Philly Steakout ranks the city's top 25 cheesesteak restaurants by volume of Foursquare check-ins. Simply put, the more check-ins each establishment gets, the higher it ranks on the homepage.
Foursquare's API also gave us access to each users' hometown. Now we could identify each check-in as being performed by a local Philadelphian or an out-of-towner. This tourist versus local breakdown was displayed on the site, and visitors could now choose to eat with the masses at a tourist destination, or find the secret spot where locals chow down.
Throw in Yelp ratings, foursquare tips and Google maps and suddenly you have a one stop website to help you make your next cheesesteak experience the best yet.PhillySteakout.com uses foursquare data in a truly unique way and proves that a check-in can go far beyond unlocking a badge or special. By capturing check-ins as "votes" we rank Philadelphia's top 25 cheesesteak joints by their total check-in volume. Providing a whole new spin on where to find the best cheesesteak in a city overrun with options.
However, one of the most unique features of Philly Steakout is the tourist versus local breakdown for each restaurant. By accessing the hometown of each users' foursquare profile we were able to categorize each check-in as being performed by a local or a tourist (someone whose hometown was outside the designated 20 mile "local" radius). At a glance visitors to the site can see if they are going to be surrounded by camera-toting out-of-towners, or local Philadelphians while eating their next steak.
We integrated Yelp ratings to offer visitors a balance of qualitative and quantitative data sources. What rose to the surface with this additional data point was fascinating. We noticed higher quality marks on the restaurants dominated by locals, as opposed to poor ratings where the masses flock. This discovery would not have been possible if we had stuck to a simple ranking on overall check-in volume.
Additional functionality includes hourly breakdown on visitor volume, Google Maps integration, and foursquare photos and tips. We also created a companion mobile site that is perfect for on-the-go users. The result is a site experience that appeals to cheesesteak newbies and aficionados alike.
www.phillysteakout.com
