Documentation

Integrate LobsterSearch

Connect your AI agent, chatbot, or application to real-time business data. MCP server for direct AI integration, REST API for web apps.

Quick Start

LobsterSearch provides two ways to access business data:

MCP Server

For AI agents (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.). Direct tool access with 7 search and query functions.

Setup guide →

REST API

For web apps and integrations. Public endpoints with CORS support, no API key required.

API reference →

MCP Server Setup

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets AI assistants call LobsterSearch tools directly. Your AI can search businesses, get details, compare options, and find nearby places — all in real time.

CClaude Desktop / Claude Code

Add to your Claude configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json or via claude mcp add):

// Claude Desktop: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
// Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http lobstersearch https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lobstersearch": {
      "url": "https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

→Cursor / Windsurf / Other MCP Clients

Add to your MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lobstersearch": {
      "url": "https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

SSmithery Registry

Also available via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install lobstersearch/lobstersearch --client claude

Test your connection

After setup, ask your AI assistant:

"Search LobsterSearch for the best restaurants near me"

If configured correctly, the AI will use the search_businesses tool and return real results.

How MCP Works

A user asks their AI assistant a question like "find a halal restaurant open on Sunday"

The AI recognizes this needs business data and calls the LobsterSearch search_businesses tool

LobsterSearch returns structured data: services, pricing, hours, dietary options, certifications — everything the AI needs to make a confident recommendation

The AI formats this into a helpful answer with specific details the user asked about

MCP Tools Reference

search_businessesSearch

Search businesses by natural language query. Supports intent-based search by category, location, service type, price, and specific requirements.

Parameters

queryNatural language search, e.g. "vegan restaurant open Sunday"

country_codeISO 2-letter code (optional), e.g. "SG"

cityCity name (optional)

business_typeFilter by type, e.g. "restaurant"

max_resultsNumber of results (default: 10)

min_confidenceMinimum data confidence (default: 0.3)

get_business_detailsDetail

Full details for a specific business: services with pricing, products, promotions, hours, contact, and confidence scores.

Parameters

business_idUUID of the business

include_servicesInclude services (default: true)

include_productsInclude products/menu (default: true)

include_promotionsInclude active promotions (default: true)

list_nearby_businessesLocation

Find businesses near GPS coordinates within a radius.

Parameters

latitudeGPS latitude

longitudeGPS longitude

radius_kmSearch radius in km (default: 2)

business_typeFilter by type (optional)

max_resultsNumber of results (default: 10)

get_promotionsDeals

Find active promotions and deals filtered by location or business type.

Parameters

cityCity name (optional)

country_codeISO 2-letter country code (optional)

business_typeFilter by type (optional)

max_resultsNumber of results (default: 10)

compare_businessesCompare

Compare 2-3 businesses side-by-side with services, products, pricing, and GEO scores.

Parameters

business_idsArray of 2-3 business UUIDs

report_data_mismatchFeedback

Report inaccurate data. Triggers a priority re-crawl to fix the listing.

Parameters

business_idUUID of the business

field_nameThe field that is wrong (e.g. "phone", "hours")

expected_valueWhat LobsterSearch showed

actual_valueWhat the real value is

REST API

Public REST endpoints with CORS support. No authentication required. Rate limited to 60 requests/minute.

GET/api/search

Search businesses with full-text search.

Query Parameters

qSearch query (required)

typeBusiness type filter

cityCity filter

countryCountry code filter

limitMax results (default: 20)

Example

curl "https://lobstersearch.ai/api/search?q=hair+salon&limit=5"

GET/api/businesses/:slug

Get full business details including services, products, and promotions.

Example

curl "https://lobstersearch.ai/api/businesses/chez-michelle-hair-studio"

AI Discovery Files

These standard files help AI systems discover and integrate with LobsterSearch automatically.

/.well-known/mcp.jsonMCP server discovery manifestView →

/llms.txtLLM-readable platform description (like robots.txt for AI)View →

/.well-known/openapi.jsonOpenAPI 3.1 specification for REST endpointsView →

/.well-known/ai-plugin.jsonChatGPT plugin manifestView →

/robots.txtCrawler permissions (all AI crawlers allowed)View →

JSON-LD Schema

Every business listing page includes schema.org JSON-LD in the HTML <head>. AI crawlers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) parse this directly for structured data.

// Example: schema.org JSON-LD on a listing page
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "Example Restaurant",
  "description": "Modern fusion restaurant...",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main Street",
    "addressLocality": "Singapore",
    "postalCode": "123456",
    "addressCountry": "SG"
  },
  "telephone": "+65 6123 4567",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "openingHoursSpecification": [...],
  "hasOfferCatalog": {
    "@type": "OfferCatalog",
    "itemListElement": [
      { "@type": "Offer", "name": "Signature Dish", "price": 28, "priceCurrency": "SGD" }
    ]
  },
  "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 1.29, "longitude": 103.85 }
}

Ready to integrate?

Add LobsterSearch to your AI agent in under 2 minutes. No API key, no sign-up required.

Claim Your Business MCP Endpoint

MCP Server Setup

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets AI assistants call LobsterSearch tools directly. Your AI can search businesses, get details, compare options, and find nearby places — all in real time.

CClaude Desktop / Claude Code

Add to your Claude configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json or via claude mcp add):

// Claude Desktop: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
// Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http lobstersearch https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lobstersearch": {
      "url": "https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

→Cursor / Windsurf / Other MCP Clients

Add to your MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lobstersearch": {
      "url": "https://mcp.lobstersearch.ai/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

SSmithery Registry

Also available via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install lobstersearch/lobstersearch --client claude

Test your connection

After setup, ask your AI assistant:

"Search LobsterSearch for the best restaurants near me"

If configured correctly, the AI will use the search_businesses tool and return real results.

How MCP Works

A user asks their AI assistant a question like "find a halal restaurant open on Sunday"

The AI recognizes this needs business data and calls the LobsterSearch search_businesses tool

LobsterSearch returns structured data: services, pricing, hours, dietary options, certifications — everything the AI needs to make a confident recommendation

The AI formats this into a helpful answer with specific details the user asked about

MCP Tools Reference

search_businessesSearch

Search businesses by natural language query. Supports intent-based search by category, location, service type, price, and specific requirements.

Parameters

queryNatural language search, e.g. "vegan restaurant open Sunday"

country_codeISO 2-letter code (optional), e.g. "SG"

cityCity name (optional)

business_typeFilter by type, e.g. "restaurant"

max_resultsNumber of results (default: 10)

min_confidenceMinimum data confidence (default: 0.3)

REST API

Public REST endpoints with CORS support. No authentication required. Rate limited to 60 requests/minute.

GET/api/search

Search businesses with full-text search.

Query Parameters

qSearch query (required)

typeBusiness type filter

cityCity filter

countryCountry code filter

limitMax results (default: 20)

Example

curl "https://lobstersearch.ai/api/search?q=hair+salon&limit=5"

AI Discovery Files

These standard files help AI systems discover and integrate with LobsterSearch automatically.

/.well-known/mcp.jsonMCP server discovery manifestView →

/llms.txtLLM-readable platform description (like robots.txt for AI)View →

/.well-known/openapi.jsonOpenAPI 3.1 specification for REST endpointsView →

/.well-known/ai-plugin.jsonChatGPT plugin manifestView →

/robots.txtCrawler permissions (all AI crawlers allowed)View →

JSON-LD Schema

Every business listing page includes schema.org JSON-LD in the HTML <head>. AI crawlers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) parse this directly for structured data.

// Example: schema.org JSON-LD on a listing page
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "Example Restaurant",
  "description": "Modern fusion restaurant...",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main Street",
    "addressLocality": "Singapore",
    "postalCode": "123456",
    "addressCountry": "SG"
  },
  "telephone": "+65 6123 4567",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "openingHoursSpecification": [...],
  "hasOfferCatalog": {
    "@type": "OfferCatalog",
    "itemListElement": [
      { "@type": "Offer", "name": "Signature Dish", "price": 28, "priceCurrency": "SGD" }
    ]
  },
  "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 1.29, "longitude": 103.85 }
}