Mobile-minded foodies rejoice. The iTunes App Store is full of great, free apps for those looking to satisfy every culinary taste under the sun. Below are five of the very best apps aimed at your taste buds. Download them and give them a try. What do you have to lose?
Hoppit: Restaurant Recommendations by Mood (Hoppit, Inc.)
Hoppit is built around atmosphere. A big part of eating out is finding the right mood and ambiance, and that’s where Hoppit has you covered. Look for a chill place to take a date? Or maybe a classy joint to impress a business client? Use Hoppit’s search engine to find the right place you need and check out the interior photos to confirm it matches what you’re looking for. It also tailors results based on who you’re with — a big group? A friend? Your child? Hoppit’s a great way to find the perfect place that will make everyone happy.
Savored (Savored)
If you’re looking to save a dollar or ten, Savored’s for you. Savored works with local restaurants to offer deals depending on time of day and the number of seats available. It’s a clever way to boost business during down hours and a great way to save some money while eating at fantastic places. Not sure if it’s worth the drive anyway? Check out some of the reviews and ratings from previous customers. Savored is a great way for the adventurous foodie to try new restaurants without breaking the bank.
Elixr (Elixr)
Elixr is aimed at the drinking crowd with an eye toward social networking. Post what you’re drinking and attach a picture so your friends can comment and share what they’re drinking. You can also rate your drinks so you can refer to what you loved and what you didn’t. If a friend loves a drink, check out the venue they drank it in and rate it yourself.
Farmstand (Mostly Brothers)
Farmstand is for the food-lover who wants to eat local and fresh. It helps you find farmer’s markets all over the world so you can take pictures and make notes about what you want to buy and where it’s available. Post tips on your finds so your friends won’t miss a deal or a particularly delicious crop of veggies. Farmstand depends, in large part, on the users themselves. Update the database with farmer’s markets as you discover them.
Ness (Ness Computing, Inc.)
Ness compares itself to Pandora and Netflix — it recommends restaurants based on your tastes, preferences and ratings, allowing you to easily browse through lists to find what you want. Explore menus to see what’s on offer and contrast your ratings with your friends to see what tastes you share. The app even links with Instagram so you can see candid pictures of a spot and decide if it looks as fun and interesting as reviews claim.