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While attending the Snap Summit last week I was asked by a Marketwatch reporter what I thought the current trend on Facebook is. My response was “crappy apps.” The majority of applications that I filter through every day are pretty poor. Once in a while though, a great application comes along that I know I will use on a regular basis and won’t remove from my application installations. The most recent application that has qualified for my mark of excellence is the Restaurant application.
Restaurants are one of the most social activities for people; any application that takes an already socially popular activity in the real world and brings it online is sure to have a great chance for success. One of the first places that I turn to when I’m looking for a great restaurant is my friends. As such, I’m going to go straight to this application anytime I’m looking for a great restaurant. This would also be an amazingly useful application to convert to mobile. Imagine getting off a plane, loading up your Facebook app on your phone and checking out what the best restaurants in town are based on your friends’ recommendations!
This is only the first phase of this application but the opportunities are endless for making this a more useful application. There were some issues with the restaurant search tool and a couple browsing issues but aside from that, this application works amazingly. I’ve communicated all the issues to Hungry Machine, the developers of this application, and they said that they are working on resolving the issues now.
One other great feature about this application is that you can immediately make a reservation via a link to OpenTable. So right after you view your friends’ favorite restaurants you can set up a reservation for later that evening. I have a feeling that this application is going to gain millions of users just because it’s so useful. This application (along with the CourseFeed application) may be one of the most useful applications I have seen on Facebook to date. Is it the “golden application” that I have long dreamed of? Not quite sure but I know that I’ll be using it a hell of a lot.
If you want to review restaurants or find great restaurants via recommendations from your friends, go install the Restaurants application.
Nick, definitely there a few Restaurant Review type apps now on Facebook, with some having more traction then others. Obviously the hard balance is providing utility while keeping users interested, engaged, and using the app.
This is certainly something I can identify with as, coincidentally, I just helped co-develop a different type of Restaurant Review app. Since there are already a few popular restaurant review type apps, we did a different spin on the concept by adding a competitive game of sorts - Restaurant Wars. What our app does is compare how you review a restaurant against how people on Facebook and the Internet overall has reviewed it. Since friends like to argue about who’s taco shop/pizza place/pub/etc is better, Restaurant Wars is kind of a fun way to sort the argument out of who’s place is better and who has better tastes.
Check it out at http://apps.facebook.com/restaurantwars and see how the concept stacks up against a traditional review app.
Nick, definitely there a few Restaurant Review type apps now on Facebook, with some having more traction then others. Obviously the hard balance is providing utility while keeping users interested, engaged, and using the app.
This is certainly something I can identify with as, coincidentally, I just helped co-develop a different type of Restaurant Review app. Since there are already a few popular restaurant review type apps, we did a different spin on the concept by adding a competitive game of sorts - Restaurant Wars. What our app does is compare how you review a restaurant against how people on Facebook and the Internet overall has reviewed it. Since friends like to argue about who’s taco shop/pizza place/pub/etc is better, Restaurant Wars is kind of a fun way to sort the argument out of who’s place is better and who has better tastes.
Check it out at http://apps.facebook.com/restaurantwars and see how the concept stacks up against a traditional review app.
hey, Nick, I thought you liked the “I am Hungry” app! Still think that pos sold (for ANY amount of money)?!
hey, Nick, I thought you liked the “I am Hungry” app! Still think that pos sold (for ANY amount of money)?!
[...] Restaurant Reviews on Facebook via AllFacebook.com [...]
Some years ago I created the Epicurean Review Society,(ERS). It was in retribution for disappointing food/service in many of the restaurants I visited when travelling around the country during my “working years.” I found that the single diner, not recognized as a “regular,” would be given short shrift…the table next to the restrooms or kitchen, as little attention as possible, and the feeling that he was not welcome.
The attractive ERS credentials I presented to the restaurant manager stated I was the “analyst” assigned to conduct a review. Although occasionally met with some skepticism, I was treated with at least cautious respect. Frequently I was given VIP treatment, such as a tour of the kitchen with an intro to the chef, special dishes and comps: free meals, free wine, desserts, etc. After a meal I gave the manager a copy of my report, which made quite an impression.
Later, I introduced friends, who recommended others, into the Society, we had a great time with it. After a few enjoyable years, many of us lost interest in the Society; I let it fade away. That was over 20 years ago. Recently, I came across the package of our training manual, analyst’s credentials, and report forms. I was impressed, to the extent that I registered the domain name of epicureanreviewsoc.com. I would be pleased to communicate with anyone interested in having some fun with the ERS.
Some years ago I created the Epicurean Review Society,(ERS). It was in retribution for disappointing food/service in many of the restaurants I visited when travelling around the country during my “working years.” I found that the single diner, not recognized as a “regular,” would be given short shrift…the table next to the restrooms or kitchen, as little attention as possible, and the feeling that he was not welcome.
The attractive ERS credentials I presented to the restaurant manager stated I was the “analyst” assigned to conduct a review. Although occasionally met with some skepticism, I was treated with at least cautious respect. Frequently I was given VIP treatment, such as a tour of the kitchen with an intro to the chef, special dishes and comps: free meals, free wine, desserts, etc. After a meal I gave the manager a copy of my report, which made quite an impression.
Later, I introduced friends, who recommended others, into the Society, we had a great time with it. After a few enjoyable years, many of us lost interest in the Society; I let it fade away. That was over 20 years ago. Recently, I came across the package of our training manual, analyst’s credentials, and report forms. I was impressed, to the extent that I registered the domain name of epicureanreviewsoc.com. I would be pleased to communicate with anyone interested in having some fun with the ERS.