Wow, what a unique and memorable experience! We learned of this dining experience when on the Bustronome bus tour (another good one!) from a local. Grateful for the tip as we enjoyed this so much. Without sight to judge, you are defaulted to a sensory overload of taste and textures of the 3 course meal. They lock up your phone and watch before entering the blacked out dining room, however my Oura ring was emitting light and another patron commented on it so I quickly put it in my pocket. We shared a table with two lovely ladies and had a delightful and entertaining experience together. We were fortunate to be served and guided by Ghow, who was amazing! Such a nice man. We had fun all guessing what we were eating, which they show you pictures at the very end as you leave. Definitely an unforgettable experience. You also gain a greater depth of respect for those visually impaired. LOVED THIS EXPERIENCE!! Book it! You won't be sorry. read more

Loved Ghow his service was incredible and he's funny and kind and place gave me a great experience I won't forget

Hands down the best food experience in London. No excuses - you must do this! Service was incredible. Our waitress was amazing and put us at ease and helped us with everything. The downstairs cocktail lounge had great ambiance and the staff were incredible! I will be bringing everyone close to me back because everyone should experience Dans le Noir!! read more

My girlfriend and I came to England on our way to Switzerland for vacation... or as they say in Europe, we came for Holiday. While running amok in another country is all well and good, we wanted to do something other than SEE the SIGHTS... (do you get what I'm doing here?) Now we find ourselves at Dans Le Noir. Dining in the Dark! Here's the basic gist of it all. You eat in the dark. Not just dark. Pitch black. The dining event starts by loosely placing an order. You do this by choosing one of a handful of colors- Red- Meat menu - (that's all you know about the menu) Green- vegetarian menu (for those who might be vegetarian or are terrified by what mystery meat might be offered on the red menu) Blue- seafood- ironically you can't actually SEEfood. We were brought into the main room through a series of blackout curtains in a single file line with one hand on the persons shoulder in front of you. It's a lot like going through a haunted house, or like the time my girlfriend had eye surgery and I waked her into the men's restroom at the mall and told her it was the food court. The point is, you can't see ANYTHING. Close your eyes for a second. Know how you can kind of see blobs of light through your eyelids? You saw nothing in this room. Our waiter guided us to our seats and then we sat down. My girlfriend sat across from me, and we had a couple of local Britts sitting next to us, as well as (no lie) an Australian hypnotist and an American doctor. I asked the hypnotist if he get my girlfriend to forget the time I "made her" eat Sbarro Pizza In the men's bathroom at the mall. (She has a real problem holding onto stuff like that, and it isn't healthy) Anywho- the food-- you have no idea what is being put down in front of you. Inevitably, you just start fingering at your food because you've spent 5 minutes stabbing your napkin with your fork before you realize your nowhere near your plate. The food was delicious. By the end, I was picking up food with my fingers and stabbing it with my fork because my parents told me only animals eat with their hands. EXPLAIN PIZZA AND HOTDOGS, MOM!! The experience is fantastic! Not only is the food amazing, but you become fast friends with the other people who are terrified that some crazy chef decided to serve elephant butthole as the meat option that evening. (They did not have that option, I asked several times) After you eat 3 courses you think, I'm pretty sure I've guessed everything I ate. Then you walk outside of the dark room and back into the world of hideous light where you see the people you just ate with. All were lovely people, but I was SHOCKED to see that I was the only one who got undressed in the dark room. (I was afraid of spilling something on myself) After the shocked screams (and some UNNECESSARY pointing and chuckling) we all hugged it out and took our photo together. Then you get to actually see how wrong you were about the food you ate. The food was a solid 10/10 The experience was amazing The nudity was (apparently) not appreciated. And I learned a valuable lesson... We eat very much with our eyes. Having eye sight taken away allowed me to enjoy things I would've found undesirable if I had to see it. Which makes me wonder why my girlfriend asks me to turn out the lights during our alone time. read more

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Bottom line: Highly recommend in general. Solo diners, wait and come back with a friend, or go ahead and go but manage your expectations. I want to start by saying this is a great concept, and being led into the dark room is incredibly thrilling. The food is delicious if pricy (but it's fine dining so what do you want). The maître d' was very nice as was the server, Michael. I'll definitely come back if a friend or family member wants to go. My issue was that, even as a frequent solo traveler (and therefore solo diner), this was kind of a lonely experience. Normally where I would bring a book, play on my phone, or even just people watch, pretty much your only option other than eating was to socialize. You do have a chance to hit it off with the larger party they seat you with, but that's kind of the luck of the draw - after exchanging greetings when I sat down they returned to talking amongst themselves in another language. It's hard to come up with a definitive star rating. While I had what I would consider a three-star experience, this could easily have been a five-star experience under different circumstances. I'll split the difference and give it four. read more

Definitely a unique experience at Dans le noir restaurant! "In the dark" Once I stepped in I got a bit nauseous.. Maybe my brain was trying to adjust to the atmosphere of darkness. 10min later I was just fine. This restaurant is absolutely dark!!! I chose the surprise menu which you don't know what you are getting. But you use your five senses, the sixth sense if you have it :) touch your plate, your food, concentrate more on tasting it to find out what it is. Focusing one the voices.. And appreciating it. It's amazing how our brain works and how easy to adjust to any situation. You just start feeling that you have an extra power to feel whats around you without seeing it. Perfect place for a first date. You get to judge your date by personality than by the look. read more

Dans Le Noir - The surprise menu - French Near Me - London, XGL

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After overhearing a conversation in an elevator once about how amazing this restaurant was I have been wanting to try it ever since. The first thought that springs to mind is but how the hell can you eat in the dark? So I finally got to try it last night and see or not see as it were for myself. I sampled one of the cocktails first in the lit bar, i tried the Dans le Noir (£8.50) which was raspberry puree, vodka, Chambord, splash orange juice topped up with Laurent Perrier Brut with a blackberry on top. As me and my friend waited for the 9 o clock sitting the bar got busier and the people from the previous sitting poured out of the hall rubbing their eyes, some laughing, some looking very confused. At 9 we were introduced to our blind waiter Mona who told us to form a line and to place our hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us as she led us down the dimly lit hall, through two sets of curtains into complete darkness. We both ordered the white surprise menu and we were handed a plate of what we thought was just meat at first but as we explored the plate further we found some rice and veg. It was difficult to cut the food and it was a little cold which was disappointing. The dessert was a blueberry mouse and vanilla custard (there is probably some fancy name for it but that's what it was basically) I enjoyed it, but i was expecting more for the price at £29 per person. But It was a great experience that i am glad to have tried. read more

Dans Le Noir - French Near Me - London, XGL

It's pretty rare for me to come out of a restaurant to shout 'sensory overload' while rubbing my eyes with jaded glee! However, this was certainly my experience upon leaving such a fascinating concept restaurant, which surpassed my already high expectations. First off, my date and I were led to a series of lockers where were asked to leave our belongings and venture into the darkness. We both opted for the 'not-for vegetarians' surprise menu. Later when quizzed on what we ate, I said veal, the waitress said ostrich...I said chutney, she said goat's cheese. But you know what, the experience itself was so utterly delicious the food really wasn't the main attraction ;-) Ben our blind waiter was perfectly attentive, as two tumblers of white and red wine were delivered with a deft tap of the shoulder. The only question you need to ask yourself is...should I scoop the mash with my hands, or opt for an ever-vanishing fork? My date and I differed on this approach, with rather enchanting conclusions...pitch black has never been so illuminating! read more

Dans Le Noir - French Near Me - London, XGL

Food was delicious experience was unique and wonderful had a great time. We would love to come back again with the rest of our family.

Ok, so here's how my experience started...I arrived with a full bladder, searching madly for the nearest bathroom. With trepidation I followed the concierge's hand signals towards an envelope of shrouded darkness. Luckily I popped out in a passageway with complete with lights....whew....unluckily, once I had found the bathroom, it appeared the bathroom's light bulb was out (this was not part of the setup, I considered it for a moment, but knew it wouldn't work, no one wants to clean up after that, and confirmed it later in the evening upon returning to a then well lit bathroom). Anyway, as I said, I needed to go, pronto...so I made a calculated guess of where everything was from the doorway, before plunging headlong into the blackness as the door closed behind me and all light was emphatically extinguished.... It all worked out OK (I think...I couldn't really tell too much, but I even managed to find the soap and wash my hands!). This was just my first 5 minutes at the place, and already I was enticed by the sheer feeling of helplessness one experiences in the dark, even though you can usually get by just fine if you put your mind to it and take certain precautions! Right, on to the "advertised" experience. So we went in as a large group, 1 hand on the shoulder of the person in front, don't let go, or you'll be left behind enemy lines and never find your way out. Lost forever in the inky darkness. Possibly waking up in a bath full of ice...no, let me stop there... Luckily, I managed to hold on to my guide....Unluckily I walked straight into a wall! If you could imagine someone mashing their face up against a pane of glass, then you'd have a pretty good idea of how I looked, except it's funnier when it's glass, not a wall, people are watching from the other side, and it was your intention to do this for other's amusement. Luckily, no one saw it happen, as it was completely dark. Unluckily, everyone heard me grunt at the point of impact.... After sitting down the real experience started, we had a sample of wine and tapas. It was an awesome experience trying to figure out what you were eating, how much was actually on your plate (there were numerous Eureka! moments when people found they had one more of their favourite morsels left on their plate that they hadn't noticed), and how to tackle your food with a knife and fork. Obviously the knife and fork was just foreplay, and could only be tolerated as long as your will power allowed, soon being sidelined in favour of the more direct and hedonistic strategy of digging in with your hands. It was truly a experience of discovery and excitement. Everything was unexpected, even Matt taking off his shirt unbeknownst to most...Conversation was enthralling as once everyone was finished eating, their was literally nothing else to distract people, you were either speaking or listening (or perhaps making out, I'm not sure if any of that went down...but it could have...). The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars, is because I wouldn't say the food was earth shattering, and I can't give them 5 stars unless the experience was perfect. The food was definitely good value for what we paid, but we only had the tapas. Without any shadow of a doubt I will be returning to sample their 3 course menu, and will then update this review with my more qualified thoughts on their culinary expertise. All in all the experience is definitely a "must try" in my book...except for those afraid of the dark... read more

Here is a crazy idea. Ever tried eating a three course meal in pitch black darkness? Well if you think this sounds like fun you need to try out Dans le Noir restaurant in Farringdon. On entering you take a seat in the lobby and decide whether to eat the surprise three course menu of where there is no description of what you will have. Or you can choose your meal. I definitely recommend the surprise menu. You are introduced to your blind waiter. They explained that all the waiters are blind as their senses are more attuned to working in darkness. You are instructed to place your right hand on their shoulder and then they lead you into the darkest room I have ever been in. You are seated, then after explaining that if you call your waiters name they will come, they pour your first glass of wine and depart. The first ten minutes were difficult as the darkness is so oppressive. There literally is not a single shard of light. You can hear others in the restaurant and this I found comforting. My partner and I often held hands as a comfort to. As the food arrived things got really interesting. It is startling to realise how much you use your eyes when you eat. Without this sense your taste is really heightened, and it is great testing your knowledge on flavours. When the main arrived using a knife and fork initially was a problem, but before you know it you are chomping away as normal. Without a single hiccup or broken glass we made it to the end of our meal. At around £50 per head it was an amazing experience. read more

On a trip to London 3 years back this was on my lists of "Must do!". First and foremost, please make sure you make a reservation and arrive on time! I was nearly late thanks to jet lag and a very long transport from Oxford Street but anyway. They themselves state if their staff who are visually impaired can show up to work, you can show up to a dinner reservation. Really gets you doesn't it? I thought I would be dining alone in the dark which sounds quite pathetic but luckily, they seated me at a table with literal group of strangers as all I heard were voices and slight Italian accents from a man named Fernando at my table. The good thing is they ask you up front what you will not eat or are allergic to. I for example do not eat pork. The early cocktails outside the dark room helped and it was nice to have dinner with others without being distracted by faces or cell phones. VERY STRICT no cell phone policy but don't worry, they provide lockers. By the end of the night my taste buds were so excited with everything except the dessert which was a predictable chocolate flour-less cake but the other entrees were superb. Once I received my very high bill (the most expensive single dinner I have ever had, nearly £80) if I recall and for a girl from the U.S., that was quite a surprise but worth it! My main course that night? Crocodile curry and it was delicious! read more

I was taken to Dans Le Noir as a birthday treat, and it took a little while when the idea was revealed to me to get my hear around it. It goes like this... You dine in the dark, completely in the dark. You can't see anything. Pitch black is what I'm aiming for here. And it makes for an amazing experience. You're welcomed into a bar area where you lock your belongings in a locker, grab a drink and choose which of four menus you want to dine from. What you're actually going to get is a complete mystery, you just choose a general idea from Meat, Vegetarian, Fish and Chefs Surprise... Both Mrs D and I went for the surprise and the adventure began. Ushered into a dimly lit corridor, you're introduced to your server for the evening. All the waiters/waitresses are blind, and we had the fantastic Christine. Forming a sort of cross between a human caterpillar and the conga you're led, very carefully and very slowly to your table. You'll be seated on a table with other people (I think ours was six) so Christine helped get us seated and we introduced ourselves to those we'd be dining with. The experience of being so thoroughly in the dark was very odd at first, because it's only when you're so completely cut off from the light you realise how much you can normally see, even at night. Without a frame of reference, it's really difficult to place how far away you are from other people or what's in front of you... Our set menu was a three course affair, with a glass of wine served with the starter and main, selected by the restaurant to go with the meal that we had, and included a cocktail which you could choose to have before you started, or with dessert. The starter was our first foray into eating without being able to see, and take it from me; it's so much harder than it sounds. It was, I decided, after a bit of prodding with my fingers, some kind of pate - I'd already found the toast, and sticking your fingers in jam is actually highly enjoyable. Eating it was great fun too, with a really great variety of flavours in there and the difficulty in navigating the food successfully to my mouth really adding to the experience. Once cleared away, Christine announced the next course. Once again, there was prodding, and this time I determined that there were meats of some description on the plate, along with carrots... All I could tell at the time was that the food was good. I had no idea what it was, but it melted in the mouth. Lastly, the dessert - this was creamy and good, with maybe some kind of chocolate shavings on the top... I'll go through what the menu actually was shortly, along with a nice big spoilers tag, because, once you leave, they explain to you what you've eaten, and show you that, at least prior to you getting your fingers in there, it was all plated up beautifully. It's an eye opener to see what you've eaten after the fact, and if I'm honest, I'm sorry that the meal wasn't longer - it's true... Time flies when you're having an amazing time. ***SPOILER*** Starter: Foie Gras with Plum Chutney and Toasted Herb Bread Main: Bison, Venison and Lobster Dessert: Panna Cotta with White Chocolate *** SPOILER *** read more

I'm on the fence here as the experience is a five but the food is a disappointing and overpriced one. Once seated you'll start feeling around to scope out the layout, where your plate is, where your drinks are and how close the person next to you is sitting (feel above rather than below the table). When the food arrives you also realise how little one "feels" with cutlery and I ended up scraping the plate with a fork to find my dinner! The temptation to use my fingers was irresistible in the end :-D Identifying categories of food (game, fish etc.) was fairly straightforward but they picked some pretty exotic meats. The disappointment was the stringy lamb, overcooked ostrich, cold fish and undercooked rice. You're in such a high state of anticipation that it woulddn't be hard to be blown away and they failed entirely. Similarly, the "bar"/anteroom was empty when we arrived at seven and is not at all atmospheric or pleasant - you're better off drinking at the pub next door. In the end, this is something you'll want to try once but it's a shame about the food. read more

If you're looking for an exciting experience out of your comfort zone, look no further! This is it! I'm a very visual person and usually take a very good look at every thing I eat, so this is was quite hard for me to relax and let go of my fear. You need to trust the place to spend a good moment. I'm glad I did it, it was a great and unusual experience for me. Also tastes becomes very important in this situation, and the food was great. read more

Great food, fun experience, recommended!!! Even though it's dark, the food is delicious and the servers take great care of you.

We went for one of my friend's bday dinner, and we had a truly unique experience. To be honest, food wasn't the best I had. Having said that, some of their dishes turned out to contain some of the most unique ingredients such as zebra and crocodile meat, so all very worthwhile! The fact that our dishes were served by blind people made the experience all the more special. It is really pitch dark in the dining hall, and you realise the frustration and difficulty blind people must go through day to day -- and yet, in this very dark environment, our server Lisa was truly efficient and kind. Not much to comment on ambience given the darkness, but I did enjoy the little gathering space they had outside the dining hall. A great place to chill and be introduced to the concept whilst sipping on a glass of wine or cocktail from the bar. Overall, I'd recommend the experience if you're up for an adventure! read more

This place was rubbish, it's run like the blind leading the blind. I came out of this place and my bank balance felt like a battery farm chicken who has just seen Bernard Mathews licking his lips. The last time I felt this violated Leroy and his five brothers had just dismounted me. I like the concept of dating on the dark especially with the dating skills of Claire Balding however after being fisted by the price I don't think I'll be hurrying back. read more

I recently spent 7 days in London during spring break and if there was a "must-do" on my list, dinner at Dans Le Noir was it. The restaurant is pricey so it was tough finding a fellow college student to go with me, but they do offer a student discount! When you enter, someone will explain the menu to you so you may choose which menu you'd like (vegetarian, meat, seafood, of chef's surprise), how many courses you'd prefer, and select your drinks. When you're ready your waiter will lead you to your seat in the pitch black room and dinner begins. My friend and I both selected the chef's surprise which gives you both meat and fish throughout the meal. Neither of us enjoyed the appetizer which we thought was a cold crab cake of some sort. The main did not disappoint and we enjoyed what we thought was chicken, steak, and salmon, but we didn't much care for the vegetables that accompanied each meat on the plate. Lastly, the dessert was what we thought to be a flaky tart with fruit and cream. When we we're ready for a new course or to be escorted out of the dinning room, we would just call out waiter's name and he would pop right over. After dinner, you pay near the bar and have the opportunity to see pictures and descriptions of what you actually ate. Apparently we had: white crab with carrot gel and avocado emulsion for the starer; baked cobia fillet, roasted deer fillet, and pan fried goose breast for the main; and bourbon custard, poached and foamed pineapple, fruit gel, and victoria sponge crumbs for dessert. I probably wouldn't have eaten any of these things had I known what they were, but they were delicious. Now I'm a fan of deer and Dans Le Noir! read more

The concept of this restaurant has appealed to me ever since it was first brought to my attention so I finally got around to seeing if it lived up to my expectation. Upon arrival we were greeted and briefed on what to expect. I picked the white menu, which is the chef's surprise and we opted for 3 courses with surprise wines. Our coordinateur then advised us to use the toilets prior to entering the dark room. Given that the toilet area was to provide my first impression I was a little taken aback by the state it was in. It was smelly and grubby, reminiscent of something you would find in a divey run down pub. Even the stairs and carpet outside were worn and tatty. Not what I was expecting! We returned to the lobby and deposited our stuff in one of the provided lockers before being introduced to our blind waiter, Roberto. We were then led through expertly into the dark room and seated. It really is pitch black, and I found myself exploring my surroundings with my hands to try and build up an idea of the environment around me despite the inky blackness. The food arrived promptly, with the accompanying wine in tumblers rather than wine glasses for obvious reasons! Eating in the dark was surprisingly difficult, the lack of any tactile feedback from the cutlery makes it impossible to tell if you stabbing at food, your plate or just thin air! For both my starter and my main I had to resort to running my fingers across the plate to determine if I had eaten everything or not. The three courses arrived in what seemed like quick succession. However we weren't rushed and once we had finished Roberto told us to give him a call when we were ready to leave and was happy for us to take our time. Once we were ready to go we were led back through the curtains and back to the lobby area where our coordinateur presented us with a leather bound booklet showing us what we had eaten. My guesses proved to be mostly incorrect, however the dishes selected were exotic enough that I wouldn't have known what they were even if they had been served up to me in broad daylight... Overall I found it to be an immersive dining experience which I would definitely recommend to others to try, however I didn't find the food to be remarkable enough to feel that I would want to return. Our bill for 2 covers totalled £144 and while I don't regret it for the overall package I have had better food for less money elsewhere. read more

Went here for a birthday dinner-- they sing but sadly no candles-- and it was such an interesting experience. You walk into a dimly lit restaurant and are told to put anything that is a light source (watches, phones, etc.) and your purses/coats into a locker room. You then are greeted by the maitre'd and given a choice of menus-- Surprise, Meat, Vegetarian, or Fish. The "Surprise" one is kind of a misnomer because all of them are surprises really-- you have no idea what your plates are going to look like. You are greeted by a waiter who leads you into a completely and utterly dark room (hand on his shoulder) and as you sit down at a sort of community table to start enjoying your meal. This is sort of a make or break point for me-- I ended up having a really friendly and interesting table with lots of good conversation, but I can see how it could end up the other way around. The food was delicious, albeit hard to eat (lots of disappointment when your fork reaches your mouth and you haven't gotten any food on it). I will say that make sure you are ready for an experience because you have no say over what you are eating (unless it is an allergy and you submit that at the time of reservation). At the end of the meal you are lead out to pay with the maitre'd and you are given a "look book" of sorts to see what your meal looked like. I ate kangaroo and I liked it! Overall a great experience for the adventurous and the food was delicious prepared. Highly recommend. read more

We went here for a team night out, and even though the idea is great, I didnt enjoy it at all! Service was very good and our waiter was extremely helpful, supportive and fast! I would rate the service part with 5/5. However, the rest was rather disappointing. For the price you paid, we all left hungry, the food was cold when it arrived and not of good quality. Its a lovely idea, but unfortunately I wouldnt go again.. read more

Went on a date here last winter. Food: 4 - Stars Value: 3 - Stars Experience: 5 - Stars I'm giving it a 5 because it closed the deal. read more

The experience of dining in the dark is actually pretty cool. But the food itself is meh. Quality is rather average and quantity is really really on the small side. Also, looks kinda cheapy: the bar, the main hall, the menus - and yet it was 80£ p.p. and not to forget that we had to wait over 30mins for our table. The staff is really friendly. But I don't recommend it for dinner. read more

An intriguing, daunting and overwhelming experience but also humorous due to many mishaps in the dark. Other reviewers have already outlined the concept and process. The smells are overwhelming as is the noise. Our waiter Addy told us people tend to speak louder in the dark. As for the food, it was hard to tell other than sticking your hands in the plate whether you had eaten everything. Small portions, mysterious food and textures - often tastes that don't normally go together (I had wild boar, calf liver and saffron rice with crayfish all together as the main). Slightly daunting that you will never know the state of your plates or cutlery or food. Very disappointing that no matter which menu you choose, everyone has the same dessert. It seems like a bit of an anti-climax after the excitement of trying to describe your unique dishes to each other and offering them to your friends in the dark. Slightly overpriced for the quality and amount of food, but ultimately it's the experience that you are paying for. On the plus side, loved sharing a long table (I think it was long) with strangers in the dark. The overlap of conversations is just hilarious. Don't expect to have privacy because it's dark in there! read more

As a restaurant, this place is rubbish. As a novelty experience it's not bad... but that only earns it 2 stars in my book. The food is mediocre at best. Sure it helps blind people and that's all well and good, but I resent being charged £30 for something that tastes like a Tesco Value salad just because it's in the dark and served by blind people. And then they have the cheek to ask for a tip. It's such a shame because this would be a 4 or 5 star review if the food had been any good. read more

I agree with previous reviewers. This is a place to go for the experience rather than the food. You will find yourself eating some rather bizarre flavour combinations but the most important thing is that you will be eating in complete darkness. You will never have experienced darkeness like this before it is so dark that your eyes hurt! Very interesting night out and gives you some perspective as to what it would be like to be a blind person (I was so impressed by our blind waiter). However I think it is a one off experience. read more

After overhearing a conversation in an elevator once about how amazing this restaurant was I have been wanting to try it ever since. The first thought that springs to mind is but how the hell can you eat in the dark? So I finally got to try it last night and see or not see as it were for myself. I sampled one of the cocktails first in the lit bar, i tried the Dans le Noir (£8.50) which was raspberry puree, vodka, Chambord, splash orange juice topped up with Laurent Perrier Brut with a blackberry on top. As me and my friend waited for the 9 o clock sitting the bar got busier and the people from the previous sitting poured out of the hall rubbing their eyes, some laughing, some looking very confused. At 9 we were introduced to our blind waiter Mona who told us to form a line and to place our hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us as she led us down the dimly lit hall, through two sets of curtains into complete darkness. We both ordered the white surprise menu and we were handed a plate of what we thought was just meat at first but as we explored the plate further we found some rice and veg. It was difficult to cut the food and it was a little cold which was disappointing. The dessert was a blueberry mouse and vanilla custard (there is probably some fancy name for it but thats what it was basically) I enjoyed it, but i was expecting more for the price at £29 per person. But It was a great experience that i am glad to have tried. read more

I have been wanting to go to one of these restaurants since I heard about them. I thought they would do more diverse, unique food. This food was yummy, but it wasn't much different than going to any other restaurant in town, except it was pitch black. The server was great, and I love that the song staff is blind people. This gives them a chance to utilize their skills. The food was good, the cocktails delicious, and the staff was great. This was pretty good, but nothing near as interesting as I had hoped for. I won't tell my friends that it is a must do. read more

Dans Le Noir is unique. I can promise you that you've never had a dining experience like it! Dans Le Noir (In the Dark) is a restaurant where you literally dine in the pitch black. When you get there you can have a drink at the bar although it's pretty pricey- £7 for a vodka and diet coke! When your table is ready your waiter/waitress will come out and be introduced to you. Now, this is where it gets interesting: all the waiting staff are blind. You are then asked to hold on to each other's shoulders as you led into the dining area. It is such a bizarre experience walking into the pitch black like that and, for me, I found it a bit uncomfortable. From then on your waiter is your guide, telling you where the glasses and cutlery are on the table and seating you. Now, there is no set menu. You can specify whether you want meat, fish or a vegetarian option, but other than that there could be anything on your plate. To start I had lamb with gravy, roast potatoes and cabbage, and I ate it all with my fingers! I just couldn't grasp the concept of using a knife and fork in the dark, but I'm sure that it was just me being an idiot. I managed to use a spoon for the dessert :) I have to say that I'm not sure if I'd go to Dans Le Noir. The food was reasonably priced- £30 for two courses and £40 for three-and the staff were absolutely fantastic, but now that I've been there and done it it doesn't have the novelty value that it did before! However I really would recommend it as something completely different and something you're not going to find anywhere else in London! Also, it really gives an insight into the way that blind people live their lives and they do donate a lot of money to the RNIB. Oh yes, and if you need the toilet then go before the meal! The staff will take you out but they say it ruins the experience. So overall it's a thumbs up for Dans Le Noir! read more

Well, this was certainly a unique experience. I took my girlfriend there as a treat after reading about it, and I must say it lived up to expectation. When we arrived we were given an introduction to the restaurant, told all about the dining in the dark experience and invited to wait in the bar until they were ready (about 15-20 mins). We visited the little bar upstairs which was very tasteful, the drinks weren't cheap in general but the mystery cocktails they do for around £8 are recommended! Here they took our order and were very accomodating here, my girlfriend isn't able to eat some meat/dairy, which they took into account. After a short while we were told that our table was ready, and taken to the entrance to the dining area where we were introduced to our waiter. We were led to our table with some other people, making a train of people by holding onto the person in front. Once we were in and sat down, I was rather surprised to find the other couple sitting right next to us on the same table, I couldn't tell how far they were away as it really is pitch black in there, your eyes don't adjust to it so you can see, which is a very strange and can be worrying at first! We were joined by another couple slightly into the meal as well, this was odd but the people we were next to were lovely and meeting them outside was interesting as we had no idea what they looked like! The food we had was very nice, I remember having some venison, foie gras and ostrich, so you have to be prepared for some interesting flavours and textures, I think the sensory depravation does make you appreciate the food more. It can get very loud in the restaurant as people compensate for the dark by speaking louder, the waiters did ask everyone to quieten down a few times which was appreciated. We had a great time here, it was a bit pricey (£120 for 2 of us) but it was an experience I'll never forget, I wouldn't recommend it if you think you might be uncomfortable with the darkness though, as the only way out is to leave! read more

Nervous excitement best describes the feeling that fluttered over me before we walked through the black curtains into the unfathomably dark restaurant. Right hand on the shoulder in front, as per our blind waiter Thomas' instructions, we were led into the pitch dark. The blind leading the (temporarily) blind. With my hand placed on the back of my chair, I fumbled around to find the seat and avoid the early embarrassment of sitting on the floor. Thomas nimbly assisted us in helping us locate our glasses and cutlery. It took us significantly longer to figure out where we all were in relation to one another. It seemed incredibly noisy and very difficult to hear each other to begin with. Without being able to see each other's faces and expressions we had to lean in and concentrate on the words and tone. Social etiquette can easily be left at the door here.eat with your mouth open, yawn widely, scratch.who cares?! I had been coerced into going for the 3-course Chef's surprise white menu (£44 each) with a surprise white wine. This translates into anything goes. Eek. The drinks arrived together with instructions on how to pour. An immediate spillage of water ensued. Food next. Figuring out how to use cutlery, how not to lose the cutlery, what the food is and where the food actually is on the plate is all part of the fun. Table manners go out the window and it's a sauce-spilling, dressing-dripping, finger-food extravaganza. You don't go here for the gourmet cuisine. The starter was not quite the plain, meaty fish & salad we thought, but lobster, leeks and rocket salad. Plus caviar on the edge of the plate, which we all missed! The main seemed simpler - beef, pork, crackling, roast spuds, some kind of fish sauce and citrus dressing. Surf & Turf perhaps? Oh no. zebra, kangaroo, crispy Parma ham, roast potatoes and anchovies! Good grief. * feels guilty * The dessert, the nicest of the courses was a lemon mousse (err, posset) with an ice cream filled chocolate, shortbread and figs (not peaches at all). Best story of the evening? Apparently Wills & Kate went there one evening, via a side entrance, and dined in perfect anonymity! You can't fault this place for the experience. It's humbling to realise how sighted people take their vision for granted. It was an incredible, one-time experience. And challenging too. Well, aside from the wine pouring. Turns out I can do that with my eyes closed after all. read more

Great new experience ! We enjoyed the concept and the personal was nice too. We really spent a nice dinner. The food is not bad but isnt worth the price, I think that is the only negative point. But we still dont regret it even if this was quite expensive ! read more

A truly amazing experience!! My husband and I went with another couple, and we all ordered the "red" meal option. It was so cool being able to talk through what we thought we were eating and learning the true menu at the end (we were pretty close) We actually ended up adding dessert to our meal because we didn't want to leave! I can't recommend this place enough, just go!! read more

I'd heard about Dans Le Noir and had wanted to go for a while so was really excited when my friend organised a big girly dinner there. For those that don't know (French) the premise is you eat dinner in the dark! You choose a menu option before hand from meat, fish, vege and can also let it know about special dietary requirements. All the waiters in the restaurant are blind which in itself is amazing to a fully sighted person. The time slots are pretty strict but you get plenty of time to eat dinner. After meeting in the reception you're led into the restaurant in a long conga line by the blind waiter. The order you go in will depend on what menu you have so they know where you're sitting. They direct you to your seats and let you know where the wine, bread etc is. It's one of the weirdest most interesting experiences I've ever had. You really are in absolute pitch darkness. We soon gave up eating with knives and fork and opted for fingers because it was so much easier! I was the only vege in the group so I missed out comparing and trying to figure out what we were eating. When you come out they show you a menu of what you had. I would definitely recommend going in a group of more than two as it's more fun. Not being able to see is surprisingly tiring. It was a real effort to listen to waht everyone was saying especially as we were in a big group. It's amazing ow much you rely on sight cues! Prices are very reasonable and the actu food was very good but not amazing. We paid about £20 for two courses. All in all an experience I would highly recommend! read more

Dans Le Noir. Food for thought. Having left the mobile phones in the locker, we were guided to our table by a very friendly waitress Claire to enjoy a 3-course lunch from a surprise menu. In a complete darkness. A meal at Dans Le Noir will not only test your senses, but tolerance. One is left to guess the dishes after the meal. I was pleasantly surprised by the range of food: from foie gras pate to exotic meat, although, I was expecting much more from the quality of cooking. It's definitely not an experience for everyone, but rather something quite different that will give you food for thought. Eating in complete darkness will definitely open up your senses... or will make you anxious.The restaurant is located about 10-minute walk away from Chancery Lane and Barbican tube stations. Although the reception room could do with a bit of a make-up, the service was great. Slightly expensive, but worth a try at least once. Would visit again? Maybe. My score: 5/10 http://estonianfoodie.com read more

Pros - Took my fiancé here for his birthday, his first time, my second time (first time was in Montreal) We're visiting from LA, thought this would be a great occasion for him to try out this whole "dining in the dark" experience. The experience overall was okay. The food was good we both got 3 courses (white option). Our waiter (Fabio) did a decent job accommodating our needs, etc. Seems like he was waiting all the tables in the area, because all we hear throughout our meal was random people calling for him. Cons- BUT, here's the downside of this restaurant. They're really shady when it comes to drinks, even water. I asked for water and Fabio brought out a glass-sealed bottle. I immediately knew this will end up on our bill in the end so I didn't even bother opening it. Instead, I asked Fabio for tap-water. He seems a bit surprised that I found out, even in complete darkness. I understand some people might prefer still/sparkling water, but you should at least have the common decency to let the customers know beforehand that there are options. Shouldn't just hand them the bottle and have them unknowing fall for it's trap. Luckily I didn't, nice try though. Shame on you guys for even doing this trick on people knowing they can't see a thing and would just open the water without even thinking anything. Just like our neighbors, (a couple who we shared a table with) fell for the trap. When he asked for "tap-water" after finishing his glass-bottled water, I'm assuming Fabio brought out another glass-bottled. How did I know? I heard the guy telling his girlfriend he brought out the same bottled water. Fiancé ordered a coke, it came in a small glass (think half of a Red Bull can) full of ice which costed £3.00 when he asked for refill for the coke, we found out in the end that we got charged 2 cokes. Uhhh, maybe you should inform us that there are no refills on soft drinks? Yet another shady move right there. £6.00 for a Red Bull size semi-flat fountain coke with a bunch of ice? Wtf?!? I would say definitely try out this place just for the experience. Beware when it comes to drinks though. Make sure to be clear that you want tap water so you don't get charged in the end. There are NO REFILLS on sodas. If you asks for "refill", don't be surprised to see it on your tab in the end. Have fun! read more

Amazing experience! I went with all of my friends and some of my family for my hen do, so we were an eclectic mix! I wouldn't say everyone loved it...but everyone definitely had an experience! We had an amazing waitress called Claire who really knew her stuff and was very friendly, we enjoyed our lunch so much we all hugged her at the end! They don't mind if you eat with your hands and the decor is amazing read more

Dans Le Noir - French Near Me - London, XGL

Whata wonderful experience! After choosing our meal (there are 3 set menus to choose from, Red: Meat or chicken, Green : Vegetrian and blus: seafood) we were giuded by our blind waiter to the dining room which was piched dark after going through 3 sets of curtains. Inside there, we felt like we were the blind ones and the waiter is the one who could see! when the food arrived, forks and knives jumped out of the window and we started eating with our own hands! we shared the tab;e with another couple which we didn't meet before hand and the conversation started to get casual so quickly that you wouldn't do in a lit restaurant. The food was great, but, we didn't waht we were eating. You have got to rely on the feel of the pieces and the texture with taste to guess what it is. after the meal, they will ask you to guess what you have eaten and then they show you the menu, and what a suprise!! What we thought was potato chips, truned out to be celeriac chips! Price wise, it was £79.00 for both of us. It is a must visit place, like the pyramids, at least once in your life time! read more

I loved the experience of eating in the pitch black room. When it came to paying the bill it was too complex for the manager to let us each pay for what we ate so a friend paid for it all. It turned out they had charged us for 10 rather than 9 mains and for 2 cocktails we did not drink. The guy paid up when we went back to complain but his attitude was appaling. His mannor was that of a confidence trickster so I feel sure he had done this sort of thing before. read more