Zest, a restaurant discovery app founded in November 2024 with $1.8 million in pre-seed funding from Alexis Ohanian’s 776 and Steve Jang’s Kindred Ventures, has launched a new AI-powered restaurant concierge that operates entirely through text messages. Instead of using a traditional mobile app interface, users can text their dining preferences, and the AI agent responds with personalized recommendations based on actual dining history, which it gathers by linking to users' credit card data via Plaid. This allows Zest to tailor its suggestions by analyzing food and drink spending, creating a highly customized restaurant map and list.

The AI concierge, accessible by texting (212) 470-6067, can also be added to group chats where it factors in the tastes of multiple participants to propose dining options everyone will enjoy. The tool includes an in-chat voting mechanism to help groups decide on a restaurant, and it can then book tables seamlessly through integrations with platforms like OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms. Users can inquire about specific details such as wait times, amenities, and menus, making the entire dining decision and reservation process interactive and convenient without leaving the messaging app.

Unlike traditional apps that require users to specify their preferences through lengthy questionnaires, Zest’s AI agent begins with a rich dataset derived from past dining choices, allowing it to quickly understand a user's taste. The company started testing this concierge feature last month but delayed full launch until restaurant booking functionalities were added. CEO Mario Gomez-Hall envisions expanding Zest’s capabilities beyond restaurants to include recommendations for shopping and other services, leveraging the AI’s learning to provide more personalized and immediately actionable suggestions.

Zest plans to monetize through transaction participation by facilitating bookings and, in the future, food orders, with revenues generated from these activities. The shift to a conversational AI agent housed in a texting platform reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating AI into everyday communication channels, reducing friction for users while increasing scalability for startups. This approach positions Zest to grow beyond its current user base by offering a more seamless, taste-aware assistant that simplifies where and what to eat.