Privacy Policy

Introduction

Palate ("Palate," "we," "us," or "our") operates a social restaurant review service where you can grade places, write reviews, build lists, and share your taste with others. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have when you use Palate.

Information we collect

We collect information in these categories:

• Account information. When you create an account, we receive authentication and profile information through Clerk, our authentication provider. This may include your email address, username, and profile details you choose to provide. We may store your verified primary email address to deliver optional product emails you enable.
• Content you submit. We store the content you create on Palate, including restaurant grades, written reviews, bios, lists, and photos you attach to reviews.
• Email preferences. If you enable daily digest emails, we store that preference and send periodic messages about feed updates and Discover recommendations through Resend. You can turn digests off in Settings or through the unsubscribe link in each message.
• Support messages. If you contact us through our support form, we process the information you submit (such as your name, email address, subject, and message) to respond to your request. Support messages may be delivered through Resend.
• Restaurant and place data. We use Google services to help identify restaurants and display place information. When you search for or view places, relevant queries and place identifiers may be sent to Google in accordance with Google's policies.
• Usage and technical data. We collect standard technical information needed to operate and secure the service, such as device and browser type, IP address, and log data related to your use of Palate.

How we use information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve Palate
• Create and manage your account
• Display your profile, grades, reviews, lists, and photos as you choose
• Help you discover restaurants and connect with other users
• Respond to support requests and communicate with you about the service
• Send daily digest emails when you have opted in to that preference
• Protect the security and integrity of Palate and our users
• Comply with legal obligations

How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We share information only in these circumstances:

• Service providers. We use third parties that process data on our behalf to operate Palate, including Clerk (authentication), Google (place and map data), OpenAI (safety review of review and comment text), Resend (support and optional daily digest email delivery), and our hosting and storage providers.
• Other users. Information you choose to make public on Palate — such as your username, profile, grades, reviews, lists, and review photos — is visible to other users according to your settings and the features you use.
• Legal requirements. We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect rights, safety, or security.
• Business transfers. If Palate is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Your choices

• You can update profile information and manage what you share through your account settings.
• You can delete your account through account settings, subject to any information we must retain for legal or operational reasons.
• You may contact us through our support page to ask questions or request access to or deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable law.

Data retention

We retain information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide Palate, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and comply with legal obligations. When you delete content or your account, we delete or anonymize information when it is no longer required for these purposes, unless we must retain it by law.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children

Palate is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us through our support page.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of Palate after changes become effective means you accept the updated policy.

Contact us

For privacy questions or requests, visit our support page.