January 2026 · 3 min read
Every listing on SpoonZoom goes through a direct verification process. Here is exactly how it works, and what our badges mean in practice.
SpoonZoom does not pull data from review sites, menus, or third-party sources. Every piece of dietary information on this site was provided directly by the restaurant. We reach out via Instagram or email, introduce what we are building, and ask if they would like to be listed. If they agree, we send them our survey.
Our survey asks about 11 dietary categories: gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, soy-free, shellfish-free, vegan, vegetarian, low-FODMAP, halal, and kosher. For each category, we ask whether the restaurant can adapt dishes on request, has dedicated menu options, or maintains a fully safe kitchen with separate preparation and no cross-contamination. We also ask specific practical questions — for example, whether they use a shared fryer (a key risk for gluten-free diners) or whether plant milk is available for drinks.
A restaurant receives a Verified badge only after completing the full survey. The dietary tags you see on their listing reflect what they told us. A Contacted badge means we have been in touch and are waiting for their responses — the listing shows them as present in our directory, but no dietary claims are made until verification is complete. We believe this distinction matters: showing unverified information as if it were fact could put someone with a serious allergy at risk.
Menus change. Kitchens change. Ownership changes. We follow up with verified restaurants periodically to confirm their information is still accurate. If you visit a SpoonZoom-listed restaurant and notice something has changed, please let us know via the notes field on our restaurant survey form.