Zest’s new AI agent finds restaurants and books reservations over text

Zest has launched a text-based AI restaurant concierge that recommends places and can book tables, reflecting a shift towards conversational agents replacing standalone apps for everyday tasks. The service draws on users’ dining histories to personalise suggestions and can also help groups agree on where to eat.

Zest links to credit card data through Plaid, using only food and drink transactions to build a picture of users’ tastes. People can ask for options by cuisine, occasion, dietary needs or neighbourhood, and the agent can check availability through OpenTable, Resy and SevenRooms. It can join group chats, run votes and make bookings; the company is considering expanding its recommendations beyond restaurants.