Chow down
Using Live Search to find the perfect restaurant
By Tatsuo Yamada
I like to eat. It’s something I'm not ashamed to admit. From the simple goodness of a corn dog at the county fair to the complex nuances of fresh uni (raw sea urchin, to the uninitiated), my palate appreciates it all. Well, usually.
Although the list of cuisines I’ve tried is long and varied, it is by no means comprehensive. For me, trying new foods is an exciting prospect and a great way to discover new cultures. More often than not, however, after I get an idea for my next dining adventure I just don’t know where to start. That’s where Live Search can help.
What about Ethiopian?
Recently, I decided I’d like to try a new kind of food. As I began my search I knew two things: I wanted to eat Ethiopian food, and I didn’t know of any Ethiopian restaurants. With that in mind I opened Live Search, typed “Ethiopian restaurants Seattle, WA” into the search box, and pressed Enter. In a fraction of a second Live Search worked its magic and presented me a list of results.
The first result at the top of the page was exactly what I was looking for: Top local listings for Ethiopian Restaurants near Seattle, Washington. Clicking on the link opened a page listing all the matching restaurants in the greater Seattle area, as well as a map that showed their locations.
It was a good starting point, but I needed to know more. Which restaurants were good? Which dishes should I try? Before even taking a bite, I knew that the very future of my relationship with Ethiopian food hung in the balance. A great experience would leave me clamoring for more, but a bad experience could potentially lead me to swear off ethnic foods forever. Well, maybe for a month. Luckily, Live Search had information to help me make this crucial decision.
Looking for food in all the right places
Clicking on Go to Live Search Maps on the results page opened a new world of restaurant exploration for me. All of the restaurants were ordered by distance in a list in the left column. Pointing to the name of a restaurant (or the number next to it), highlighted the corresponding marker on the map to the right, showing me the exact location of the restaurant.
 |
| Zoom in, view the map in 3D, or see how traffic is flowing using Live Search Maps |
To find more information about a restaurant, I clicked on a name in the list. This opened a page that included the restaurant’s phone number and address, driving directions, user reviews, a neighborhood map, and links to searches for nearby attractions like movie theaters and bars.
 |
| Found a new favorite? Click the Reviews tab and share your dining experience |
After reading the user reviews for different restaurants, I decided on a restaurant in a neighborhood I was already familiar with. There were also several bars and a movie theater nearby in case I needed some post-meal entertainment. With anticipation quietly building inside, I hurriedly invited some friends to share in the experience.
Recruiting and reservations
Eating alone is fine, but I prefer good conversation and good company when I eat something new. It tends to make the experience much more memorable. If the food isn’t to my liking, at least I’ll have friends there to comfort me as I chew antacids.
Going back to the interactive map, I clicked the number next to the restaurant I selected and then clicked Send in e‑mail. This automatically opened my default e‑mail program and created an e‑mail that included the name of the restaurant, address, and a link to the Live Search map. I simply added the e‑mail addresses of my dinner companions and clicked Send. The responses from my friends were immediate and enthusiastic and, to their credit, not skeptical at all.
With some friends on board, it was time to make dinner reservations. I clicked the Call for free link in Live Search Maps and used Windows Live Call to contact the restaurant directly from my computer. No one knew what to expect, but we were all intrigued by what was sure to be a memorable evening.
Check please
I'm happy to report that dinner was fantastic, the conversation uproariously funny, and, as an added bonus, we got to eat with our hands. If you’ve never had Ethiopian food, I highly recommend it. But if you don't think your taste buds are ready, you can easily use Live Search to find other types of restaurants or to try some familiar foods in new places.
Live Search can help you find things other than restaurants. From golf courses to movie theaters, marinas, and museums, all you need to do is type in what you're looking for and the area you want to find it in and Live Search takes care of the rest.
About the author
Tatsuo Yamada is a writer on the Windows team at Microsoft. Before joining Microsoft, he was a freelance technical writer for various software companies in the Seattle area. Outside of the office he enjoys playing mediocre golf, snowboarding awkwardly, and spending time with a dog named Trout.
Have a comment for this columnist? Enter your feedback using the tool below. (You'll see the comment box after you click one of the buttons.) Note that although the columnist will read your feedback, personal replies are not possible due to the volume of feedback received.
Help and How-to
