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Listen "Avi Goren: AI, Authenticity and How Restaurants Get Found Online"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii — a leading platform helping restaurants manage their digital presence and reputation. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are reshaping discoverability in hospitality, from SEO and generative search to the role of accurate listings, reviews, and menus across every online channel.
Avi shares insights from Marqii’s latest research showing where AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull restaurant data, why consistency across listings still drives local SEO, and how AI-powered review responses can enhance guest engagement without losing the human touch. The conversation explores open vs. closed systems, the future of restaurant tech consolidation, and why true digital hospitality means blending technology with authenticity.
Throughout, Avi emphasizes that while AI can streamline and scale a brand’s online presence, great restaurants — and great technology partners — always lead with hospitality.
Episode Links:
Visit Marqii online: https://www.marqii.com/
Connect with Avi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avigoren
Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler
00:00 Intro
01:18 Welcome, Avi Goren!
02:10 The Foundations of Being Found Online
05:15 The Problem with Inconsistent Menus Across Platforms
07:10 Marqii’s Role in Unifying Digital Presence
08:18 “Best” Searches and Review Scores in Google
09:55 Using Reviews to Improve Search Visibility
10:55 How Generative AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) Works
10:31 What AI Chatbots Pull From: Listings vs. Websites vs. Reviews
12:15 Why Listings and Websites Still Matter Most
14:51 Inputs and Outputs: Social Media vs. Foundational SEO
17:45 What AI Weighs More Than Traditional SEO
20:02 Open vs. Closed Search Systems Explained
20:36 Social Media Strategy: The Lottery Ticket Analogy
22:09 Authenticity, Reviews, and Real Restaurant Success
23:11 Can AI Help Us Find Hidden Gems Like Small BBQ Spots?
26:16 How to Influence Reviews Without “Faking” It
27:44 Why You Should Mention LTOs in Review Replies
29:14 How Marqii Uses Claude AI to Automate Review Responses
33:24 Writing Prompts and Maintaining Brand Voice
34:48 How Marqii Scales Customization for 20,000+ Restaurants
38:09 Will Real Human Touch Still Matter in a Digital World?
42:52 How COVID Changed Restaurant Tech Priorities
46:33 Why Open APIs and Integrations Are the Future
48:20 Collaboration Over Competition in Restaurant Tech
49:27 What Drove Marqii’s Growth to 20,000 Restaurants
53:25 The Turning Point: From Three Employees to 55+
54:53 Rebuilding Marqii’s Product for Customization
55:55 Staying Focused on Hospitality, Not Just Tech
57:52 What Keeps Avi Up at Night: Staying Ahead of the Industry
58:56 Where the Puck Is Going: Marqii’s Roadmap
59:30 AI Analytics, Data Insights & the Future of Discoverability
1:00:45 Closing Thoughts: Human Hospitality in a Digital Age
Avi shares insights from Marqii’s latest research showing where AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull restaurant data, why consistency across listings still drives local SEO, and how AI-powered review responses can enhance guest engagement without losing the human touch. The conversation explores open vs. closed systems, the future of restaurant tech consolidation, and why true digital hospitality means blending technology with authenticity.
Throughout, Avi emphasizes that while AI can streamline and scale a brand’s online presence, great restaurants — and great technology partners — always lead with hospitality.
Episode Links:
Visit Marqii online: https://www.marqii.com/
Connect with Avi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avigoren
Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler
00:00 Intro
01:18 Welcome, Avi Goren!
02:10 The Foundations of Being Found Online
05:15 The Problem with Inconsistent Menus Across Platforms
07:10 Marqii’s Role in Unifying Digital Presence
08:18 “Best” Searches and Review Scores in Google
09:55 Using Reviews to Improve Search Visibility
10:55 How Generative AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) Works
10:31 What AI Chatbots Pull From: Listings vs. Websites vs. Reviews
12:15 Why Listings and Websites Still Matter Most
14:51 Inputs and Outputs: Social Media vs. Foundational SEO
17:45 What AI Weighs More Than Traditional SEO
20:02 Open vs. Closed Search Systems Explained
20:36 Social Media Strategy: The Lottery Ticket Analogy
22:09 Authenticity, Reviews, and Real Restaurant Success
23:11 Can AI Help Us Find Hidden Gems Like Small BBQ Spots?
26:16 How to Influence Reviews Without “Faking” It
27:44 Why You Should Mention LTOs in Review Replies
29:14 How Marqii Uses Claude AI to Automate Review Responses
33:24 Writing Prompts and Maintaining Brand Voice
34:48 How Marqii Scales Customization for 20,000+ Restaurants
38:09 Will Real Human Touch Still Matter in a Digital World?
42:52 How COVID Changed Restaurant Tech Priorities
46:33 Why Open APIs and Integrations Are the Future
48:20 Collaboration Over Competition in Restaurant Tech
49:27 What Drove Marqii’s Growth to 20,000 Restaurants
53:25 The Turning Point: From Three Employees to 55+
54:53 Rebuilding Marqii’s Product for Customization
55:55 Staying Focused on Hospitality, Not Just Tech
57:52 What Keeps Avi Up at Night: Staying Ahead of the Industry
58:56 Where the Puck Is Going: Marqii’s Roadmap
59:30 AI Analytics, Data Insights & the Future of Discoverability
1:00:45 Closing Thoughts: Human Hospitality in a Digital Age
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