Dans le Noir

We have visited the restaurant this summer. I have heard a lot about it from my friend, who had visited the one in Paris, so I and my fiancé booked the table in Dans le Noir in advance. I was worrying that it would be weird and I won’t be able to manage my feelings and my senses in the dark; I was really afraid that I will be lost in the dark, though it can sound funny. My fiancé tried to calm me and to assure me that everything will be fine.

But once we entered the restaurant, and we were welcomed by the staff, all my trials were gone as if by magic. I wasn’t afraid any more. Personnel was so nice to us, they asked about some special wishes in the food, or some prohibitions. I have chosen fish menu and my fiancé meat. We were introduced to the waitress, Sarah. She was nice and it really hurt me that she is blind. Once we were in the dark room, I realized that I couldn’t see a thing, and it was shocking, but really great.

We were having a wonderful conversation and laughing at each other on the way we were eating. The food was delicious, and it was difficult to identify for us what exactly we are eating. We made some assumptions, but as it appeared to be later, they were totally wrongJ Our waitress, Sarah, was very attentive, she was like a magician: once you have a thought that you need her help, she is here!

We also took a bottle of wine, and the wine was amazing! Tasting it in the pitch darkness was so unusual and it made me love wine (earlier, I did not appreciate wine very much)! We left the dark room in about 2 hours, and it was difficult for my eyes to get used to the light.

I can say that it is the most unique experience I’ve ever had. And my fiancé agrees with me! If you are looking for something new, for something that won’t leave you indifferent, I totally recommend you to visit Dans le Noir. I can definitely say that I will look forward for visiting it one more time!
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sabinaisf - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 22, 2011

We had a brilliant time here. It's definitely somewhere to go as a group rather than as a couple. There were 10 of us and we laughed the whole time. It's such a different/unique experience.

The food isn't great but it was fine, it's the experience you go for and you have to have an open mind.
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Charli
7 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 6
Friday, July 15, 2011

I never write reviews, but I felt the need to write a review after visiting Dans Le Noir. I took my boyfriend there last night for his birthday, he'd heard about it and I knew he really wanted to go. But being me I did some post research and was surprised to find some very critical reviews about the experience and especially about the food.

So I would like to be completely honest for anyone considering going. It is an experience like no other, you pay quite a lot for what you get, but you are not only paying for the food, you are paying for the unique experience. You have to completely immerse yourself in the experience. You are BLIND for one evening. And for the first time ever you will depend on a blind person (all the waiting staff are blind) to guide you through that experience.

Our waitress was called Nadine, she was incredible. She made us feel very comfortable. She never dropped spilled or splashed anything on us, she guided us all the way through our meal.

The food is tricky to eat but remember it's the first time you are experiencing eating like a blind person. You are given cutlery and you lose all sense of control, the cutlery becomes redundant. Personally I put the cutlery down and used my hands, no it wasn't finger food but I could discover what was on my plate and decide whether I could pick it up or whether I needed to use my cutlery.

I would like to dispute all those reviews that say the food is bad...the food admittedly isn't Michelin starred but it is not the food that is bad, it is because we eat with our eyes. And you fool yourself into thinking that your senses will be heightened when you're in there. Yes, your sense of smell is heightened but your sense of taste just becomes confused and therefore the food doesn't taste as good as normal. You become more curious and sensitive to textures rather than taste. My meal was very varied and I very much enjoyed it, the meals are a combination of 3 tasters on your plate. I had the 'white menu' which is a combination of everything. It ended up being shark, ostrich and beef which I really enjoyed, it was delicious.

But I truly believe that food is far more enjoyable when you can see it and so this experience actually goes against the idea that your senses are heightened when you are in there and actually they are more confused and bewildered.

I think it's a great experience and would recommend it to anyone. Its like a roller coaster, you're scared of it at first, you enjoy it whilst your there but you appreciate it far more when you look back and realise what you just did.
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8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, May 12, 2011

We haven't felt ripped off like this...EVER! We went for the birthday of my husband and booked a table for two but instead we were seated Wagamama-style next to others left and right. The chairs are uncomfortably close so kept knocking into my neighbour and chairs next to me, so nothing romantic about this experience.

The darkness experience I found exciting and in the end we had a lovely chat with the people on our table but all of us thought the food was atrocious. The 'surprise menu' starter reminded us of 'Spam', my fish menu was just fish and chips and dried out Salmon just to mention a few. Especially with the concept of eating in the dark we were looking forward to give our full attention to lovely and exciting flavours but we couldn't have been more disappointed.

The prices are shocking, £45 for 3 courses and we still felt hungry afterwards. Also the alcohol free cocktail was £7 (with alcohol £8) which I feel is ridiculous.

The only nice thing was the waiter and the chocolate mouse dessert.

It is really a shame that the management and kitchen take advantage of us customers like this. We are come to experience and understand the world of the blind but you walk out with an empty wallet and feeling cheated.
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Gwen
4 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 08, 2011

My boyfriend took me to this restaurant last week and i have to say i was kind of reluctant to the idea of eating in the dark...I read the reviews on the internet and it didnt quite reassure me...But after all i really had a great experience! The food was delicious (i had the blue menu) and i was actually able to finish my plate without spilling food or wine all over me!! I really had a great time in Dans le noir? and the staff was very helpful!
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jeanne001
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Total rip off. The eating in the darkness bit was good until it becomes clear that they use the cover of darkness to rob you blind - the food isn't great, in fact I'd go as far to say really bad.. neither is the wine, the incredible speed you are 'processed' or the horrendous price.

I had the 'cheap' option £40(!) for a 2 course meal excluding wine entitled 'MEAT surprise'. The surprise was that at the end of the meal they revealed that I had not been eating the cold tin of cost-cutter mixed grill I thought I had - to be fair I should have known, if I had it would have tasted better if I had. Never again.
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3 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, April 11, 2011

I can officially say this was the worst dining experience of my life! My boyfriend thought it would be nice to do something different for valentines day. The concept doesnt work in reality. Tables are very close together and if you are looking for an intimate meal, be aware there will be someone else sitting next to you practically on your seat! The problem is even if you do want to enjoy it, you simply cant because you are not given the privacy and the space to explore.

The food was also pretty terrible and the wine served with the suprise menu tasted cheap. I also requested no game meat or eccentric foods to which I was served crocodile and frogs legs. When I specified this again, they gave me the veg starter, but it seemed to be incomplete as the lady next to me who was also vegetarian had other things on her plate. I think this was because they just couldnt be bothered, and hey I couldnt tell anyway.

Our waiter, although blind, and I appreciate this, was rude, and did not help to make guests feel at ease. I, in particular was uneasy about the dining experience and the staff do not make you feel better. Dessert was good, but I could have bought it in the supermarket. For £150.00, I really dont recommend dining here.

I believe that this restaurant is supposed to make you more aware of your senses and assist you in appreciating the food in front of you. Unfortunately it fails to do this because the ambience is wrong, and the food is of a below average standard. Eccentric to the extreme.
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Natasha Karia-Dewji
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I went to the restaurant last Tuesday and had a great experience.

I read some bad reviews from the place before but I thought I better try it myself as the concept looks interesting and original

I went there with some friends of mine, and I actually had a great time.

We were nicely welcomed and had a quick explanation on how it works inside.

We all chose the Chefs Surprise, which apeared to be great, we ate some foie gras and duck terrine, and best part was the main with crocodile, shark steak and ox tongue and cheek!

The experience itself was amazing, our waiter Nadine was very helpful. Nice as well to be able to speak to your neighbours you dont even know

Would recommend this place to anybody who wants to live something really different and unusual.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, January 22, 2011

Now where do I start? First of all, everyone who wants to go there for the "experience" well you might just want to switch off all the lights at home and get some ready made meals from Tesco and get a someone with a blind fold to be your waiter! you'd be happy! This concept restaurant is just a big business scam and extortion! No wonder why they ask you for your credit card at first and keep it until the end of the night! The food was average and definitely not worth the £32! I go to restaurant for good food, nice setting/ decor, environment and food presentation! well guess what! it was too dark for me to even finish my meal! Thats the whole point? NO WAY! The food was just ready made meal, by the taste of it! (I didn't see the presentation!) The waiter was quite rude, as I wanted to go to the toilet and he said to me, you can't leave your table everytime! The university students next to me were loving the "experience"!!! ....I am no kid and if I wanted to play in the dark, I'd stay at home with all the lights off, much cheaper option! Again, the food was terrible, no wonder why they don't tell you what you're gona be eating until the end! I was so tempted to leave as soon as I received my starter but my friends were willing to give the Main course a try...disapointment again! There is also a Health and safety issue and definitely, think about it guys....YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU'RE EATING! = SERVE ANYTHING TO THE CUSTOMERS AND BECAUSE ITS DARK AND THEY ARE ALL AFTER THE"EXPERIENCE" OF EATING IN THE DARK, THEY WON'T REALISE ITS JUST A CHEAP READY MADE MEAL!...business concept at its best! I would rather be in a Mc Donalds! at least I get to see the damn thing! (I never eat fast food btw) You guys want EXPERIENCE? WELL go have breakfast in front of the Loch Ness and watch the sun rise! That is EXPERIENCE!!!
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kevin
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 14, 2011

No doubt that Dans le Noir is a fantastic experience !!!!

I will definitely come back !

Prices are quite high, but I think it's worth it. Our food was excellent (we went for the blue and green option), and we had nice surprise cocktails !

Our guide, Cyril, was very helpful and took care about us during the evening. I even met his guide dog, Frank !

All in all, a good experience if you are ready to try something different...
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Maria
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, December 10, 2010