Restaurant discovery app Zest has introduced an AI concierge that recommends places to eat and helps users book tables directly through text messages. The service draws on users' dining histories to tailor suggestions, rather than relying only on preferences shared in a conversation.
Recommendations can be shaped by cuisine, cravings, occasion, dietary needs and neighborhood. Users can also ask about restaurant features, such as Wi-Fi, or request a menu. The concierge can check availability and complete reservations through connected booking services.
Zest can join group chats, combine participants' preferences and offer an in-chat vote to help settle on a restaurant. Once the group decides, it can book without switching to another app. The company says its personalized recommendations are based on dining transactions users connect to the service.
The startup is also exploring recommendations beyond restaurants, including shopping and other businesses. For now, bookings and planned food-ordering features are among its potential revenue streams.
As AI agents take on more everyday tasks, services like Zest could make conversational interfaces a more practical way to discover and book experiences.
