Choosing between New York City’s nearly 25,000 restaurants can be overwhelming. The pressure is exceptionally high when trying to impress a first date (or investor) or entertain family from out of town. A new app launched over the weekend to address precisely that.
The Scene App Overview
The Scene, an iOS-only “pocket concierge service,” uses machine learning to match users with dining, drinking, and dancing spots in NYC. The app pulls recommendations for users based on various factors, including the type of event they’re planning for (dinner, brunch, drinks, etc.), the type of outing (date, birthday, anniversary, or other special occasions), cuisine preferences, size of the party, budget, date, time, and neighborhood.
App Key Features
One standout feature is The Scene’s “Vibe” setting, which allows users to discover highly specific suggestions like “Instagrammable” clubs, rooftop restaurants, or bars with good music, letting users curate their preferred ambiance. The app then lists options, descriptions, reservation times, hours of operation, a link to the menu or website, and more.
Background and Development
The Scene launched as a web platform in 2021, gaining around 12,800 users. Its creators hope to reach more NYC-based users in app form. The service was founded by Ridhima Kalani, a former personal concierge who assisted clients in India, Singapore, Dubai, and London for a decade. When she arrived in NYC, Kalani noticed a “serious gap in the market when it came to the social planning process,” she told TOPCLAPS.
Democratizing Demand App
Kalani emphasizes that people love finding lesser-known spots. A significant point of The Scene is that it is about democratizing the overall demand for restaurants in NYC and creating more long-term consistent demand for unfamiliar spots. She explains that the app rules out uncertainties by matching users with their exact vibe preferences, eliminating the guesswork.
Coverage and Expansion
The app offers 550 spots located around Manhattan and Brooklyn, ranging from popular places like Hearsay, Little Sister, Le Bain, Somewhere Nowhere, and Jack’s Wife Freda to “underrated” gems such as Arte Cafe, Mémé, Pastai, and more. About 100 restaurants in Queens will also be offered. The Scene plans to launch in 22 additional cities over the next five years.
Differentiation from Competitors
With its hyper-personalization, Kalani believes The Scene differentiates itself from direct competitors Bucket Listers and Secret NYC and restaurant reservation apps OpenTable and Resy. The Scene offers a broader selection than restaurant reservation apps, including custom recommendations for clubs and other nightlife activities.
App Future Enhancements
The app is currently limited in features but will gradually introduce AI-powered capabilities. For instance, The Scene is building a recommendation search engine trained to understand natural language, such as “Dinner in Soho at 7 pm on Saturday for 4 ppl.” The model comprehends that “ppl” means people. It’s also developing an AI concierge chatbot that can act as a private assistant for users, offering a personalized conversational experience. Kalani recently hired Arneesh Aima (Chief Technology Officer) and iOS Developer Anagha Jayaprakah to help with app development.
