Zest launches AI text-based restaurant concierge with booking
The restaurant discovery app moves recommendations into SMS, automating reservations across OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms.
What to know
- Zest's new AI concierge operates via text message and can book reservations directly through OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms, using the user's credit card spending history to make recommendations.
- The feature works in group chats, allowing users to combine preferences, vote on options, and reserve a table without leaving the conversation.
- The launch reflects a broader industry trend toward conversational AI agents replacing standalone mobile apps as the primary user interface.
- Zest is considering expanding beyond restaurants to offer recommendations for other categories like books and business services.
“In TechCrunch's tests, the AI worked fairly well, offering a list of suggestions for new places matched to our tastes that also fit particular conditions, like time of day, party size, location, and other factors.”
TechCrunch, Publication · TechCrunch ↗ · Oct 29
Mario Gomez-Hall Zest founder and CEOZest Restaurant discovery startupAlexis Ohanian Investor, 776Steve Jang Investor, Kindred Ventures
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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“The agent is the product now. You text it, and it answers from your own history and your friends'. It doesn't need weeks of conversation to learn you because it starts from where you've actually been.”
— Mario Gomez-Hall -
first by TechCrunch, 14d ago
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Can't agree on where to eat? Zest's AI concierge can combine everyone's tastes, put restaurant options to a vote, and make the reservation. https:// techcrunch.com/2026/10/30/zest s-new-ai-agent-finds-restaurants-and-books-reservations-over-text/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
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background
Zest begins testing AI text concierge — The company started internal testing of a text-message-based AI concierge feature designed to bring restaurant recommendations and booking into SMS conversations.
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background
Zest restaurant discovery app founded — Zest launches with $1.8 million in pre-seed backing from Alexis Ohanian at 776 and Steve Jang at Kindred Ventures. The app tracks users' credit card transactions through Plaid to understand their dining preferences and make tailored recommendations.