Mr.Taster
Business design and project management for Mr.Taster, an AI-powered restaurant discovery platform for Dubai’s restaurants and tourism, built on a brand with 4M+ social followers and covering the food culture of 40+ countries. The Android app, iOS app, web app and website were built end to end with our own programming team.
Business Design | Project Management | AI-Powered Search | Digital Transformation | Product Strategy
Case study
The problem
The original goal was a system for introducing restaurants. After analysis and feasibility work in Dubai it became clear that food-ordering apps were everywhere, but no app introduced a restaurant fully, with a proper description, photos and video. Our competitive advantage was the Mr.Taster brand itself.
My role
- Market analysis and feasibility study in Dubai, and defining the product’s position
- Business design and project management of the new version, with the decision that the app should be “the voice of Mr.Taster”
- Defining the content workflow: written analysis, photos and video for restaurants and Mr.Taster visits
- Designing a Mr.Taster seal of approval for restaurants
- Adding an AI chat built on Mr.Taster’s way of answering, and redesigning the user interface
- Building the Mr.Taster Android app, iOS app, web app and website end to end with our own programming team
The result
- Instead of a dry list of restaurants, the app presents an analysis, photos and video for each one.
- Users can search from any element and, with the AI chat, feel as if they are consulting Mr.Taster himself.
- This made the app far more attractive and created a clear difference and competitive advantage.
- The interface changes made the software more appealing and easier to use.
- The product was built in full on four platforms: Android app, iOS app, web app and website.
Project Overview
Mr.Taster is an internationally recognized food discovery and digital marketing brand with a social media audience of more than 4 million followers. Over more than a decade, the brand has introduced audiences to the flavors, culinary traditions, and dining experiences of over 40 countries, building its reputation through distinctive storytelling, creative content, and a deep connection with food culture.
Building on this established global presence, Mr.Taster expanded beyond social media into digital product development with the launch of an AI-powered restaurant discovery platform designed around Dubai’s dynamic restaurant scene and tourism ecosystem.
The platform brings restaurant discovery, exclusive offers, and expert-led food journalism into a single digital experience. Users can explore restaurant listings, discover special deals, and access detailed editorial reviews produced by Mr.Taster, available in both written and video formats. This enables users to make more informed dining decisions by understanding a restaurant’s atmosphere, culinary offering, and overall experience before visiting.
My Role: Business Designer & Project Manager
I was responsible for the business design and project management of this initiative, helping translate the Mr.Taster brand vision into a digital product with a clear business purpose, user value proposition, and potential for regional expansion.
My contribution focused on connecting business objectives, product functionality, user experience, and the broader digital ecosystem. The project required a strategic approach to transforming an established content-driven brand into an interactive platform that serves both consumers looking for dining experiences and restaurants seeking greater visibility.
A key aspect of the initiative was aligning the platform’s discovery capabilities, editorial content, and commercial opportunities within one coherent product experience.
The app
Mr.Taster app walkthrough
Walkthrough of the Mr.Taster AI app: AI-powered restaurant discovery, listings and offers for Dubai.
Key Product Capabilities
AI-Powered Discovery
An intelligent search and conversational experience designed to help users discover relevant restaurants and obtain useful answers to their dining-related queries.
Comprehensive Restaurant Listings
A centralized discovery experience for exploring restaurants across Dubai.
Exclusive Offers
A dedicated way for users to discover special restaurant deals and promotions available through the platform.
Expert Editorial Reviews
Original written and video reports by Mr.Taster, providing richer context beyond conventional restaurant listings.
Content-Driven Discovery
Integration of the brand’s storytelling expertise into the restaurant discovery journey.
Scalable Digital Platform
A product foundation designed to support future geographic expansion and the evolution of the wider Mr.Taster ecosystem.
Business Vision & Regional Expansion
The platform is currently operating in a pilot phase in Dubai, providing a foundation for further development and market validation. Its longer-term vision is to expand across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, extending the experience to a broader regional audience and restaurant ecosystem.
This expansion creates opportunities to connect restaurant discovery, tourism, digital content, and AI-assisted search within a scalable regional platform.
Why This Project Matters
Mr.Taster represents an important intersection of business strategy, digital transformation, content innovation, and applied artificial intelligence.
For me, the project demonstrates how an established international brand can evolve beyond its traditional digital channels into a technology-enabled product with new user experiences and business opportunities.
My role in shaping the business and managing the project reflects my approach to digital transformation: connecting technology with business objectives, translating ideas into structured product initiatives, and building digital experiences designed for real users and scalable business growth.
Mr.Taster | AI-Powered Restaurant Discovery Platform
Led business design and project management for an AI-powered restaurant discovery platform built around Dubai’s restaurant and tourism ecosystem. The platform combines intelligent search, restaurant listings, exclusive offers, and expert-led video and written reviews, transforming an established global food media brand into an interactive digital product. Currently in its Dubai pilot phase, the platform is designed with future expansion across GCC markets in mind.
- My role
- Business Designer & Project Manager
- Focus areas
- Business Design, Product Strategy, Project Management, AI-Powered Search, Digital Transformation.
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