Hank Marvin in the UK?
If you eat out in the UK you might be interested in a new website aimed right atcha…Â Here is the press release:
An online portal, which brings people with a passion for food together to share their dining out experiences, has been launched. iStarvin, a site that combines the convenience of a restaurant directory with in-depth content and eye-catching photos, connects individuals with an interest in food and dining, allowing them to follow each other’s activity or seek recommendations for a special occasion.
Unlike the launch of many of their competitors, iStarvin has already done an adept job of creating a highly comprehensive restaurant directory. There are few, if any reviews yet, and there are one or two website glitches, but it looks like a great start. Clearly they hope to create a community to contribute insights and recommendations, but the business model relies on restaurateurs taking the opportunity to embellish the offer (for a price) and include, for example, the facility to book tables online. Like any advertising model this depends on Muggles like me and you using the service.
Being a mobile kind of guy, I rarely search a website unless it is apped up.  I am getting increasingly dissatisfied with Urbanspoon, Opentable, and AroundMe, so I hope that when iStarvin launches the iPhone app, it will be a truffle amongst mushrooms.
This is a well worn business model with no clear leader so I admire iStarvin’s balls in entering the market. Having said that, they have learnt from their competitors’ mistakes and it looks to be the best attempt yet from a consumer perspective (and that is the critical success factor).
iStarvin is using social media well to publicise the new site. I learned of it on Twitter from the excellently erudite Oliver Thring, one of the many food bloggers I met at EWBC. If you are a foodie, you should also follow Niamh, Chris, Lizzie and Douglas, charming chaps and chappesses all.
January 27th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
If you’re looking for a restaurant booking service with an app, have a try at Bookatable’s restaurant iphone app, it’s pretty decent from what I’ve heard. I’m waiting for the android version to come out, until then i’m stuck using a pc to make my bookings.