I downloaded and tried out the OpenTable app. It's pretty good because
1) allows you to book restaurants2) find good restaurants close by3) has restaurant reviews4) limited restaurants helps prevent choice overload
RA Score: 9/10
Additional information:
On iTunes:
Restaurant Reservations – Free, Instant, Confirmed. With OpenTable for iPhone you can make free restaurant reservations at over 14,000 OpenTable-enabled restaurants in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. Plus, OpenTable members earn valuable Dining Rewards Points redeemable for Dining Cheques good at any OpenTable restaurant.
Winner:
+ CNET’s Webware 100 Awards
+ 5 Stars from AppPicker.com
As seen in:
+ Bon Appetit’s 2009 “Hot 10” list
+ Time Magazine's “50 Essential Travel Tips”
+ Gizmodo's "Essential iPhone Apps: Fall 2009"
+ The Book “Best iPhone Apps: The Guide for Discriminating Downloaders” by John Clark
+ PC World Magazine
HOW IT WORKS:
Specify your dining date, desired time and party size to view available tables at nearby restaurants – listed by proximity or plotted on an interactive map.
FEATURES YOU'LL LOVE:
- SEARCH by restaurant name
- FIND restaurants nearest to your current location & see real-time table availability.
- MAP results with an interactive, location-based map.
- REFINE results by cuisine, price, reservation time, or points awarded.
- SEE restaurant menus & OpenTable diner ratings and reviews.
- REVIEW - Quickly see recently viewed restaurants
- RESERVE your table free!
ADDITIONAL FEATURES WITH FREE MEMBER REGISTRATION
- Manage upcoming reservations & browse previous reservations.
- Retrieve and Manage your favorite restaurants
- Earn Dining Rewards Points redeemable for Dining Cheques good at any OpenTable restaurant.
- Invite dining companions via email.
FEEDBACK:
Experiencing issues? Have a feature request or recommendation for future versions? Please email iphonefeedback@opentable.com.
Winner:
+ CNET’s Webware 100 Awards
+ 5 Stars from AppPicker.com
As seen in:
+ Bon Appetit’s 2009 “Hot 10” list
+ Time Magazine's “50 Essential Travel Tips”
+ Gizmodo's "Essential iPhone Apps: Fall 2009"
+ The Book “Best iPhone Apps: The Guide for Discriminating Downloaders” by John Clark
+ PC World Magazine
HOW IT WORKS:
Specify your dining date, desired time and party size to view available tables at nearby restaurants – listed by proximity or plotted on an interactive map.
FEATURES YOU'LL LOVE:
- SEARCH by restaurant name
- FIND restaurants nearest to your current location & see real-time table availability.
- MAP results with an interactive, location-based map.
- REFINE results by cuisine, price, reservation time, or points awarded.
- SEE restaurant menus & OpenTable diner ratings and reviews.
- REVIEW - Quickly see recently viewed restaurants
- RESERVE your table free!
ADDITIONAL FEATURES WITH FREE MEMBER REGISTRATION
- Manage upcoming reservations & browse previous reservations.
- Retrieve and Manage your favorite restaurants
- Earn Dining Rewards Points redeemable for Dining Cheques good at any OpenTable restaurant.
- Invite dining companions via email.
FEEDBACK:
Experiencing issues? Have a feature request or recommendation for future versions? Please email iphonefeedback@opentable.com.
Review by padgadget.com:
OpenTable for iPad – App Review
Looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or maybe you just want go out with a group of friends and enjoy a good meal? Regardless of the reason, OpenTable for iPad will help you find the perfect eating establishment. This easy-to-use app helps diners locate restaurants and make reservations at up to 13,000 OpenTable-enabled restaurants in the US, Canada and the UK, as well as a few other international locations.
OpenTable uses your current location to provide a list of local restaurants or allows diners to narrow their selection and search by city, neighborhood, restaurant, cuisine, price range or 1,000 point tables (OpenTable awards points when you reserve and eat at restaurants with their service. Think of it as airline miles for a foodie). See something you’re interested in trying? You’re in control, read a restaurant description, find its location on a map, view the menu, read reviews from other diners and more. Once you make a dining decision, let OpenTable reserve a table for you for free.
We featured the OpenTable app as a news piece on Tuesday and I thought it sounded interesting, so I decided to download it this afternoon and check out its list of Dallas area restaurants. I found the app straightforward and easy to move around. After a few swipes and taps of my finger, I had entered my dining preferences and received a list of restaurant possibilities.
I was familiar with many of the recommendations made by OpenTable for the DFW Metroplex. Most of the results ranged in price from $30 to over $50, you won’t find typical chain restaurants popping up in the results list of this app.
In addition to the basic location and reservation features offered in this app, OpenTable offers a free membership program. Registering as a member allows you to manage a list of favorite restaurants, track reservations (past, present and future), earn dining reward points and email dining invitations to family and friends.
What I liked: Easy to use, diners are able to search for restaurants using a number of different criteria, great restaurant selection.
What I didn’t like: Cannot register to become a member from the app.
To buy or not to buy: This is one free download I definitely plan to use!
- App Name: OpenTable for iPad
- Version Reviewed: 1.0
- Category: Travel
- Developer: OpenTable, Inc.
- Price: Free
- Score:
