ZAGAT

No snobby restaurant critics here. ZAGAT (rhymes with "the cat") Survey publishes restaurant guides based on the reviews of about 350,000 connoisseurs who take part in its surveys on more than 30,000 restaurants in some 100 countries. Its approach separately rates the distinct qualities of a restaurant (food, decor, service, and cost) based on a 30-point scale. Content is available in books, online, and on mobile devices. The company has expanded to review cities, nightspots, hotels, and leisure activities. ZAGAT was founded in 1979 by husband-and-wife team Tim and Nina Zagat with the publication of its flagship title, Zagat NYC Restaurant Survey. Internet search giant Google acquired the firm in 2011.