We all have to eat but sometimes you’re too tired to cook or you don’t want to buy groceries. That’s when heading to a restaurant is the perfect solution. If you’re like me you have a few places you frequent but when it comes time to mix thing up, it’s not always easy to find your next great meal. These five apps will step in and help you find something new and fun.
1. OpenTable
OpenTable uses your location to find restaurants near you. It will bring up a list of places with photos, a menu, reviews and details. It is incredibly easy to use but you can also make reservations directly from the phone. Create a profile and log in. Then enter in the time you want to eat and how many people are in your party and the app will send the information to the restaurant. Once you’ve made it, you can change it or cancel it quickly. Filter your results by distance, how many people you’re bringing and kind of cuisine.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Make reservations from the app
- Easy to change reservations
- Find new restaurants near you
Cons:
- Doesn’t include every place
- Some don’t have full menu
- Have to log in to use
2. Foodspotting
Foodspotting is like a good friend. Not only does it make recommendations for where to eat, but it also tells you which dish is the best. It is set up like Tinder for food. Someone posts a photo of a dish they liked and you can hit want, tried or favorite. This will sort it into certain files in your profile. If you find one you’re interested in, scroll down to find the restaurant information as well as find it on Yelp. You can also flag the dish if the photo doesn’t look right or if it is listed for the wrong restaurant. Find friends who also use the app and you can see what they have been eating and enjoying.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Can search by category
- Just swipe through photos of dishes
Cons:
- Some photos aren’t great
- Can’t see restaurant reviews
- Hard to search by restaurant
3. Yelp
Yelp was one of the first companies to assist in finding your new favorite restaurant and it is still going strong. With over 70 million reviews, you are bound to find something you like. Put in your location and find restaurant profiles with hours, menu information, photos and reviews. Anyone can write in a rate a business which allows for some helpful reviews and some that aren’t as helpful, but you can get great access to a couple photos and a menu. This is a great place to look for happy hour and special menus, because many people take photos of them and post them. When you’ve finished your meal, write your own review.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Search by different filters
- See menu and hour information
- Look through photos
Cons:
- Reviews aren’t always accurate
- Doesn’t have every restaurant
- Sometimes can’t find location
4. TravelAdvisor
TravelAdvisor is one of the best resources for finding restaurants and hotels in your area. It is built with travelers in mind. Find and reserve hotel rooms and flights from the app. Then see what there is to do in your destination. Either search for the city you’ll be going to or use your location to bring up a list of restaurants. Look through the menu, photos and reviews and even make a reservation. Mark certain restaurants if you have been there or want to go and start building a profile.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Millions of reviews to go through
- See photos and reviews
- Filter your search results
Cons:
- Location services don’t always work
- Can be hard to use without Wifi
- Need to log in to use
5. Next Glass
Sometimes you just want to head out for a drink, and that’s where Next Glass comes in. Build a profile so the app knows what you like and rate a few beers and wines until it gets an idea of what to recommend. When you’re all set up all you have to do is search for what you want and swipe through the suggestions. From here you can add to wish list, rate or get more information. If you’re on the hunt for a certain drink, put it into the search and the app can tell you how it is rated and even how many calories and carbs it contains. There isn’t much information about each drink, but it is enough to give you an idea.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Get personalized recommendations
- Score beer and wine
- Find calorie information
Cons:
- Can be hard to navigate
- Doesn’t have written reviews
- Not every beer or wine has been reviewed yet