Urbanspoon

Urbanspoon

File:Urbanspoon logo.png

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

• Zomato
• Yelp
• Tripadvisor