Zagat

In 1979, long before the internet made everyone a critic, attorneys Tim and Nina Zagat started a hobby born from a simple idea: polling their friends about New York City restaurants. Dissatisfied with the singular voice of professional critics, they compiled these opinions into a guide. This project tapped into the power of user-generated content decades before the term existed, creating pocket-sized, trusted companions for diners. The business grew from a survey among friends into a full-time publishing enterprise, eventually covering 70 cities and rating everything from restaurants and hotels to nightlife and shopping. The core of Zagat was its 30-point rating system, where thousands of surveyors rated establishments on food, décor, and service. A pivotal moment came in September 2011 when Google acquired Zagat for a reported $151 million, aiming to integrate its content with Google Maps and compete with emerging review platforms. However, the integration faltered, and Zagat’s prominence within Google faded. In March 2018, Google sold Zagat to The Infatuation, a newer restaurant discovery platform. The Infatuation was later acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2021, bringing Zagat under the financial giant's umbrella and reintroducing its iconic New York City survey in 2023.