Zomato’s New Experiment: Personalised ‘Match Score’ Instead of Ratings
This new system, proposed by Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, would recommend eateries based on individual taste preferences rather than mass reviews.
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has proposed a major shift in how users discover restaurants on the platform, replacing traditional ratings with a personalized "match score." This new system would recommend eateries based on individual taste preferences rather than mass reviews.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Goyal explained the rationale: “We all have different tastes in food — so why rely on the same restaurant ratings? Internally, at Zomato, we have been trying out personalized ‘match scores’ instead of traditional restaurant ratings, and we’re loving it.” He added that the system reduces bias from mass opinions, leading to more relevant discoveries.
The proposal sparked mixed reactions. Some users welcomed the idea, saying it could enhance dining experiences. “I’m often disappointed when a highly-rated restaurant doesn’t align with my taste. Personalized match scores could help me find hidden gems,” one user wrote.
However, others raised concerns about algorithmic over-reliance and potential commercial bias. “You might not do it today, but tomorrow you can take advertising money and push certain restaurants,” cautioned a user. Some also feared “familiarity bias,” arguing that personalized scores could limit exposure to new cuisines.
A hybrid model emerged as a popular suggestion. “This could work if combined with traditional ratings. Like Netflix, Zomato could show personal match scores alongside trending spots and user ratings,” one commenter proposed.
As Zomato continues to test this feature internally, the debate highlights the balance between personalization and broad-based discovery in online dining platforms.
