Every Wednesday night at restaurants across Portland, small groups of people sit down to enjoy a meal and conversation. Aside from living in the same area, there’s one thing they indubitably have in common: they’re all meeting for the first time.

Since we’re in the business of meeting folks in the community (and we’ll never say no to making new friends), we gave it a try.

How it works

Timeleft, an app on a mission to curb modern-day loneliness, recently launched in Portland. Users start by creating an account and completing a short questionnaire, where they share their age, career field, interests, diet, religious beliefs, and more. Based on their answers, Timeleft’s algorithm chooses five locals who they’re most likely to enjoy conversations with. Tickets are $16 per booking and attendees are responsible for their bill at the restaurant; Timeleft also offers monthly packages.

The day before the dinner, participants receive safety tips and learn a few details about their mystery dining companions’ stats (i.e. 17% of the table works in the medical field). One secret is revealed on the morning of the excursion: where the group will eat. Timeleft picks the restaurant based on the general area the user indicates and how much they normally spend on a night out.

All the information you need is sent via email or is available in the Timeleft app. | Photo by PDXtoday

Participants arrive at the restaurant at 7 p.m. and meet their group. During the meal, Timeleft provides a game (think: icebreaker questions) for everyone to play. At 8 p.m., the app reveals the location of the “Last Drink” — an optional after-dinner meet-up point if they group wants to keep the party going.

Cambrie’s experience

Sweltering heat and some nervous energy meant I showed up at Screen Door’s East Side location feeling a bit… clammy. But once the other three members of my group showed up (we had two no-shows), the conversation flowed smoothly and never felt awkward. We were all new to the Timeleft experience, our ages were within about 10 years of one another, and our time in Portland varied from a matter of months to lifelong.

The questions we took turns answering ranged from “what TV show did you binge watch recently” to “which day would you relive if you could.” We found common ground in our love for animals, travel, food, and of course connection. At the end, two of my companions said they would try Timeleft again — the third was on the fence — and we said our farewells with a smile after following each other on social media.

Would you eat dinner with five strangers? Or does the idea make you want to run far, far away? Share your thoughts in our survey.