TAMPA, Fla. — These days, it seems like everything is getting more expensive. That's because it is. Food prices rose 3.7% between September 2022 and September 2023, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But now, with a new app, you can get a takeout meal for a fraction of the price.
Too Good To Go is a new app launching in the Tampa Bay area with the goal of reducing food waste.
Roberto Torres owns Blind Tiger Cafe locations across the region.
"The idea is awareness," Torres said. "But more importantly, I think the idea is about sustainability. It's about how is it that we can help save the environment by not contributing to landfill waste."
Torres says the way the app works is simple. Once downloaded, you can choose between a variety of businesses in your area. Each business has specific hours, typically close to closing time, when you can purchase a discounted surprise bag. You'll pay half or less the value of the items you receive. In doing so, you can enjoy safe-to-eat food that was destined for the dumpster.
"They get this kind of mixture, a bag, which has a $15 value for five for about $4.99," Torres explained about the surprise meal his cafe offers.
The trade-off with that discount is you won't know what you're getting until you pick up your order.
"Pastries or maybe like a Danish or maybe like a blueberry vegan muffin, which has an average price between five and six bucks," Torres said.
For businesses, it's an opportunity to attract new customers and recoup some of the money lost to food past its sell-by date.
"I will say that it's probably 30% of the food that they expect it to sell ends up throwing out every day," Torres said.
For customers, it's a chance to try a new place at a discount, all while keeping good food from going to waste.
The app hard launches on Nov. 15, but there are already dozens of businesses you can order from now. For new businesses interested, you can learn more here.
Here's a list of local restaurants offering food through Too Good To Go. To find out which specific locations you can order from, download the app.
- 2D Cafe
- 3 Corners Pizza
- 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
- Annex Coffee
- AstroBrew
- Bela & Abi Mini Mart
- Bros Pizzeria
- Cinnaholic
- Coast To Coast Coffee
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Crembo Bakery and Cafe
- Crislip Cafe
- DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go
- Ding Tea and Mochinut
- Dolce Cafe + Marketplace
- Farmacy Vegan Kitchen
- Ground Theory Café & Espresso Bar
- Habana Cafe
- Heights Pizza
- Jack's Donuts
- Jerk Hut
- Kurtos Chimney Cake & Bread
- Little Tina
- Maple Street Biscuit Company
- Mochi Donuts
- Moon Frog Arepas Food Truck
- Moonlight Boba
- Napoli Bros Pizza
- Orange Blossom Coffee
- Passion Roots
- Pete's Bagels
- Peterbrooke Chocolatier
- Piccolo Italian Market and Deli
- Riviera French Café
- Rockstar Donuts @rockstardonuts AKA Jupiter Donuts
- Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn
- Sandshakers
- Slap Yo Mama
- Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery
- Sorrento Sweets
- Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar
- Squeeze Juice Works
- The Blind TIget Cafe
- The Crumb Factory Bakery & Cafe
- The Cuban Empanada & Fry Bar
- The Old South Country Market
- Tiff's Treats
- Twisted Indian
- Uncle Nick's N.Y. Style Bagels, Subs & Deli
- Victory Coffee
- Zeins Pizza, Subs, Mediterranean, and Wings
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.