dinner in the dark

Published on September 5, 2004 By mignuna In Misc

I read a while ago about the concept restaurants “Dinner In The Dark”, and although there are none located anywhere near us, I was intrigued by the concept.

Basically, there are no lights at all in the restaurant, and the staff are visually impaired. Upon arrival, you are guided to your table and seated by the maitre’d, the wait staff read you the days’ menu choices, and you make your selection.

(Of course, Braille menus are available on request).

Imagine it: yourself and your companions are sharing a friendly meal. You cannot see each other. There are no visual distractions. You cannot rely on body language to communicate. You have only your voice.

Interestingly, people report an improved level of communication between them in these circumstances. They listen harder, and, being devoid of any other stimuli, are much more likely to retain what they have heard.

Despite the many and varied mishaps caused by the darkness, things such as vegetables unrecognisable by taste, dropped food, and spilled red wine become sources of great hilarity rather than scandalous social errors.

Reviews abound for the food itself, and it’s little wonder. With the senses of taste and smell being heightened by the dark, along with the freedom to eat entirley unobserved, it is a diners’ ultimate dream.

Dependant entirely on the restaurant staff for every basic need from finding a chair to being led discreetly to the bathroom by the elbow, customers gain a new appreciation for not only the obstacles faced by the visually-impaired, but for the precious gift of their own sight.

I’ve made up my mind that I can’t wait for such a place to open in my area, and I have decided to impose my very own “dinner in the dark” on my husband in the very near future.

Yes, it may sound a little strange, but I figure that a little appreciation might be the very least I owe my healthy vision, and gaining a little empathy for others along the way is a major plus.

Link

Comments

Mackintosh

on Sep 05, 2004

So this is how far people will go? I can achieve the same "sensations" eating dinner blindfolded...honestly, that's just excessive eccentricity to me.

Erk.

on Sep 05, 2004

I read about this too, somewhere. The staff wear nightvision goggles. Don't think you'll get away with pickin' your nose in the dark, coz they see all!

on Sep 05, 2004

Hmm I wouldn't be able to order anything there. I laugh thinking how to try to make blind server read my order in writing.

Sometimes the defective gene that causes deafness, also affects balance. My entire family is deaf, other than my brother's 3 kids, and he also has one deaf son. My balance is not affected, but my mother would walk all over and fall down in the dark. She always depends on seeing to balance. I think for us, going there collects so many problems that it's not worth the novelty.

Theophilus Thistler

on Sep 06, 2004

I am lucky to have great sight and I reckon that the restaurant idea is an excellent one! Actually, it would probably be a great idea for a date sometime. I can cook great tasting meals... they just generally look like crap and the darkeness could improve things in so many ways... not having to worry about body language, my hair looking funny or chicken in my teeth. It would probably make the conversation more forthcoming as well...

I'm with you Mig! Should we maybe think about going into business together?

mignuna

on Sep 06, 2004

So this is how far people will go? I can achieve the same "sensations" eating dinner blindfolded...honestly, that's just excessive eccentricity to me.

do you eat dinner blindfolded macky ? how intriguing hehe !.

Don't think you'll get away with pickin' your nose in the dark, coz they see all!

oh wreckless, damn, there goes my plan ..

my mother would walk all over and fall down in the dark. She always depends on seeing to balance.

xx, i am exactly the same. my senese of balance is utterly reliant on vision, and my night vision is very poor. i would probably eat the floral arrangement !

I am lucky to have great sight and I reckon that the restaurant idea is an excellent one! Actually, it would probably be a great idea for a date sometime

thanks, theophilus thistler !. i agree that it would be a good adventure for a date. very imtimate, but private, too. very appealing

I'm with you Mig! Should we maybe think about going into business together?

excellent idea. as long as you don't mind moving to australia, that is

!

vanessa/mig XX

Theophilus Thistler

on Sep 06, 2004

Mig! I'm an aussie! I'm all the way up in sunny Qld though... so it's a bit of a hike from you I think.

I'm totally fascinated by this dining in the dark idea!

trina_p

on Sep 06, 2004

i would probably eat the floral arrangement !

this reminds me of a futurama episode where Emeril (Muggaz inspiration for his BAM!) causes Leila to have to wear an eyepatch (and she's a cyclops) and to make up for it he cooks an individual meal for all of them and Leila says "This salad is delicious - so fresh" and they cut to her eat the flowers on the table with her fork instead of her salad

I'm sure I've heard of this before - on TV maybe - everythings on TV

trina_p

on Sep 06, 2004

(my quotes and links won't work - sorry!)

Texas Wahine

on Sep 06, 2004

mig: This sounds so neat! I'd love to go to a place like that with my husband. Very cool.

Sally jacobs

on Sep 07, 2004

This sounds like a fab idea! I am a terrible eater at the best of times, I blame bad hand and eye co-ordination, but really it's because I can bever concentrate on what I'm doing, and end up not watching what I am doing. So maybe without distraction I would eat better in the dark! We don't have them here I don't think, so I'm going to follow suit, and make my family have a meal in the dark. Ooooh I could even start a food fight and no one would know it was me! Yay!

mignuna

on Sep 08, 2004

Mig! I'm an aussie! I'm all the way up in sunny Qld though... so it's a bit of a hike from you I think.

you are theophilis ?. wow, i'm sorry. i had a funny feeling after i typed that, actually. the closest town to us is coffs harbour. we are about 4 hours south of the nsw/qld border. how far is that from you ?

I'm totally fascinated by this dining in the dark idea!

i am too !. i have liked the idea since i heard of it. i really do think there's a business in the idea somewhere. i'm glad you agree. where we we locate our first franchise ?

"This salad is delicious - so fresh" and they cut to her eat the flowers on the table with her fork instead of her salad

that sounds like me, trina. if we all ever have a ju 'dinner in the dark', keep an eye on me will you ? hehe

mig: This sounds so neat! I'd love to go to a place like that with my husband. Very cool.

thankyou, texas wahine. i would too !. i wish i could !

I am a terrible eater at the best of times, I blame bad hand and eye co-ordination, but really it's because I can bever concentrate on what I'm doing, and end up not watching what I am doing.

me too, sal. or else i start talking and take forever to finish my food. and i spill stuff hehe

We don't have them here I don't think, so I'm going to follow suit, and make my family have a meal in the dark. Ooooh I could even start a food fight and no one would know it was me! Yay!

great idea, sal. please let me know what happens. and throw that food ! yay !

vanessa/mig XX

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!