From mockups to mouthwatering: Designing and building City Garçon without eating the assets
City Garçon set out to solve a deceptively simple but deeply human problem: how to find great food and drinks nearby, with confidence.
Discovering quality spots nearby. Whether exploring a new neighborhood or seeking inspiration close to home, users often struggle to discover food and drink experiences that feel curated, relevant, and visually enticing.
Accessing key decision-making info. Once something looks promising, users want quick access to practical details: menus, location, hours, and ideally, what others think. Presenting all of this in a clean, digestible format was essential.
Visual trust in a visual industry. In food, aesthetics matter. City Garçon needed to go beyond utility to convey atmosphere and flavor, through compelling photography and elegant design.
Personalization and saving favorites. Users don’t just browse, they build habits. The app needed to offer a way to remember favorite spots, revisit them easily, and begin forming a personalized local map.
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Bonus challenge: building while hungry. For the team, there was one persistent, underappreciated hurdle: developing an interface full of irresistible photography without ordering takeout every 20 minutes. It required restraint, strategic timing, and possibly skipping lunch during UI reviews.
Location-aware discovery. City Garçon uses geolocation to surface high-quality options around the user. This offers instant value for both locals and travelers looking for standout food and drink.
A complete, minimal view of each spot. Every listing includes essentials like menus, hours, contact info, and ratings, everything users need to make confident decisions, presented in a calm and elegant interface.
High-quality visual storytelling. City Garçon’s UI centers around stunning imagery sourced from trusted creators, chefs, photographers, and local influencers. This visual layer not only builds appetite but also credibility.
Save and personalize. Users can mark favorite spots, creating a personalized shortlist that evolves over time, useful for frequent locals and returning visitors alike.
Cross-platform with design at the core. Built as a cross-platform mobile app (iOS + Android), City Garçon’s MVP puts design first. The interface was crafted with the same care as the dishes it showcases, making the experience feel refined, intuitive, and as beautiful as the food itself.
City Garçon set out to solve a deceptively simple but deeply human problem: how to find great food and drinks nearby, with confidence.
Discovering quality spots nearby. Whether exploring a new neighborhood or seeking inspiration close to home, users often struggle to discover food and drink experiences that feel curated, relevant, and visually enticing.
Accessing key decision-making info. Once something looks promising, users want quick access to practical details: menus, location, hours, and ideally, what others think. Presenting all of this in a clean, digestible format was essential.
Visual trust in a visual industry. In food, aesthetics matter. City Garçon needed to go beyond utility to convey atmosphere and flavor, through compelling photography and elegant design.
Personalization and saving favorites. Users don’t just browse, they build habits. The app needed to offer a way to remember favorite spots, revisit them easily, and begin forming a personalized local map.
Bonus challenge: building while hungry. For the team, there was one persistent, underappreciated hurdle: developing an interface full of irresistible photography without ordering takeout every 20 minutes. It required restraint, strategic timing, and possibly skipping lunch during UI reviews.
Location-aware discovery. City Garçon uses geolocation to surface high-quality options around the user. This offers instant value for both locals and travelers looking for standout food and drink.
A complete, minimal view of each spot. Every listing includes essentials like menus, hours, contact info, and ratings, everything users need to make confident decisions, presented in a calm and elegant interface.
High-quality visual storytelling. City Garçon’s UI centers around stunning imagery sourced from trusted creators, chefs, photographers, and local influencers. This visual layer not only builds appetite but also credibility.
Save and personalize. Users can mark favorite spots, creating a personalized shortlist that evolves over time, useful for frequent locals and returning visitors alike.
Cross-platform with design at the core. Built as a cross-platform mobile app (iOS + Android), City Garçon’s MVP puts design first. The interface was crafted with the same care as the dishes it showcases, making the experience feel refined, intuitive, and as beautiful as the food itself.
