Help & FAQ

How do I start a search?

Open Spotbite and tap the search field at the bottom. Just type what you’re craving – for example “I want a good pizza, not too expensive” or “great sushi nearby”. The AI understands natural language and finds the right restaurant for you.

What can I ask the AI?

Anything related to food and restaurants. Examples:

• “Great breakfast nearby”
• “Vegan restaurant, not too far”
• “Something special for a date”
• “Quick lunch under 10 euros”

Why do I only get one recommendation?

That’s the concept of Spotbite: Instead of showing you 47 results to scroll through, the AI recommends the one perfect spot based on your query, location, and preferences. You can always start a new search for more recommendations.

How does the map view work?

The map shows your current location and the recommended restaurant as a pin. You can see the search radius as a visual area around your location.

How do I navigate to the restaurant?

Tap the “Take me there” button on the restaurant card. Spotbite opens Apple Maps with directions to the restaurant.

How do I change the search radius?

Go to Settings → Search Radius. You can set the radius between 200 meters and 2 kilometers. A visual indicator on the map shows your current search area.

How does the AI work?

Spotbite uses Google Gemini to understand your natural language query. The AI combines your query with your location and saved preferences (diet, budget) to find the best restaurant near you via the Google Places API.

Can I see more suggestions?

Yes. If the first recommendation doesn’t appeal to you, just start a new search or rephrase your query.

The AI recommendation doesn’t match my query.

Try making your query more specific, for example: “Italian, not pizza, more upscale” instead of just “Italian”. The more precise your description, the better the recommendation.

How do I set my dietary preferences?

Go to Settings → Dietary Preferences. You can set the following options:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Lactose-free
• Allergies and intolerances

The AI takes these settings into account for all future recommendations.

Can I set a budget?

Yes. You can set budget preferences in settings or mention it directly in your search query (e.g. “not too expensive” or “under 15 euros”).

How do I save a restaurant as a favorite?

Tap the heart icon on the restaurant detail page. The restaurant is saved to your favorites list and accessible via Settings → Favorites.

Are my favorites synced?

Yes, if you’re signed in with an account and cloud sync is enabled. Your favorites will be available on all your devices.

Do I need an account?

No. Spotbite works fully without an account. An account is only needed if you want to sync your data across devices.

How do I sign in?

You can register via Sign in with Apple. Apple optionally creates a relay email address to protect your real email.

How do I delete my account?

Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account. This permanently removes all cloud data. Local data remains on your device until you uninstall the app.

What data is used?

Spotbite uses your location and search queries to recommend restaurants. Your location is only accessed while actively using the app – no background tracking.

Can I revoke location permission?

Yes. Go to iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Spotbite. Note that the app cannot provide location-based recommendations without location access.

Are my search queries stored?

Your search history is stored locally on your device. Queries sent to Google Gemini are not permanently stored by us.

The AI isn’t responding or takes very long.

1. Check your internet connection
2. Restart the app
3. AI services (Google Gemini) may be temporarily busy – try again after a few minutes

My location isn’t detected.

1. Make sure Location Services are enabled for Spotbite (iOS Settings → Privacy → Location Services)
2. Check for GPS reception (works better outdoors)
3. Restart the app

No restaurants found near me.

Increase the search radius in settings. In rural areas, restaurant density may be lower. Also try a more general search query.

How do I clear my search history?

Go to Settings → Clear Search History. This removes all locally stored search queries.