Google is yet again showing off its prowess as the organizer of the internet. The company recently announced on
their blog that restaurant menus would be available through Google search. Users searching for a restaurant can search for "menu for Johnny's Harborside", or even use Google voice search by saying,
"show me the menu for Tramonti". The menu will appear in a box above the usual search results, complete with organized categories and descriptions of dishes. This kind of maneuver definitely fits with Google's mission of cataloging everything on the internet for easy access, adding to the list of information it presents. Now you can search for menus to plan a night out, check the weather, and get driving directions, all without leaving the main Google search page.
It is not entirely clear where Google is sourcing the menu information.
The Verge reports that the search giant is pulling menus from
"an unnamed partner", however,
Lifehacker notes that the results appear to be coming from
AllMenus.com. Whatever the case, it is clear that the new function is a work in progress. Of the 5 restaurants in my area that I searched for (all listed on
AllMenus.com), Google was only able to pull in the menu from 2 selections. The other caveat, as
Eater.com notes, is that drinks menus do not seem to be included in the presented results.
As the source of these menu results is not entire clear, it is difficult to say where restauranteurs should post their menus in order to be included. It is safe to say, the easier it is for customers to see your offerings, the more likely they will be to visit. Make sure your menu is available on your restaurant or bar's website (not in PDF form, that isn't smartphone friendly), and for added coverage, it can't hurt to make your menu available on Yelp, Foursquare as well Allmenus.com.
So restauranteurs, what do you think? Does easier access to menus mean more people coming through the doors, or is Google taking away your opportunity to show off your website? Let us know what you think via Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Source:
Google
Tablebases.com
