Lifestyle

Grub On

When it comes to finding the right place to eat, sometimes word-of-mouth just doesn’t cut it. These online culinary sites are sure to help you find what you’re looking for as soon as hunger strikes.
Text by Sheldon Cooper | June 18, 2018 | Lifestyle

Yelp
If you’re looking for where the locals go, Yelp is the best option. Trusted reviews by Elite Members lets you know the info is coming from real people. Pros: Yelp’s tagline is “Real People, Real Reviews” and they make sure they live up to that promise. Almost everyone has a photo and for the most part leave detailed reviews about their experiences. Cons: Sometimes legitimate reviews get sucked into the “filtered” file for some restaurants.

Zagat
This is a trusted name in the food industry that has an assortment of lists and personalized recommendations for users based off taste profiles. Pros: The site offers rankings and “Best Of” lists that can help you find a place that wouldn’t otherwise be on your radar. Cons: The reviewers for the most part are anonymous, plus a fair amount of the reviews are short one- or two-line critiques.

Urbanspoon
When you’re in a rush to find exactly what you’re looking for, this is a rather impressive categorized site that allows you to browse based off of city, cuisine, critics’ picks or pricepoints. Pros: An interactive front page is helpful for someone who’s simply browsing for a new spot to eat. Cons: Anonymous users can give any restaurant a “thumbs up or down” which alters a businesses’ ranking. The anonymity can allow fraudulent votes whether good or bad.

Open Table
Want to make sure you get a table at the hottest restaurant in town? Well, this is all about helping you find the perfect venue and getting your reservations confirmed quickly and easily. Pros: It allows users to make a reservation and book their table instantly. Cons: Other than the reservation function, the site is pretty straight-forward with a very basic design and not many other features.