Zest Launches AI‑Powered Text Concierge for Restaurant Discovery and Reservations

Zest, a restaurant‑finding app founded in November 2024 and backed by $1.8 million from Alexis Ohanian’s 776 and Steve Jang’s Kindred Ventures, has added an AI‑powered “restaurant concierge” that operates entirely through text messages. Users text the concierge at (212) 470‑6067, and the agent draws on the user’s credit‑card transaction history—imported via Plaid—to build a personalized map of past dining habits. It then suggests nearby or travel‑ready restaurants, can check availability, and book tables through OpenTable, Resy, or SevenRooms. The concierge can also be added to group chats, aggregating group preferences, enabling in‑thread voting, and making group reservations without leaving the conversation. In TechCrunch tests, the AI provided relevant recommendations based on cuisine, craving, occasion, dietary restrictions, or location, and could answer questions about restaurant amenities or send menus.