It's been a big year for restaurant reservation site OpenTable: First the company was acquired for $2.6 billion by Priceline, and now it has launched a completely redesigned site. The updated website features a much cleaner look and interface, with an emphasis on images from the restaurants. OpenTable notes that the new site features faster and more streamlined search capabilities, making it easier to find menus, special offers, and visible reviews. Best of all, OpenTable users can also invite friends to the reservation, as well as add the reservation to their personal calendars through the website.
It appears as if OpenTable may be readying itself for legitimate competition in the form of restaurateur Nick Kokonas's Tock. Kokonas recently proclaimed to Eater that his ticketing and reservation system "can do everything OpenTable can do, and then some." OpenTable currently provides reservations for nearly 32,000 restaurants, but Tock has already managed to convert some big name chefs who currently use the OpenTable platform, including Thomas Keller. While OpenTable may be fighting a losing battle on the restaurant end, perhaps the redesign is a ploy to keep diners happy.