Zest launches AI text agent to book restaurant reservations

The concierge integrates with booking platforms like OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms to check availability and secure reservations. Users can text the service at a dedicated number or add it to group chats, where it can blend multiple people's tastes and facilitate in-thread voting to settle on a venue. Zest founder Mario Gomez-Hall stated that the agent learns user preferences faster because it starts from historical data rather than asking questions. The company began testing the feature last month but delayed the public launch until booking capabilities were fully integrated.

Zest raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding from investors including Alexis Ohanian and Steve Jang. The startup views this text-based agent as a path to scaling beyond its initial user base and generating revenue through booking and future food ordering transactions. While TechCrunch reported the AI performed well in tests, the company is considering expanding the service beyond restaurants to include shopping and other business recommendations in the future.