Google's made it easier than ever for Kiwis to find and book a table reservation

Google has just made a major search update that is changing the way Kiwis find and book their next meal out.

It’s rolling out new “agentic” capabilities in AI Mode - basically the AI becomes like an agent that actually does the work for you - from planning a night out to locking in a booking faster than you can even decide what you’re hungry for.

You can get a table locked in without the usual hassle of jumping between different websites, checking availability, and manually making a booking online or over the phone.

Instead of you doing all the hard yards, the AI Mode can pull everything together in one place, finding restaurants that match your exact needs, just by sharing your ideal plans.

The update means you can now ask more questions specific to your plans, like:

• “Find a table for two at a dog-friendly Italian restaurant in Ponsonby for Saturday at 7pm.”

• “Find me a sushi restaurant in Auckland CBD with a table for four that also serves vegan tempura.”

• “Book a waterfront restaurant in Wellington for a birthday dinner this Friday at 6:30pm.”

• “Find a kid-friendly brunch spot in Christchurch with availability for Sunday morning.”

From there, you'll be suggested bookings actually available around your preferred time, linking straight to the restaurant's website to lock in a table.

Behind the scenes, it’s all being powered by a mix tech working together - live web browsing from Project Mariner, Google Maps and the Knowledge Graph and in NZ, booking platforms including OpenTable and Wowapps help find the bookings even easier.

Looks like a night out is on the cards this weekend!