Reporter Lucy Marshall tried out a Too Good To Go bag for the first time and decided to see if the Starbucks goodie bag is really worth it – there were a few surprises along the way
Wherever we can get discounts or bargains on food and drink, it is worth giving it a go.
That’s why I decided to pay put £3.59 for a surprise ‘Too Good To Go’ bag from Starbucks to see if it is worth it.
As I often write about food and drink trends, I have recently seen a lot of people being impressed after trying ‘Too Good To Go’ bag options at supermarkets and eateries near their homes. One woman treated herself to the “most expensive” Too Good To Go bag – and it actually ended up being a bargain. Meanwhile another individual was impressed by Blank Street’s surprise bag; they tripled their money on it.
I decided to download the app myself to see what all the fuss is about. Admittedly I am coffee-obsessed and will be persuaded to by anything this season that says ‘pumpkin spice flavoured’ on it, so I wanted to test out one of the bargain ‘Too Good To Go’ bags from one of our popular chain coffee shops.
I have seen many review Costa’s surprise bags, so decided to opt for Starbucks – with one close by and it being one of my favourite chains it was an easy choice.
I found the ‘Too Good To Go’ app easy to navigate for a first-timer. I simply clicked on the Starbucks offer, reviewed the pick up time [7-7.30pm on a Saturday] to make sure I was free, and pressed reserve – simple and easy.
After seeing several people online say that you must turn up on time, I arrived at Starbucks for 7pm on the dot and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the bag and see what was inside. Due to the popularity of ‘Too Good To Go’, I expected to see a queue of people waiting for these sought-after bags, but I appeared to be the only customer – awkwardly walking into an empty Starbucks where staff were ready to pack up for the day.
Now, it was time for the big reveal. I was hoping to get a variety of different items – and food I haven’t tried before. Already a fan of the sandwiches, I hoped for one of those as well as a pastry and a sweet treat.
After shaking the bag, I was delighted that it felt heavy, but waited till I got home to take a look. The grand reveal – I got a ham and cheese croissant, a chicken and honey BBQ panini, a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich, buffalo chicken pieces with ranch dip as well as a berry crunch yogurt with granola.
I was pleased to see a lot of variety in the bag – as I have seen reviews of the likes of Pret A Manger or Blank Street where people appear to get a lot of the same. Most sandwiches in places like Starbucks will set you back around £3/£4 each, so to get five items for less than that is amazing. Plus I save a total of £7 – I can now put that towards treating myself to a seasonal Starbucks latte this season.
I was a little disappointed to see no cookies or cakes in the bag; as it was a Saturday evening I was hoping for a millionaire’s shortbread or cookie – but I realised soon that Starbucks offer either a surprise bag or a sweet and pastry bag. So, you will get different surprises based on which you pick – definitely going to give the sweet one a try next time.
The quality of the food was excellent. I hadn’t tried the chicken and honey BBQ panini before – it was sweet and tasty, and the bread was really soft. My partner and I shared the chicken pieces which were average but the ranch dip was heavenly. You can’t go wrong with a classic tuna and sweetcorn which does what it says on the tin, and the ham and cheese croissant was lush. The berry crunch smoothie acted as the perfect dessert – plus it is packed full of goodness.
Napkins were also put in the bag and the staff at my nearest Starbucks – Crown Point in Leeds – were super friendly and helpful.
Overall, I was impressed with the surprise bag and would definitely get one again. I think it’s a good thing to do if you are in a group or have people coming over with whom you can share the goodies with. One of my friends said she often gets a ‘Too Good To Go’, has some of the items and shares the rest with the homeless – what a wonderful idea. While the food goes out on the same day you get it, it is great that the items aren’t going to waste.
I found the whole process so easy and cannot believe how cheap it is. It’s also great to do if you are trying to save money, or are low on cash and counting down the days until pay day. I am now rushing to the Too Good To Go app to order myself a sweet and pastry bag. I cannot wait to try more of the options in the future.
Starbucks Too Good To Go surprise bag rating: 8/10.
Have you tried a Too Good To Go bag? Share your experience in the comments below.
