thefork

Owned by the travel and restaurant website TripAdvisor, TheFork offers the opportunity to discover the top rated places to eat across a number of cities, with the ability to book directly via their page. Currently operating in 10 countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Brazil, TheFork offers more than 30,000 restaurants to choose from and discounts in participating establishments.

The search options allow the user to choose between restaurant type, which includes ‘INSIDER’, offering their best tables, and ‘POP’, where you can find the greatest deals. You can also view the ‘Most Booked’ restaurants in each city if you are lacking inspiration of what to eat.

After entering your location, date, time and number of people, the website displays a number of different results depending on your preferences. A feature that I like in particular is the ‘Average Price’, based on a two course meal with drinks excluded, and ‘Menu Price’ shown below the name of the restaurant. This gives a good idea of what to expect from the establishment, allowing you to rule out places where the cost of the meal is more than you were willing to pay.

Each restaurant profile offers a good selection of photos, both of the food and the restaurant itself, and the menu is easily viewable under the information section, meaning you don’t have to click on any external links to see it. TheFork also offers two review systems; one from verified diners and the other from the TripAdvisor website. Although it may be good for some people to have both options, it makes the website feel crowded, and would probably be fine just displaying the verified user reviews by itself.

Like OpenTable, TheFork offers a rewards programme, allowing you to gain ‘Yums’ when booking with partner restaurants, with 1000 Yums the equivalent of $10 USD off a meal when you reserve a table using the website.

David Jones

I am a professional travel writer and travel enthusiast who traveled the world twice, so I am sharing my firsthand knowledge about everything related to travel and spending time abroad.