> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://trailblazer.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get started with NaijaTaste

> Use the web app to get your first restaurant recommendation or Pidgin review, then make your first API call to POST /simulate-review in minutes.

You can start using NaijaTaste in two ways: through the web app at [naijataste.onrender.com](https://naijataste.onrender.com), or by calling the REST API directly. This guide walks you through both. No account or API key is required to get started.

## Use the web app

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the app">
    Go to [https://naijataste.onrender.com](https://naijataste.onrender.com) in your browser. The app loads immediately — no sign-in required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a taste persona">
    Select the persona that best matches how you eat:

    * **Lagos Professional** — values ambience, speed, and consistent quality; moderate price sensitivity
    * **Street Food Enthusiast** — prioritises bold flavour and generous portions over presentation; low price sensitivity
    * **The Aunty** — high standards for homestyle cooking, portion size, and value; vocal when disappointed

    Your persona shapes both the restaurant recommendations you receive and the tone of any reviews generated.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get recommendations or simulate a review">
    Choose which feature to use:

    * **Recommendation Engine** — enter a location or allow the app to use your GPS. The engine returns ranked restaurants within 5km, filtered by your persona's preferences.
    * **Review Simulator** — enter a restaurant name, location, and a few features (ambience, food quality, service). The engine generates a Pidgin English review with a star rating and tone label.

    You can interact with either feature through the chat interface or the structured form, depending on your preference.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your reviews (optional)">
    Sign in with your account to save simulated reviews and revisit your favourite spots. Without signing in, results are not persisted between sessions.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Allow the app to access your location for the most accurate hyper-local recommendations. The Recommendation Engine searches within a 5km radius of your position.
</Tip>

***

## First API call

The NaijaTaste REST API base URL is:

```text theme={null}
https://naijataste-api-vcp4.onrender.com
```

No API key is required for public endpoints. Send requests with a `Content-Type: application/json` header.

The example below calls `POST /simulate-review` to generate a Pidgin English review for Yellow Chilli Victoria Island from a balanced persona.

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl --request POST \
    --url https://naijataste-api-vcp4.onrender.com/simulate-review \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '{
      "persona": {
        "user_id": "demo_user",
        "avg_rating": 3.5,
        "rating_tendency": "balanced",
        "price_sensitivity": "medium",
        "tone_keywords": ["jollof", "service", "price", "portion"],
        "total_reviews": 30,
        "sample_reviews": ["Good food and reasonable prices"]
      },
      "item_name": "Yellow Chilli Victoria Island",
      "item_type": "restaurant",
      "location": "Lagos",
      "features": ["nice ambience", "average food", "fast service"]
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import httpx

  response = httpx.post(
      "https://naijataste-api-vcp4.onrender.com/simulate-review",
      json={
          "persona": {
              "user_id": "demo_user",
              "avg_rating": 3.5,
              "rating_tendency": "balanced",
              "price_sensitivity": "medium",
              "tone_keywords": ["jollof", "service", "price", "portion"],
              "total_reviews": 30,
              "sample_reviews": ["Good food and reasonable prices"],
          },
          "item_name": "Yellow Chilli Victoria Island",
          "item_type": "restaurant",
          "location": "Lagos",
          "features": ["nice ambience", "average food", "fast service"],
      },
  )
  print(response.json())
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch(
    "https://naijataste-api-vcp4.onrender.com/simulate-review",
    {
      method: "POST",
      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
      body: JSON.stringify({
        persona: {
          user_id: "demo_user",
          avg_rating: 3.5,
          rating_tendency: "balanced",
          price_sensitivity: "medium",
          tone_keywords: ["jollof", "service", "price", "portion"],
          total_reviews: 30,
          sample_reviews: ["Good food and reasonable prices"],
        },
        item_name: "Yellow Chilli Victoria Island",
        item_type: "restaurant",
        location: "Lagos",
        features: ["nice ambience", "average food", "fast service"],
      }),
    }
  );
  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

The API returns a rating, a Pidgin English review, and a tone label:

```json Expected response theme={null}
{
  "rating": 3,
  "review_text": "The ambience dey correct sha, food reach expectation but nothing wey wow me. Service fast at least.",
  "tone_label": "mixed"
}
```

<Note>
  No API key or `Authorization` header is needed for `POST /simulate-review` or `POST /recommend`. These are public endpoints.
</Note>

## Next steps

* Read the [Review Simulator](/features/review-simulator) docs to understand persona fields and how rating tendency affects output
* Explore the [Recommendation Engine](/features/recommendation-engine) to learn how GPS and persona profiles combine to rank results
* Browse the full [API Reference](/api/overview) for all available endpoints