Urbanspoon

Urbanspoon

File:Urbanspoon logo.png

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

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

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

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

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

• Zomato
• Restaurant review
• Mobile app