The Drive Thru Index maps and compares pickup prices for thousands of restaurant locations across various brands, highlighting price variations within chains by geographic area. It tracks daily price changes at over 137,000 restaurants, providing detailed basket comparisons and insights by brand and region to inform consumers and operators about pricing trends and disparities.
Google now offers a dedicated “merchant extortion” reporting tool for restaurants targeted by organized fake review extortion attempts on Google Maps. Businesses facing sudden clusters of 1- and 2-star reviews, often from fake accounts, can report not just the reviews but the extortion threats as well. This improved process helps alert Google’s Trust & Safety team to active threats. Operators are advised to document evidence and avoid paying ransoms, as reviews have become a weapon for malicious actors and need to be defended as digital assets.
