Syracuse, N.Y. -- A new app that allows users to purchase discounted leftovers from restaurants and grocery stores is now available for the Syracuse area.
Too Good to Go offers “surprise bags” packed with food leftover from local restaurants such as Phoebe’s Restaurant & Coffee Lounge, Las Delicias, Glazed & Confused, and Purple Banana.
Each bag costs on average about $6 but contains food worth $18, said Too Good to Go’s Chris MacAulay, vice president of operations for North America.
“When you purchase a surprise bag, you don’t know exactly what you’re getting,” MacAulay said. “We’re allowing the food partners to use their food surplus to build the bag.”
Too Good To Go’s goal is to help businesses reduce food waste and provide discounted food for users, MacAulay said. Entrepreneurs founded the app 10 years ago in Denmark to decrease the amount of food wasted in buffet restaurants. The app is available in 19 countries.
To purchase food, download the app Too Good To Go on your phone. Then select a local restaurant to reserve a bag. Users can’t purchase the bags online, only through the app, MacAulay said.
Local restaurants and grocery stores list the type of food in the bag like baked goods, soups, or fruits, but it’s not specific.
Each restaurant lists what you could receive in your bag and a time range for when to pick it up.
People with allergies can communicate with the food partner when you pick up the bag, and they will provide you with a different bag. Or, you can request a refund if they don’t have anything available, MacAulay said.
For local restaurants that want to join the app, click this link to sign up through Too Good To Go’s website.