30 essential applications and platforms for a restaurant (the complete catalog)

You must know them. Tripadvisor, Uber or even TheFork: applications are now part of the daily life of restaurant owners. But what are they really for? Whether for improve your online visibility, attract more customers or facilitate your daily life thanks to digital technology, there are dozens of applications and platforms designed to reach your goals.

👉 Find our top 40 must-haves for a restaurant, divided into 3 categories: those that help you be found by your customers, those where to list your restaurant and those that optimize the management of your establishment.

Why list your restaurant on applications and platforms?

Our expertise at Malou: supporting restaurants in their digital communication. And for a simple reason: the digitalization of the sector is an opportunity for attract customers and increase your income.

👉 First good practice that we recommend to all our customers: register your restaurant on platforms.

In particular, this allows:

1. To improve local referencing of your establishment. The principle is simple: the more your establishment is present in directories and platforms, the more you strengthen its legitimacy online. You are thus sending positive signals to search engine algorithms: “my restaurant is present and recommended through several sources;
2. To extend your customer base. It's logical: by listing your restaurant on as many platforms as possible, you multiply potential contact points, including with of tourists and international customers ;
3. To attract more customers. Thanks to the various functionalities offered by platforms (“reservation”) and applications (“delivery”), you diversify and extend the means of consuming at home.

At Malou, we connect all our customers to over 60 platforms (old and new) to promote our customers.

30 applications and platforms to attract more customers and boost your SEO

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Google My Business

Google My Business (now Google Business Profile), it is the essential application to list your restaurant online. It allows you to manage your Business card on Google, first contact between you and potential customers. Via this form, you can add photos, respond to customer reviews and update all your information such as opening hours. Being well referenced on Google My Business considerably increases your chances of appearing in local search results, especially on Google Maps.

Why it is essential : today, 8 out of 10 people choose an online restaurant! With an optimized Google My Business listing (Google Business Profile), your restaurant is more visible and attracts more potential customers.

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How do I create a business card? And above all, how do you optimize it to boost your restaurant at the top of the search results? Answers in the Malou guide below!

Tripadvisor

TripAdvisor is one of the most popular platforms for finding and booking restaurants. The application allows you to manage your profile, publish photos and respond to customer reviews, while benefiting from global visibility, especially among tourists.

Why it is essential : TripAdvisor is often the first resource for travelers looking for a good restaurant! Being referenced on this platform is excellent for your local SEO, but also for attracting international customers.

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TheFork

Formerly known as LaFourchette, TheFork is the most used restaurant reservation application in Europe. It allows customers to book a table in a few clicks and offers management functionalities for restaurant owners, such as access to a reservation calendar or the possibility of offering exclusive promotions.

Why it is essential : TheFork not only allows you to fill your tables, but also to reach an ultra-large audience that uses the application to discover new restaurants. On the SEO side, it is also essential!

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yelp‍

Yelp is the leading application in the United States. Here, users can leave reviews, add photos, and see reviews from other customers.

Why it is essential : A good presence on Yelp greatly improves your online reputation and increases the number of visitors to your restaurant. You are also sending positive signals to the Google algorithm that sees you as well known in the United States.

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Facebook Business

Facebook is not just a social network! The Facebook Business tool allows you to create a professional page for your restaurant, interact with your customers, and share menus, photos, and events. It's also a great tool for targeted advertising.

Why it is essential : With millions of active users every day, Facebook is a direct communication channel with your potential customers.

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Foursquare

Foursquare is a social recommendation platform that allows users to discover restaurants through recommendations based on their location. Users can leave reviews, photos, and rate the establishments they visit.

Why it is essential : Foursquare is particularly popular among tech-savvy and young users. Being present on this platform makes it possible to capture a connected, but above all, knowledgeable audience, who easily share personalized recommendations.

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Mapstr

Mapstr is an application (but also a social network) that allows users to create and share personalized maps of their favorite restaurants. Users can follow other people's maps to discover their selections of favorite places.

Why it is essential : Mapstr is ideal for attracting customers looking for personalized recommendations. An active presence on the application also promotes your chances of being spotted by influencers.

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Resy

Resy is an online reservation platform for restaurants. It also offers customer relationship management tools and solutions to optimize bookings.

Why it is essential : Widely used in big cities and for gastronomic establishments, Resy is still a way to get more bookings, while boosting your SEO.

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Apple Business Connect

Apple Business Connect allows restaurant owners to manage their presence on Apple cards and iOS devices. This includes updating property information, managing reviews, and adding photos.

Why it is essential : Being well referenced on Apple Maps is crucial to attracting users of iPhone and other Apple products.

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Around Me

Around Me is an application that helps users find restaurants and other establishments near them. The app shows what's around the user, with information and reviews about each location.

Why it is essential : Hyper popular with tourists or curious locals, Around Me increases your chances of attracting local and visiting customers.

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Snapchat

Did you know it? Snapchat offers features for businesses, including restaurants, to connect with users through geofilters And commercials. Users can also share their location when they visit your restaurant.

Why it is essential : Snapchat is particularly effective in targeting a young and connected audience, while attracting customers through innovative advertising campaigns.

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Uber Eats

Uber Eats is the go-to food delivery app! It allows restaurants to reach customers who prefer to order take-out or have them delivered to their homes. The application also offers tools for order management and real-time tracking.

Why it is essential : Delivery has become an essential service to increase your income by diversifying your offer.

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Michelin Restaurant

The Michelin Guide is synonymous with culinary excellence. Being listed in the Michelin Guide, whether in print or on their website, brings great credibility to your restaurant and can attract demanding customers looking for unique gastronomic experiences.

Why it is essential : Recognition by Michelin is a guarantee of quality that can increase your visibility and attract international customers.

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Le Fooding

Fooding is a gastronomic guide Made in France which focuses on modern and trendy restaurants.

Why it is essential : Being listed in Le Fooding is ideal for attracting an influential and knowledgeable clientele in “food”.

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Yellow Pages

Exit the old-fashioned yellow pavement! The Yellow Pages remain a reference for local searches.

Why it is essential : Listing your restaurant on this Yellow Pages is a huge boost for local SEO.

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The Internet user

L'Internaute is a popular online portal in France, which offers guides to the best restaurants in France. Being referenced on L'Internaute helps you gain visibility, especially among a French audience looking for reliable opinions and recommendations.

Why it is essential : The Internet user is often consulted by users looking for local recommendations. Once again, ideal for improving your ultra-local referencing.

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Le Petit Futé

Le Petit Futé is THE French tourist guide that covers a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from gastronomic addresses to small local canteens.

Why it is essential : Le Petit Futé is very popular with travelers and locals, which increases the visibility of your restaurant and its online referencing.

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Time Out

Time Out is an urban guide that highlights the best restaurants, bars and events in the world's major cities.

Why it is essential : Time Out is particularly influential in large cities, which makes it an excellent channel for attracting “foodist” customers and a way to improve your SEO abroad. ,

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Justacoté‍

As the name suggests, Justacote is a French platform where users can recommend local restaurants. Establishments can be rated and commented on by customers.

Why it is essential : Justacoté is ideal for connecting with neighborhood customers, thus strengthening their presence and reputation in the community.

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Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa allows users to search for nearby restaurants via voice commands. By integrating your restaurant into this platform, you make your establishment accessible to users of connected devices who prefer voice searches.

Why it is essential : With the rise of voice assistants, being listed on Amazon Alexa allows you to capture a new audience that uses voice search to find restaurants. This is what we call referencing on “long tail” (long sentences like”find a vegan brunch with a terrace nearby”.

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Around Me

Around Me is an application that helps users find restaurants around them. The app shows what's around the user, with information and reviews about each location.

Why it is essential : Around Me is a popular app for on-the-go users looking for a place to eat fast. Being listed increases your chances of attracting local and visiting customers.

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yandex

Yandex is the most used search engine in Russia. It offers a mapping and location service similar to Google Maps. Being listed on Yandex can help attract Russian customers, especially tourists.

Why it is essential : If your restaurant attracts an international clientele, especially Russian ones, being present on Yandex is crucial to capture this market. On the other hand, referencing, once again, you are telling Google that you are listed internationally!

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Navmii

Navmii is a navigation application that also includes points of interest, including restaurants. Being listed on Navmii allows users to discover your establishment when they are looking for places to eat en route.

Why it is essential : Navmii users are often on the go. Being present on this platform can help you attract passing customers.

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Mapquest

Mapquest is an online mapping service that offers information about restaurants and other points of interest. Users can search for restaurants and get directions to them.

Why it is essential : Being present on Mapquest is complementary to Google Maps! This can help attract users who prefer this service to Google Maps.

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Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a neighborhood social network that allows residents to share local restaurant recommendations.

Why it is essential : Restaurant owners can sign up to interact directly with a local community and receive recommendations.

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tomtom

TomTom, famous for its GPS navigation systems, also offers information on points of interest, including restaurants. Being listed on TomTom can help users find your restaurant using their GPS devices.

Why it is essential : For local referencing, but also to attract GPS users.

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118000.fr

118000.fr is a French online directory well known for its advertisements. Being present on this platform makes it possible to improve the visibility of your restaurant among users looking for local services.

Why it is essential : 118000.fr remains relevant for local searches. Being listed there can help attract customers who prefer local services.

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Opendi

Opendi is an online directory that lists local businesses in numerous sectors, including catering. Registering on Opendi makes it possible to reach customers who use this directory to find restaurants.

Why it is essential : Like most online directories, Opendi is a useful tool for improving your restaurant's online presence.

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Yalwa

Yalwa is an international online directory network that lists local businesses in a wide range of sectors, including catering, professional services, retail, and more. Founded in 2006, Yalwa is present in more than 60 countries and allows businesses to create an online profile to increase their visibility. Users can search for businesses by category or location, making it easy to discover nearby establishments.

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Why it is essential : By being listed on Yalwa, your restaurant can increase its visibility in more than 60 countries.

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Dianping

Dianping is one of the largest online recommendation and booking platforms in China. Often described as “Chinese Yelp,” it allows users to search for restaurants, read reviews, and book tables. As a restaurant owner, being listed on Dianping allows you to reach a vast Chinese audience, whether residents or tourists.

Why it is essential : If you attract Chinese customers or if you are located in a tourist city, being present on Dianping is essential!

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Mango Plate

Mango Plate is the reference application in South Korea for finding restaurants. It offers restaurant reviews, recommendations based on user preferences, and geolocation features to find nearby establishments.

Why it is essential : For restaurant owners looking to attract Korean customers or who are located in areas frequented by South Korean tourists, being present on Mango Plate is a great way to improve your visibility.

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Malou

Malou is THE digital solution that helps restaurant owners improve their local referencing, manage their social networks and optimize their e-reputation. The application, the MalouApp, makes it possible to automate many tasks related to the management of the online presence, while offering tools to analyze and improve the digital performance of your restaurant.

Why it is essential : To save time, customers and money!

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