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Toronto‘s first ‘eat-in-the-dark’ restaurant opensOk I will be upfront…I haven’t been there yet but when I heard about this I knew I wanted to write a little something!

 

 I guess this concept isn’t new, but Toronto has now been added to the list of major cities around the world that have their very own “Dine in the Dark” restaurants where blind waiters serve up gourmet meals in absolute darkness.

 At first, guests are ushered into O.NOIR’s dimly lit lounge area where bartenders offer up drinks and staff jot down meal orders.

For starters, the choices include grilled octopus, calamari, or arugula salad with fresh mushrooms. For mains, spicy filet mignon, chicken breast with eggplant and tomatoes, or marinated shrimp with herbs are among the options.

Of course, for those who really want to put their taste buds to the test, the “Surprise” menu is always available.

After the orders are in, it’s time to go inside. But first all cellphones and any devices that light up must be turned off.

Tracy, one of several visually impaired waitresses, greets diners at the door, telling them to form a line with each person holding the left shoulder of the person in front of them.

“We call it transfer of trust,” O.NOIR founder Moe Alameddine said, explaining that diners must rely completely on the wait staff.

He said his blind servers have a well-developed ability to navigate through the darkness and avoid obstacles.

The rectangular room is also set up with tables for two along one wall and group tables along the other, with an open path between the two sections. The design allows staff to move easily since tables are either on the right or left side of the path.

As she guides a group to their table, Tracy calls out “careful” as a warning to any of the other wait staff.

“It felt like my eyes were closed even though my eyes were completely open,” Michael Alongi, who dined at the restaurant with his wife, told CTV.ca.

After he sat down, Alongi said he felt claustrophobic even though he normally is not.

“It was just the fact that I didn’t have complete control of myself as I normally do,” he said.

“…What helped it go away were the jokes that you throw at each other.”

There’s also the blind piano player, who last Thursday night was playing Michael Jackson tributes, to help customers adjust and feel comfortable.

For dinner, Alongi opted for the complete “surprise” experience. He thinks he ate a salad with salmon, beef stew, and a chocolate mousse-like cake.

“A lot of times you’re just hitting the plate because you cannot see the food,” he recounted.

Although the food was good, Alongi said losing his eyesight didn’t really enhance his sense of taste.

Still, he said for him it was more about the experience and that he’d definitely go back but only with someone who had never been before.

That’s just what Alameddine is banking on.

“Let’s say you enjoyed it and your aunt came from the States, you’re going to bring her to try something new,” he says. “I have a lot of repetitive customers.”

Alameddine, a Lebanese-Canadian, said he first saw the concept during a trip to Zurich.

 

Apparently, there is already one in Montreal owned by Alameddine - and that has been going strong for 3 years now…So it will be interesting to see if the T.O location is a success.

Well…I’m kind of in the dark on this one LOL…

I think its an interesting idea for sure…and I’d go once just to experience something new…but that’s about it. To be realistic, I think most people really enjoy looking at a nice plate of food and enjoying their surroundings.

So here’s my score:

 1.) THE big IDEA…2 thumbs up! I really like to try new things!

2.) How long it will last…50/50 chance…

 For those who would like to visit this intriguing eatery – O.Noir is located on Church Street, Toronto.

 Source: CTV.ca

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