Though I do think that access to experts at any time by phone is a good service to have. (Kevin O'Donnel's 1980 novel Ora:Cle was in part based on that concept, the hero worked for such a service.)

But in this case I'm not looking for somebody who can look stuff up or research, but a true local expert, usually a native. Only a native is going to readily answer questions about quality of shops. Though, over time, people with web access can go to the sites that rate restaurants and deliver answers.