Sometimes it's nice not to have to do a bunch of research on where to eat while traveling — especially on a last-minute trip somewhere you haven't been before. Fortunately, there's a new application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that puts restaurant recommendations at your fingertips. Local Eats is a compact version of WhereTheLocalsEat.com dining guides. It contains an easily searchable database of the top 100 restaurants as chosen by local foodies in 50 American cities. Restaurants range from diners to fine dining, from Chinese to French, so you won't be stuck with just the most expensive places.
The restaurant entries are searchable alphabetically or by cuisine, and in some cities by neighborhood as well. Each listing includes contact info, price range, reviews, a link to a website if the restaurant has one, and directions via Google Maps. A GPS feature lets you search for what's close by wherever you are: Near the W Atlanta Midtown, for instance, it recommends Tamarind Seed Thai Bistro, South City Kitchen and Einstein's, all excellent choices within blocks of the hotel.
While you might quibble with some of the selections in your own home town (I wouldn't rate all six Billy Goat locations in Chicago as having the "best burgers"), when you're in an unfamiliar city looking for food, Local Eats is a great place to start — and it's right in your pocket.
