 2009, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[IAC]], a media and Internet company, which helped expand its reach and capabilities.
-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:
-* '''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.
+In 2015, Urbanspoon was acquired by [[Zomato]], an Indian restaurant search and discovery service. Following the acquisition, the Urbanspoon app and website were integrated into Zomato's platform, and the Urbanspoon brand was eventually phased out.
-* '''Wishlists and Favorites:''' Users could create wishlists of restaurants they wanted to try and mark others as favorites.
-* '''Photos:''' Users could upload photos of their meals to accompany their reviews, providing visual insights into the dining experience.
-* '''Reservations:''' In partnership with services like OpenTable, Urbanspoon allowed users to make online reservations at participating restaurants.
-==Impact==
+== Features ==
-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.
-==See Also==
+Urbanspoon offered several features that made it popular among users:
+* '''Shake to Search''': Users could shake their mobile devices to receive a random restaurant suggestion based on their location and preferences.
+* '''User Reviews''': The platform allowed users to read and write reviews of restaurants, providing a community-driven approach to restaurant recommendations.
+* '''Restaurant Information''': Urbanspoon provided detailed information about restaurants, including menus, hours of operation, and contact details.
+* '''Reservation System''': The service also offered a reservation system for users to book tables at participating restaurants.
+== Impact ==
+Urbanspoon was one of the early pioneers in the online restaurant discovery space, influencing how people searched for dining options. Its integration of user-generated content and innovative features set a standard for future restaurant review platforms.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[Zomato]]
 * [[Yelp]]
-* [[TripAdvisor]]
+* [[Tripadvisor]]
-* [[OpenTable]]
-* [[Zomato]]
+== References ==
+{{reflist}}
-[[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}}
+[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2015]]