I moved to Austin in 2023, and while the city is known for its friendly and hospitable vibe, making friends as a remote-working adult isn’t always easy. One day, while scrolling on Instagram, I came across Timeleft, an app that pairs you with five complete strangers for a group dinner at a restaurant of its choosing (don’t worry, you set the budget). Curious, I decided to test it out for myself.
How does Timeleft work?
Unlike other social apps, there’s no swiping on profiles or chatting before you meet. Instead, you start by taking a personality and identity quiz with questions like, “What best describes an ideal night” and “How important is humor to you?” The app also factors in age, gender distribution and personality test responses to create a well-balanced group.
Dinners take place every Wednesday at 7pm, with the restaurant chosen based on your budget ($, $$ or $$$) and dietary restrictions. You’re also assigned a table number—since no names are exchanged—to help you find your group.
My Timeleft experience
The morning of my dinner, I received restaurant details from Timeleft. The pick? Ma’Coco, a casual Mexican joint serving Baja California-style dishes. When I arrived, I told the hostess I was with Timeleft table one, and she guided me to my seat. I was the third to arrive, with the rest of the group trickling in shortly after.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t as awkward as I had anticipated. Some of my tablemates had attended previous Timeleft dinners and shared their experiences. Given the nature of the app, it seemed to attract people who were genuinely open to meeting new people and comfortable starting conversations.
Our group was diverse—some extroverted, some more reserved. We had software engineers, creatives and professionals from various fields. Throughout the night, we chatted about our careers, favorite Austin restaurants and past Timeleft experiences. The app provides a question game to spark conversation, though we found some of the prompts a little too personal for a first-time meetup.
As we ordered drinks, appetizers to share and entrees, I appreciated that half the table opted for agua frescas instead of cocktails—great for someone like me who enjoys an occasional drink but doesn’t always feel like drinking. We indulged in ceviche, guacamole and chips before diving into our main dishes. I went for carne asada and al pastor tacos. By the end of the meal, we agreed that Timeleft chose a fitting restaurant within our $$ budget.
What happens next?
When the check arrived, we paid separately and split the appetizers evenly. Before parting ways for the Timeleft nightcap—an optional bar meetup where attendees from different group dinners could mingle—we all exchanged Insta handles and created a group chat. There was no pressure to keep in touch, but we had all vibed well enough to stay connected.
My final thoughts
As someone who’s still settling into Austin, Timeleft was a fun way to push myself outside of my comfort zone and meet new people in a relaxed setting. The app did a great job matching our group, and the experience aligned with what I had hoped for.
With Timeleft operating in 300+ cities across 60 countries, I could see myself using it again, whether to expand my social circle or while solo traveling. While we didn’t walk away as best friends, the experience reminded me of those early college days, when every new introduction held the potential for lasting friendships and genuine human connection.