Zest launches a restaurant discovery app powered by where people actually eat

A fresh player in the dining app scene, Zest, aims to transform how users find their next favorite eateries. This innovative restaurant discovery app leverages transaction data alongside artificial intelligence to offer personalized recommendations based on actual dining habits. Founded in November 2024, Zest has successfully secured $1.8 million in pre-seed funding from notable investors including Alexis Ohanian of 776 and Steve Jang from Kindred Ventures. Since its inception, the app has been in beta testing, gradually expanding from a small circle of friends to broader user groups. Now officially launched to the public, Zest allows users to track their dining experiences and receive tailored suggestions. In just weeks after its launch, Zest has already attracted over 100,000 visits, signaling strong initial interest. While several apps exist for creating dining wish lists or curating favorite spots, Zest stands out by basing its recommendations on real-world data. Users simply connect their credit cards to the app, which then compiles a personalized dining map, excluding fast-casual and fast food options to reduce unnecessary clutter. As Zest learns about users’ dining preferences, it becomes increasingly adept at offering personalized suggestions for what to try next. Users can also follow friends or curated profiles to discover new dining options, whether in their hometown or while traveling. Zest imports credit card data through Plaid, a trusted financial services firm, ensuring secure access to users' food and drink transactions while disregarding irrelevant purchases. This approach echoes the social networking aspect seen in platforms like Venmo, which capitalizes on users' desire to share their buying experiences. Previous attempts at creating similar recommendation networks, such as Blippy, faltered due to a lack of depth in data-sharing and understanding user interests. Co-founder Mario Gomez-Hall, who previously led design at the social calendaring app Saturn, emphasizes that Zest aims to highlight more authentic dining experiences. "Our method of using verified dining spend allows us to showcase truly interesting places, rather than just popular venues flaunted on social media," he explains. Gomez-Hall envisions Zest as a platform that not only showcases high-end dining options but also uncovers beloved neighborhood spots that may be overlooked. Drawing from his experience with previous startups, he highlights the importance of curating connections among users with similar tastes, even if they aren’t close friends. The app also pulls from over 80 million reviews from diverse online sources, enriching its recommendations. This month, Zest is set to introduce a feature allowing users to write freeform notes about restaurants, sharing insights like reservation tips or dish recommendations. Additionally, a new “Fresh Picks” feature will function similarly to Spotify’s Discovery Weekly, presenting users with new restaurants to explore. Looking ahead, Zest has aspirations to expand beyond dining. "While our name reflects our focus on food, it also symbolizes a zest for life and exploration. We envision a future where we could incorporate shopping and other city experiences into our offerings," Gomez-Hall states.