User-generated reviews and professional food critic ratings for restaurants, allowing users to read and write reviews
Zagat is an American online guide and review platform for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and other entertainment venues around the world. It was originally founded as a printed guidebook in 1979 by Tim and Nina Zagat, compiling user-generated survey ratings and reviews of restaurants in New York City.
Over the years, Zagat expanded to cover major cities across the US and internationally. In 2011 it launched an app and website to move the guide online. Users can read professional critic reviews as well as user-generated content and ratings on factors like food, decor, service across thousands of venues.
Zagat provides a platform for discovering and reviewing dining, drinking and hotel options in a city. Users can search venues by neighborhood, cuisine or other filters. They can read aggregated ratings and quotes from both critics and community members, helping them evaluate different options. The app and site also facilitate bookings, reservations or event listings at rated establishments.
In recent years, Zagat has faced increasing competition from other crowd-sourced review sites and apps like Yelp or Zomato. But it maintains a strong brand associated with reliable, curated reviews particularly for higher-end dining establishments. Key features include its distinct 0-30 rating system, professional critic reviews and community surveys, verified reviews, photographs as well as booking and reservation integration.