Urbanspoon Revamps App to Filter Restaurants by Personal Taste and More

Urbanspoon has announced its newly designed iPhone app -- featuring a brand new user interface and filters that enable diners to discover great restaurants based on the elements most important to them, including awards recognition from the James Beard Foundation and content from both Eater and the Village Voice. 

 

The new app provides a more comprehensive view of the restaurant experience based on likes, expert content, and visual elements, with an emphasis on user photos. Together, these inputs help Urbanspoon users get an immediate snapshot and find the right restaurant for their preferences, at the right time. Diners can now also filter restaurants by James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award winners and nominees, the essential 38 Restaurants in major cities as selected by Eater (“Eater 38”), and Critics’ Top Picks from the Village Voice.

New features include:

Filters that Personalize Restaurant Discovery Process – Diners can select restaurants based on a number of criteria, including: hottest restaurants (restaurants in your area with the most blogger and critic activity); user feedback (thumbs up or down) and photos; what’s available tonight; price; restaurants that have been “Wishlisted” and other editorial filters.

 

New Editorially Selected Lists – The app integrates industry recognition from The James Beard Foundation, Eater, and the Village Voice. Diners can choose from 22 years of James Beard Award Restaurant and Chef Winners and Nominees (known as the “Oscars” of the food world), the “essential 38” Eater restaurants in major cities, and the Village Voice critics’ top picks in over a dozen markets. Content is also combined with expert reviews from the Urbanspoon blogger network, one of the world’s largest local food blogger networks.

 

Mapping Feature– Restaurant lists now feature an interactive map that allows users to filter by cuisine, distance, name, popularity and price. Drag and drop the pin to a different spot on the map to explore restaurants in other areas and find the perfect spot for dinner tonight or brunch next weekend.

 

Wishlist – Diners can use the proximity-based “Wishlist” to keep track of restaurants they want to try. Once users are signed in, they will be notified if places on their wish list are in the immediate area, so they never miss a chance to try the new hot spot and document their culinary adventures.

 

New UI – The sleek visual design features bold filters at the top of the home screen to make the selection process simple and intuitive, while preserving the serendipitous discovery option that is Urbanspoon’s signature slot machine shake.