Timeleft review: having dinner with strangers in Ottawa

When I first came across Time Left, it labeled itself as “not another dating app.” I’ll admit, I had my doubts and was honestly confused about its purpose. Was it supposed to be a different kind of dating app then? Was it just for making friends? For foodies? Or maybe for creating community while traveling?

Despite my initial confusion, boredom got the best of me. Armed with a discount code, I decided to give it a try—and to my surprise, it turned out to be a genuinely pleasant experience.

So, What is Time Left?

Time Left is absolutely correct in stating that it is not a dating app. If you’re expecting to swipe left or right, this isn’t the app for you. Instead, it’s a platform designed to bring people together in a specific city who share similar interests. The goal? To enjoy a meal together at a local restaurant in hopes of fostering genuine connections.

Is Time Left for Friends or Dating?

While Time Left isn’t designed as a dating app, serendipity might just bring a compatible romantic interest to your table. However, romance is not the app’s primary intention—it’s about fostering connections and shared experiences.

How does Time left choose restaurants and participants?

After signing up for the app (providing details like your age, city, etc.), you’ll complete a short and straightforward survey about your interests.

The survey includes questions about:

• Your thoughts on politics and your openness to discussing them.
• Your personal interests.
• Your comfort level with restaurant costs, framed in dollar signs:
  • $: Budget-friendly options.
  • $$: Mid-tier restaurants.
  • $$$: Slightly more upscale venues.

For my experience, I opted for a mid-tier option ($$), which felt just right.

The purpose of the survey is to place you at the most compatible table to ensure an enjoyable evening. While the survey could be a bit deeper,  it’s not intended to match you with a soulmate—just a group of like-minded individuals looking for a fun, shared dining experience.

 Your  “Seat”/ Reservation 

Time Left is, of course, a business, so you’ll need to open your wallet at least twice during this experience.

The first expense is paying for your reservation, which the app refers to as a “seat.” Booking a seat confirms your attendance at the dinner. This fee ranges from $18 to $25, depending on whether you use a discount code. For example, I paid $18 (tax included) because I booked with a Black Friday discount code.

It’s important to note that the cost of the seat is separate from the cost of dinner. You’ll still need to pay for your meal directly at the restaurant.

Before You Arrive

A few days before your dinner, Time Left will start sharing details with you. They’ll let you know which restaurant you’ll be visiting on the day of your reservation.

The day before, they’ll provide clues about the other dinner participants. For me, this included their star signs and the fields they work in. However, you won’t know their age, gender, or see any photos before the dinner.

The Dinner

Dinner starts at 7 p.m., and the app gives you the option to let others know when you’ve arrived or if you’ll be late. At my dinner, one person didn’t show up, and I believe Time Left penalizes no-shows, though I’m not sure of the exact consequences.

When you arrive at the restaurant, simply let the staff know you’re with Time Left, and they’ll guide you to your table.

The Guests

For my dinner, I was paired with two guys (one of whom was a no-show) and two girls, all within a similar age range. We had a great time!

Time Left provides conversation starters and fun challenges to keep the discussion flowing, with each level getting deeper than the last. The best part of the experience is that everyone who signs up and shows up genuinely wants to be there, meet new people, and engage. This was evident in how we played the game, shared stories, and got to know each other.

he example shown is a level 4 question, so don’t worry about having to get deep with strangers right away, it builds up and you can choose to skip questions

Overall Impression

When I first came across Time Left, it labeled itself as “not another dating app.” I’ll admit, I had my doubts and was honestly confused about its purpose. Was it supposed to be a different kind of dating app then? Was it just for making friends? For foodies? Or maybe for creating community while traveling?

Despite my initial confusion, boredom got the best of me. Armed with a discount code, I decided to give it a try—and to my surprise, it turned out to be a genuinely pleasant experience.