[ibimage==46467==Original==none==self==ibimage_align-center]Reserve, the app that allows users to easily reserve a seat at a restaurant that suits them, announced today it is launching in Chicago. In a blog post on the site, Reserve CEO and co-founder Greg Hong called this launch the company’s biggest yet. Reserve is starting with 20 restaurants in Chicago.
The app, which is available to download from the App Store and Google Play, operates in Boston, L.A., San Francisco, and New York (its headquarters). After entering a few details, users are provided a curated list of restaurants based on atmosphere, menu, cuisine, and more. Reserve functions as a payment app, as well.
At the conclusion of the meal, users who use Reserve are automatically charged the cost of the meal, tip and the $5 “concierge fee,” making payment seamless and simple. The app also recommends restaurants for users to try in the future.
“At Reserve, we’ve been focused on bringing our dining concierge service to more people and more partners in more places,” Hong said in his blog post. “So we’re thrilled to announce that starting today, hungry Chicagoans can now use Reserve at more than 20 amazing restaurants in The Windy City.”
The restaurants included in the Chicago launch are Acanto, Ani, Arami, Bin 36, The Boarding House, Celeste, Dusek’s Board and Beer, Formento’s, Farmhouse, Geja’s Cafe, Homestead on the Roof, Le Colonial, Lula Cafe, Mercadito, Nightwood, The Promontory, Sepia, Tippling Hall, The Gage, The Dawson, The Kitchen, and Trencherman.
In February, Reserve closed a $15 million Series A round, which was led by Human Ventures Capital and Expa. Celebrities Jared Leto, Jon Favreau, and Will.i.am. contributed, as well. The Series A round brought Reserve’s total funding to $17.3 million. Prior to the Chicago launch, Reserve worked with 110 restaurants in its markets.
“When you're really busy, even small things matter, like the number of taps it takes to complete a task,” said CEO and co-founder Greg Hong said in an interview with Built In LA. “We want to make sure the solutions that we build make things easier for our partners.”
The Chicago launch announcement comes a week after Reserve announced it is acquiring Santa Monica-based HAIL, a payment technology startup, and zurvu, an online reservation service.
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