Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really a pitch-black dining room?
Yes it is ! The room where the dinner takes place is completely dark! We aren't used to completely dark environment since you hardly find this level of darkness in daily life as, we are used to small rays of light from the streetlights or moonlight but in the Dans le Noir ? restaurant there is no light at all! To keep the room completely dark, you will be asked to place all potential sources of light such as cigarettes, lighters, watches, cell phones or cameras in the free lockers at your disposal in the reception room. You can also use the lockers to drop your coat and/or purse.
How can we eat in complete darkness? Don't we mess? Do we get food all over our clothes?
Once deprived from our main sense, the sight, we tend to rely more on our other senses, sense of hearing, of touch and smell. Thus, they will help you to get by in the dark room to eat but also reach your table. Even though at the beginning it can be daunting, then it becomes more and more enjoyable as you start to relax. Our blind guides are carefully trained to ensure visitors' welfare and will provide you with guidance.
Why are the waiters blind?
Blind people are more competent in the darkness and are the best people capable of doing the job in such context. You will become blind for at least one and half hour and you really must be able to trust your waiter. It is a true "transfer of trust" and an amazing approach to raise awareness about blind disability and disability in general.
How do we move in the dark room?
Visitors aren't allowed to move by themselves in the dark room as it could put the waiters at risk (remember the waiters/guides are blind and need clear walkways to work around the tables). If you wish to move or need to leave the dark room to go to the restrooms for instance, you just have to call your waiter; they will assist you anytime.
How do we place an order? How do we see the menu?
The welcome staff is responsible for taking orders in the lit area. But you can of course re order drinks or extra food directly from your waiter whenever you wish while eating.
How do we get the attention of our guide?
You will call out their name. He or She will be properly introduced to you before entering the dark dining room.
Are there many blind people among your visitors?
Not particularly however all of them enjoy the experience because it's a unique way to share what it feels like being blind with their friends and relatives.
Are the chefs blind? Is the kitchen in the dark too?
The chefs are not blind and kitchen is lit, the Head chef and his team must be able to equally use each of their senses to deliver great cuisine. They are preparing creative and exciting dishes that play with flavours, using fresh and tasty ingredients for patrons to enjoy a unique culinary experience.
Are the toilets in the dark?
Would be fun but, no toilets aren't in the dark! The toilets are located on ground floor level and first floor lounge and are fully lit.
Do you often have people who can't cope with eating in the dark?
It is very seldom when someone cannot cope with eating in the dark! It is such an amazing experience that majority of people feels amazed by this very unusual and exciting moment which is all about re discovering senses. Your apprehension will prove to be unfounded! Out of more than 50,000 visitors in Paris only a few of our customers felt the need to leave the dark room before finishing their experience.
How do you deal with security matters?
Everything has been taken care of! There will be adequate security equipment at the premises. The lights switch on automatically in the event of an emergency. Special emergency exits have been designed for and checked by the local council to be fully compliant (Building Regulation Division of Islington)
Is the dark room monitored by CCTV cameras?
Yes, we do film the room with infrared cameras and keep records to ensure visitors' welfare and safety. Please be assured that we only watch the records in case of an incident or on customer request.
What type of food do you serve?
Our restaurant serves an eclectic and innovative world food inspired by French Cuisine. Each dish is an explosion of flavours and are made such to educate visitors to new way of enjoying food.
What about special diet requirements?
The welcome staff will ask you if you have any special diet requirements or suffer from any food allergies. In such cases, the chef would amend your menu accordingly.
How long do we stay inside the dark room?
On average visitors will spend about one and a half hours in the dark room. There will be either 2 or 3 sittings each evening starting from 7 pm.
Is it expensive?
We are striving to keep our prices reasonable in order to make this experience accessible for everyone. Prices also take costly safety requirements into account.
How many visually impaired people does the restaurant employ?
8 guides permanently and eventually an additional bank of people is on call for special events such as private hires and corporate events (product launches for instance) official receptions, media launch and press events or sensory workshop etc.
How many people does the restaurant seat?
There are 60 seats in the main dark dining room and another 26 seats in the a upstairs lounge, this lounge is a flexible room that can either be kept lit or be plunged in the dark.
Do you have any anecdote?
We had customers admitting licking their chocolate sauce from their plates! and they were right! Some people met via an Internet chat room and decided to have their first "blind date" in the darkroom before eventually discovering their faces with an ultimate drink in the lit lounge. We also organise events in the dark such as reading and debates and these events usually make amazing moments and memories!
In complete darkness everyone is equal, politicians, actors, celebrities, ... they all look alike in the dark i.e. without any label as in the dark we are no longer governed by appearance and etiquette.
How and who came up with this unusual concept? - A little piece of history...
Dinners in complete darkness are said to have existed from the late 19th century even though it is difficult to verify this.
In the 90's, researchers like Andreas Heineke in Germany or Michel Reilhac in France, have tried to develop further this concept by organizing (mostly over the last decade), all over Europe, a full range of experiences such as dinners in complete darkness, dark bars, tactile and audio exhibitions, art performances etc of course all of them in complete darkness!
Such experiences have also been developed in France since 1999, thanks to the Paul Guinot Foundation (the second largest organization for blind people in France); this foundation has developed a program of dinners in complete darkness called "Le gout du noir?" "Taste of darkness" This program has been very successful especially regarding to the media, it has led Michel Reilhac to produce the first TV show in complete darkness (shot in infrared) this show was presented by two journalists (one of them was blind).
A restaurant where you can eat in complete darkness has also been opened in Zurich (Switzerland) in 2000 by a foundation for blind people and it is still running successfully (Blinde Kuh). Another has recently been opened in Berlin (Germany). All these experiences have been successful and have always been rewarded by a good response from the public as well as from the media.
"Dans le Noir?" was founded by Edouard de Broglie and Etienne Boisrond in 2004 in Paris - the first private company to develop this concept in Europe. "Dans le Noir ?" in London will be the largest restaurant of its kind in the world.
Can we bring our young children with us?
Yes of course, children from the age of 7 are welcome; for children under the age of 7 this experience could be a bit frightening. By the way we regularly organise children's meals to enable them to discover the sensory experience and raise awareness about blind disability among the youngest.
Should we book in advance?
Yes, we advise visitors to book their experience in advance because the restaurant is often fully booked 1 or even 2 weeks in advance.
For our London branch, you can book on 020 7253 1100 or booking@danslenoir.com.
All information, news and special events are available on our website www.danslenoir.com. You can also sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.