The arrangement resembles the one Foursquare struck with Metro last month. Under that deal, Metro users recommend “tips” to other Foursquare users. With Zagat, users will also provide content to Foursquare, as opposed to just getting assigned a marketer’s branded “badge” when a user checks into a spot that’s marked by one of its media partners.

SEE ALSO: Location-Based Social Net Foursquare Partners With Bravo

The Foursquare/Zagat feed serves as a platform for users to share recommendations of menu items with other members. Foursquare has been hitting stratospheric levels of hype the past several months, but the flurry of media arrangements it has struck in recent weeks and upcoming deals that are still in the works have made even the most cynical observers consider that there may actually be a serious business model at work here. The collaboration with Zagat could help Foursquare refine its business model and challenge directory sites like Yelp, whose reviews and recommendations app is also fairly popular.

Zagat is also bringing another content idea to Foursquare’s table. The restaurant reviews aggregator is creating a “Meet the Mayor” interviews series on its site, highlighting individual users who have signed in to a place more times than other users. Zagat hopes that the cross-promotion will drive users to its own site.