Already the rage in Europe, Australia, L.A. and New York, O.NOIR is Canada’s first-ever restaurant that invites you to experience food, drink and conversation like never before IN THE DARK! It’s a sensual dining experience like no other. When you eat without your sight, your remaining senses are heightened to savour the smell and taste of food. O.NOIR does more than just fire the imagination and stimulate the senses. After a few hours in complete darkness (that’s right, no flashlights, matches, cell phones, cigarette lighters or luminous watches), customers gain a better understanding of what it’s like to be blind just like the restaurants’ entire wait staff. O.NOIR – IT’S BETTER IN THE DARK.
O.Noir offers a truly unique and memorable dining experience centered around eating in complete darkness, which allows guests to engage their senses of taste, smell, and touch in a brand new way. Many diners appreciate the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones, noting that the surprise menu options add an exciting layer of discovery to the meal. The service is consistently highlighted as exceptional, with professional and attentive staff members who guide patrons through the immersive environment with kindness and skill. While the majority of guests describe their visit as a one-of-a-kind highlight, some visitors mention that the atmosphere can occasionally be affected by the noise levels of larger groups or the challenge of navigating the dark space, suggesting that smaller parties or quieter times might enhance the overall tranquility of the evening.
Loved the experience! Fay was a fantastic host, the food was excellent, & the experience in the dark was unique & memorable. My only suggestion, & this has nothing to do with the restaurant, is to avoid going as a large group. The beginning of the meal was amazing as there were only a few quiet tables, but once some noisy larger groups showed up, it was harder to enjoy the experience.
A Unique Concept, But Not for Everyone O'Noir offers a great dining experience, but it may not suit everyone. Unfortunately, the experience didn't work out for me as I started feeling quite nauseous & dizzy in the complete darkness. Without visual cues to gauge distance or body position, my vertigo seemed to kick in. & even though I don't have claustrophobia, I began to feel a bit panicked & short of breath in the dark. The restaurant itself was quite warm, which didn't help my discomfort. While the food was good, I found it hard to enjoy while feeling unwell. One improvement would be for the restaurant to enforce its "no loud conversation" rule & perhaps lower or turn off the music. Our room was extremely loud; a nearby table was swearing, shouting, & even making fake vomiting sounds, which added to the stress. When I started feeling really sick & needed to leave, it also took a while for the waiter to return. One additional thing to note: the waitstaff touch shoulders & hair frequently when serving drinks, which felt a bit intrusive. A more comfortable approach might be to place the glass on the table & guide guests to it without contact. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I definitely won't return. This experience may be best for those who aren't as sensitive to sensory overload.
This is a true blind eating experience. There is no light at all. You have to lock up any light emitting electronics in a locker with your coat & purse. You can choose your meal & drinks from the menu or you can select surprise food & drinks that do not appear on the menu. We decided to do the surprise options & the meals were fabulous. Everything was very flavorful & the portion sizes were perfect. My oldest son got the 3 courses so he got a surprise starter he thought was lamb on arugula but was actually shrimp on mescaline. His main course turned out to be roast beef not chicken. The boys' dessert was passion fruit & sponge cake not strawberry shortcake like they thought. My youngest son & I ended up with duck with a blueberry sauce which he guessed correctly & I had creme brule for dessert. The service was excellent & our table was mapped out exactly as our server described. It wasn't cheap-$300.00 with drinks, taxes & tip but it was an excellent experience. My youngest son had his misgivings about eating food he couldn't see but he really enjoyed it. It was nice to have a meal where the boys weren't staring at their phones but instead actually talking to me. Perhaps that alone was worth the price.
Oct 20, 2024
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Loved our experience, I had heard from other people in the past that the food wasn't good, but to be honest, it was genuinely delicious! The portions were big, we were stuffed by the end! & everything was amazing, the flavours & dishes were so good! The best part is picking everything as a surprise, that way you really get to enjoy the experience. I think the price was reasonable for the experience & the quality of the food. Definitely try the cocktails! Make sure you go with someone who you like talking to because it can get awkward in the dark for sure 😂
Pour une soirée complètement différente, pour développer votre odorat, votre ouïe & vos papilles gustatives... c'est un must ! Noir total ! On ne voit absolument rien. Le seul bémol est le bruit. Lors de notre passage, il y avait une tablée très très bruyante. Nous avons eu beaucoup de difficulté à comprendre ce que les gens de notre groupe disaient. Sans lire sur les lèvres comme nous sommes habitués, ça devient très difficile d'entendre les conversations. Malgré cela, nous y retournerons certainement pour faire découvrir l'expérience à d'autres ! Service impeccable de la belle Sophia. Une perle !
O M G. We went there for my sisters bday & it did not disappoint. (I do not recommend to do bday there unless within family). It is complete darkness, not even a little light. You cannot take anything with you that makes light (watch, phone) as it will ruin the experience for everyone there. The food was very good & our waiter was also very professional. Thank you Fey! Going there is not just for eating but to experience what people with limited vision feel like. It has opened my eyes about how they feel & see the world. Will go again for sure. P.S. : my little cousin of 7 years old panicked when entering the PITCH BLACK dining room ( you must prepare your kids & tell them that they won't see what they eat, drink, or see the person next or in front of them.) Also, It is very weird at the beginning but after 10-20min you get used to it. W restaurant, W idea, W people, W experience
