The 10 Best Free Restaurant Apps to Download Now
You've probably heard of Zagat, a service that has been reviewing and ranking restaurants and other businesses since 1979. We've come a long way since then, with tons of dining apps with a variety of helpful uses.
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Now you can download dining apps to find restaurants, make reservations, choose healthier options, and find out what to order. Zagat now has its own app, but there's also an app that lets users upload photos of their favorite dishes. So the next time you get a recommendation for that five-star restaurant across town, you'll already know the dish you want to try.
Other apps let you know where the vegetarian, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly restaurants are located, no matter where you are. And if you let your apps get to know you, many will recommend restaurants based on your preferences.
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With all the different dining apps available, it can be difficult to find the best ones to fit your needs. To save you money and time researching (as well as buyer's remorse), we've put together and ranked a list of the most downloaded and highly rated apps on iTunes and the Google Play store so you can find exactly what you're looking for.
So, how did we get our list of the best dining apps? We had three criteria for judging which ones were worthy of space on your iPhone or Android:
1. Ease of use. What good is an app if you can't get the most out of it? We leaned heavily in favor of apps that feature a streamlined user interface. If we weren't able to install or use it easily, we didn't include it.
2. Comprehensive listing. Did the app have a large, diverse selection of restaurants? If the answer was "yes," it made it to our list.
3. Affordability. We figured you'd rather spend your money on the actual food, so all the ones listed below are free!
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10) Savored
The Savored app gives you another great way to save on your next meal. You can receive discounts of up to 40 percent on your food and drinks at hundreds of restaurants throughout the U.S. Reservations you make through the app are free and you'll receive confirmation instantly. Just select when and where you'd like to eat and Savored offers similar restaurants with discounts and open tables.
Availability: iOS, Android
9) Restaurant Nutrition
Brought to you by Unified Lifestyle by the Foundation HealthCare Network, this app is a great resource for healthier eating options at more than 250 restaurants. Browse 60,000 food items, review and rate dishes, keep a food journal, and post about what you ate right from the app. You can view and upload food photos, set food allergies, and see gluten-free options at restaurants.
Availability: iOS, Android
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8) Where to Eat?
When you're out with friends or family and hunger strikes, "where to eat?" can be a difficult question to answer. Download this app and you'll always know where to find the best food in town. Customize the app to suit your needs. Use the "Shake-to-Suggest" feature to keep things interesting, and browse user ratings and reviews and share your own.
Availability: iOS, Android
7) Zagat
Enjoy the usefulness of the Zagat guide in app form right from your smartphone. The new app will begin with recommendations in nine popular U.S. cities, and you can read up on some awesome restaurant locations. Browse menus, reliable reviews and ratings, and even peruse articles and videos straight from the app.
Availability: iOS, Android
6) Scoutmob
With Scoutmob, you'll find discounts at restaurants, bars, cafés, and more. The app isn't just focused on dining deals; you can also find discounts at local stores and shops. The database includes many restaurants in some of America's most popular cities, such as Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago.
Availability: iOS, Android
5) Find Me Gluten Free
The Find Me Gluten Free app is a great way to find gluten-free restaurants, menus, and businesses near you. You'll find gluten-free options at restaurants, fast-food joints, bars, cafés, and markets. You can even get directions to gluten-free businesses. Suggest your favorites to add even more locations to the app's database.
Availability: iOS, Android
4) Yelp
Yelp is the answer to all your questions about food, shops, and services anywhere you are. Whether you're out and about in your hometown or vacationing somewhere new, Yelp lets you search for nearby restaurants and businesses (but primarily restaurants), browse reviews, and find local deals. Use the map or search for addresses and phone numbers and use the brand-new photo viewer to find out more about the businesses near you.
Availability: iOS, Android
3) GrubHub
This app is a delivery and takeout lover's dream come true. You enter your address or search your current location to find nearby delivery and takeout options. The restaurant network includes more than 20,000 dining locations in more than 500 U.S. cities, and you can browse menus and order delivery right from the app. You can also save past orders so you can get to them quickly when the craving hits.
Availability: iOS, Android
2) Opentable
Download this app and you can start making reservations at more than 20,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada right away. Just find your restaurant, choose a date, and select the time you'd like to dine and the size of your party. The app will display all the available tables for that time slot. Tap the table you want, and OpenTable will reserve your spot.
Availability: Android, iOS, Windows
1) Urbanspoon
This highly popular app has received a lot of media attention, and for good reason. It's an all-in-one dining app for the everyday user. Shake your phone for random suggestions. Find nearby restaurants with the built-in GPS feature. Search through a huge list of restaurants for user ratings and recommendations.
Availability: iOS, Android
Click here to see more of The Best Free Restaurant Apps
-Paul Daniels, The Daily Meal
