Nation

Social networks promise life improvements via connections, but generally just result in you dabbling in perversion and unwillingly learning junk about people you didn't realize were still alive. For one that actually accomplishes something: Eats.

Just launched, Eats leverages foodies' insatiable need to discuss their every nibble to provide schloads of useful info on 40,000 restaurants nationwide -- only one of which can actually have the best truffled mac & cheese. Each entry rocks food/service/atmosphere ratings and comments, which, because only members may chime in, won't consist of anonymous "flames"; more impressively, members can weigh in on each individual menu item -- because it's always good to know going in how the "Large Sierra Mist" is. Those who don't trust "words" can check out photos of decor and food on each restaurant's page, so without having to become their friends you can see what kind of craziness those booths and porterhouses got into over spring break.

As it's still in its infancy, Eats isn't yet fully fleshed out, but as its user base grows, so will its usefulness -- as will your other social networks, when you're finally reconnected by that girl from 6th grade who was stacked.