Paradine Looks to Make Dining Reviews Personal

A new app is looking to give Yelp (NYSE:YELP) a run for its money.

“Paradine”, which launched in the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS App Store Thursday, lets you connect with friends, clients and coworkers to see where they like to eat, instead of relying on online reviews written by strangers.

Paradine founder Jake Farmakis has a simple, yet powerful, pitch: “More than 98% of the friends and colleagues I’ve asked over the past 18 months have said they would much rather go with a friend’s recommendation. Paradine is a tool that makes that process easier," he told FOX Business.

Farmakis describes the app as "LinkedIn meets Foursquare.”

“Paradine saves travelers from having to dig through thousands of online reviews written by strangers or sending emails to friends requesting ideas for where to take a client out for a business dinner," he said.

"When you or your colleagues recommend a restaurant on Paradine, it will instantly be saved, ready whenever you need it.”

Farmakis, a former salesman at Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), said he and his co-founder came up with the idea when they noticed how often their colleagues were struggling with online review sites when traveling for work.

“While dining, business relationships are created, deals are closed, and milestones are celebrated. Choosing the right restaurant can be key to a successful occasion," he said.

He affirmed his vision by speaking to a handful of executives at big-name firms like Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), EMC (NYSE:EMC), and even angel investors, like Sierra Maya Ventures.

He went on to say how several Fortune 1000 companies have already committed to giving Paradine a shot, and once they do, he is confident they’ll recommend it to their friends and colleagues.