Zagat was acquired by Google in September 2011 - a countermove to the rising popularity of Yelp (which the iPhone's Siri application currently mines for its restaurant recommendations).
The Zagat reviews cover food quality, service and decor on a 30-point scale. The company had charged a $5 monthly fee or $25 annual subscription fee for access to the 35,000 restaurants in its database. According to the Associated Press story, Google may eliminate the $10 fee for the iPhone or iPad application version of Zagat. The burgundy dining guides that have been printed since 1979 will continue to roll off the printing presses.
The Zagat announcement accompanies Google's decision to roll out "Google+ Local," designed to allow you to see recommendations from friends within your Google+ network and Zagat reviews on Google Maps.
