eating in the dark?

[Miss Potter]

has anybody tried this restaurant nr Farringdon?

dans le noir (http://www.danslenoir.com/london/restaurant.php)

I've booked a meal there after hearing about it from my physio. Mixed reviewed on the internet so I thought I'd see if anybody on here has tried it...

[Spymaster]

I know a few people that have been and all have said that the food is excellent. Mixed opinions on eating in the dark though, you can't leave the table at all, even to use the toilet, without a guide and some have found it very "claustrophobic".

I'd like to give it a try but can't interest anyone to join me.

[zenie]

I've read about this. It looks really good :cool:

Let us know how you get on :)

[A Dashing Blade]

Blink and you'll miss it but basically it's a blinding restaurant ;)

[Shippou-Chan]

it sounds... a little...

well it's a new selling point anyhow

not for me though i'm too picky about my food for their surprise menu

[dlx1]

Surprise Menu oo

would be good for a 1st date / blind date

[Miss Potter]

went last night. I was really nervous in the lead up to it because I didn't know what to expect. We were with 2 couples, and all went in at the same time. The waiter guided each of us in turn to our chair and then once we were all sat down he talked us through the layout of our places - knife, fork, big glass for water, small for wine. I held on to the table for a while, I felt that if I let go I'd fall off the world! But you soon become accustomed to it and relax. My friend chose the green (veggie) menu and the rest of us had the white. When you leave they ask if you want to guess what you'd eaten, but we'd already done that at the table - carpaggio (?) duck with green beans for starters, monkfish with mashed potatoes and carrots for main. We ended up eating with our fingers because it's really difficult to get stuff on your fork!

Anyway, as an unusual dining experience it's pretty hard to beat so if you're not a terribly fussy eater I'd recommend it, although it is a tad pricey.

Oh and we were filmed for American TV, some programme called Extra doing a series about Trendy London :cool:

[lighterthief]

Surprise Menu oo

would be good for a 1st date / blind dateA mate of mine did go there for a first date.

:D

[jbob]

Sounds terrible to me. Surely the joy of food is partly in looking at it? And enjoying eye contact and laughs with the people you're eating with? I suppose as a one-off it might be interesting, but fuck it, for the sort of prices they're asking I know some very decent restaurants that I know I'll enjoy without all silly restrictions.

[Dubversion]

every review i've heard said that the concept doesn't make for the astonishingly awful food

[editor]

has anybody tried this restaurant nr Farringdon?
Stupidest idea ever.

[Skim]

A friend from work went and said the food was crap. And the guided escort to the toilet was too much :D

[Skim]

From the FAQ:

Are the chefs blind? Is the kitchen in the dark too?

The chefs are not blind and kitchen is lit

Phew.

Are the toilets in the dark?

Would be fun but, no toilets aren't in the dark!

I can't see anything fun about peeing on your shoes :(

[PacificOcean]

Is there any reasoning behind eating in the dark or is it just a gimmick?

[Miss Potter]

I found it heightened the other senses. I'd love to see their cctv images of me trying to eat...

[Fuzzy]

i remember going camping once and by the time we'd set up the tent and cooked our food on the bbq it was dark. i remember distinctly not enjoying my food as i couldnt see it. i couldnt eat those bits that looked nice first and ended up sort of hoovering it up just to get it down. i realised then that enjoying food was not just about how it tasted but how it looked and the presentation of it. cant imagine that i would have got much enjoyment from going to said restaraunt but glad you enjoyed it AB.

[beeboo]

You could do the same thing at home with beans on toast and a blindfold, save a bit of cash :cool:

[PacificOcean]

You wouldn't be able to wear your good clothes there.

Surely you would make a right mess eating in the dark?

[jbob]

Can't imagine this place is going to last too long...