Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Chow Chaser
Getting Started
What is Chow Chaser?
Chow Chaser is a restaurant discovery platform that goes beyond basic reviews. We provide deep insights, booking strategies, menu highlights, and insider tips to help you make better dining decisions and actually get the tables you want.
How is Chow Chaser different from other restaurant apps?
While most apps just show ratings and basic info, we dig deep with comprehensive research, real booking strategies, walk-in timing tips, and curated collections for specific dining needs. We focus on actionable insights that help you actually secure reservations and have better dining experiences.
Is Chow Chaser free to use?
Yes, Chow Chaser is completely free to use. You can search restaurants, access deep dive insights, view our curated collections, and use all booking links without any cost.
Restaurant Search & Discovery
How do I search for restaurants?
We offer two search modes: Restaurant Search for finding specific restaurants by name or location, and Concierge Mode where you can describe what you're looking for in natural language (e.g., 'romantic Italian with a view'). You can also browse our curated collections for specific dining occasions.
What is Concierge Mode?
Concierge Mode is our AI-powered recommendation feature. Instead of searching for a specific restaurant, describe what you're looking for—mood, cuisine, location, budget, or any preferences—and we'll recommend the perfect restaurants that match your needs. It's like having a personal dining concierge!
What kind of requests can I make in Concierge Mode?
You can describe any dining need! Examples: 'kid-friendly brunch near Central Park', 'late night sushi that delivers', 'business lunch under $30 near Wall Street', or 'romantic anniversary dinner with a tasting menu'. The more specific you are, the better our recommendations.
Why did my Concierge Mode search fail?
Concierge Mode is designed specifically for restaurant, cafe, bar, and dining venue requests. Searches may fail if: your request isn't food-related, you didn't include a specific location, or your request was too vague. For best results, include both what type of dining experience you want and where you want it (e.g., 'cozy wine bar in Greenwich Village' rather than just 'good place to drink'). We can help find restaurants at hotels, but not the hotels themselves.
What areas does Chow Chaser cover?
We currently focus primarily on New York City, with the most comprehensive coverage in Manhattan and Brooklyn. We're expanding to cover more neighborhoods and cities based on user demand.
How often is restaurant information updated?
We continuously update restaurant information including menus, hours, booking availability, and insider tips. Our deep dive insights are refreshed regularly to ensure you get the most current information.
Deep Dive Insights
What information is included in a restaurant's deep dive?
Our deep dives include menu highlights with specific dish recommendations, booking strategies and timing tips, aggregated review insights from Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and social media, photos, pricing information, links to reservation and delivery platforms (Resy, OpenTable, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub), and insider tips from various sources including food blogs and specialty shipping like Goldbelly.
How do you gather deep dive information?
We analyze multiple sources including official menus, reviews across Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and OpenTable, social media mentions, booking patterns on Resy and other platforms, delivery options, and other public information to compile comprehensive restaurant profiles.
Why do some restaurants take longer to analyze?
Some restaurants have more complex information to analyze—extensive menus, multiple locations, or lots of online discussion. We prioritize thoroughness over speed to give you the most valuable insights.
Reservations & Booking
Can I make reservations directly through Chow Chaser?
We provide direct links to all major reservation platforms including Resy, OpenTable, Tock, SevenRooms, and restaurant websites, as well as phone numbers for direct booking. You'll complete your reservation on the restaurant's preferred platform.
What are your booking strategy tips based on?
Our booking strategies come from analyzing reservation release patterns, user experiences, restaurant policies, and timing observations. We share what actually works, not just generic advice.
How accurate are walk-in recommendations?
Our walk-in suggestions are based on restaurant policies, seating layouts, historical patterns, and user feedback. While we can't guarantee availability, our timing recommendations significantly improve your odds.
Why do some restaurants show as 'hard to book'?
We analyze booking difficulty based on how quickly reservations fill up, average lead times needed, cancellation patterns, and user reports. This helps set realistic expectations for popular spots.
Collections & Recommendations
How do you choose restaurants for collections?
Our collections are curated based on specific criteria like actual walk-in policies, romantic atmosphere ratings, kitchen hours for late night dining, and verified user experiences. We prioritize quality and accuracy over quantity.
Can I suggest new collection ideas?
Absolutely! We're always looking for new collection ideas that would be helpful. Email us at hello@conciergelabs.ai with your suggestions—we especially love hyper-specific needs that other platforms don't address.
Will you add more cities to collections?
Yes, we plan to expand our collections to other major cities. We're starting with NYC because we know it best, but will add new cities based on user demand and our ability to provide quality insights.
Technical & Account
Do I need to create an account to use Chow Chaser?
No account is required to search restaurants, view insights, or access booking links. Chow Chaser is designed to be immediately useful without any signup barriers.
Why isn't a restaurant showing up in search?
We're continuously adding restaurants to our database. If a specific restaurant isn't available, it may not be in our system yet. Email us at hello@conciergelabs.ai with the restaurant name and we'll prioritize adding it.
The website isn't working properly on my device. What should I do?
Chow Chaser works best on modern browsers. Try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or using a different browser. If issues persist, contact us at hello@conciergelabs.ai with details about your device and browser.
Travel & Global Use
How is Chow Chaser useful for travel?
Chow Chaser is perfect for travelers! Research restaurants before your trip, discover local favorites beyond tourist traps, get booking strategies for popular spots, and find insider tips from locals. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or international vacation, get restaurant intel for any destination worldwide.
Can I use Chow Chaser to research restaurants before traveling?
Absolutely! This is one of our most popular use cases. Search restaurants in your destination city, read deep dive insights, understand booking requirements, and create a dining itinerary before you arrive. No more wandering around hungry or settling for tourist traps.
Does Chow Chaser work for international destinations?
Yes! Unlike city-specific apps, Chow Chaser works globally. Research restaurants in Paris, Tokyo, London, Barcelona, or any city worldwide. We provide the same comprehensive analysis whether you're dining locally or internationally.
How can Chow Chaser help me find authentic local restaurants while traveling?
Our deep dive analysis goes beyond tourist-focused reviews to surface genuine local favorites. We analyze multiple sources to identify restaurants beloved by locals, providing insights into authentic dining experiences you won't find in typical travel guides.
Restaurant Partners
I'm a restaurant owner. How can I get listed on Chow Chaser?
We automatically discover and add restaurants from public sources. If you'd like to ensure your information is accurate or discuss partnership opportunities, contact us at hello@conciergelabs.ai.
How can restaurants update their information?
Restaurant owners can email us at hello@conciergelabs.ai with updated information, corrections, or special notes they'd like included in their deep dive analysis.
Do restaurants pay to be featured in collections?
No, our collections are editorially curated based on actual merit and user value. Restaurants cannot pay for inclusion in collections—they're selected based on how well they meet each collection's specific criteria.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? We're here to help.
Contact us: hello@conciergelabs.ai