I always wanted to try this after first hearing about it, but the reviews here really discouraged me. It is a bit pricey so I was cautious about spending money on something that might suck. I took care to email in advance to find out if I could eat the food, and was amazed to find that everything was vegan friendly. I was finally able to convince my boyfriend to take me and we had one of our best date nights ever. The experience is really unique, its so rare in life that we are in the pitch black and get to experience an increase in our other senses. I loved not being able to see the food on my plate and having to determine with solely my taste buds if it was something I was willing to eat. I found the food to be pretty delicious. I also discovered that in the dark I can not tell the difference between red and white wine at all. Having to pour a bottle of wine without being able to see the glass is an adventure in itself. It also gives you the opportunity to converse with your neighbors but not making any judgments based on appearances. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is curious about it and really have a hard time figuring out the cause of the horrible reviews. True there was a lot of music played and the organizer may have done a song or two too many. I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with blind people and the Q&A part. I really feel like it was a beneficial experience. My only complaints are about the way people are seated, once you arrive you wait forever in a very small crowded area and enjoy your free drink. Its very hot up there and this really bothered my boyfriend. You also have the opportunity to purchase wine for downstairs by the bottle, but this is the only opportunity so if you later change your mind you are out of luck. Thankfully there were some extra bottles distributed with dinner. Rather than having everyone crowd into this room it might be a better idea to give people staggered arrival times. Groups were seated about 20 at a time and somehow I ended up going near last even though I was one of the first to arrive. read more

Sad to say that we were hugely disappointed. The experience of being in the dark was great, initially, but they could do SO much more to enhance it. The food was given to you with NO explanation about what it was (God forbid you have an allergy!). There was, for example, a piece of bitter chocolate IN my couscous?? And they DID make a big deal about the chefs...we could have appreciated both the effort they put into it AND the food experience if they'd walked us through it -- and before you say "blind people don't know what's there", remember that in a restaurant you order the food so you have SOME idea.... Thank Heaven the water was in bottles so they didn't spill when we knocked them over feeling around for our food. I was VERY disappointed in the discussion, such as it was. They REALLY missed a great opportunity to let sighted people "into" their world by LEADING the conversation. Instead it dissolved into sighted people asking rude questions and assuming that the blind feel they're missing out on life. I wanted to hear more about how they feel their lives are enhanced! :) And the singer was SO rude. He stopped the music & threatened to have someone thrown OUT because they were talking. As other diners have mentioned, it's SO loud in there that you have to YELL to speak to someone near you. Also, there were 2 "bands".... one would have been enough. It all dragged on beyond the point of "interesting" into "when is this gonna be over?" Won't be back & don't recommend to friends. I've heard of other, more intimate, gatherings that I will try next time. Though a good idea & I believe his heart was in it from the start, I think this has grown too large & was poorly executed. read more

Wow! What a powerful, invigorating, and jarring infusion of reality into life this profoundly unique experience adds to our lives. The food, ah, the food was delicious. Flavorful vegan. The music will surprise and delight your senses. This experience, will feed your spirit and soul to appreciate life. Don't miss the opportunity if the show comes to your town. read more

Sight is a powerful thing. When it is taken away, you realize just how much it affects how you listen and communicate in everyday occurrences. The best way I can summarize relinquishing my own sight for a few hours with The Blind Cafe is as follows. My dining partner and I walked away at the end of the evening filled with a combination of what some feel after going to church and therapy. I attend to neither consistently, but I walked away with the same feelings of levity and general happiness after being led into the darkness and wooed for 2.5 hours by strangers. Certainly an adventure: linking arms with your table's dinner guests and being guided into a pitch-black room by your blind server. Our table was lucky enough to be guided by the gracious Yolanda G. The first thought I had walking into the dark room was similar to 'This must be a dream.' Our guide clearly verbalized where our chairs were and how much space there was to navigate nooks in between tables. Our steps were those of toddlers first learning to walk, in shuffling trepidation. Forfeiting control of something as simple as movement was counter intuitively both calming and reassuring, mostly due to the notion that I was surrounded by dozens of others in the same blindness, and we were being taken care of by capable hands. Sitting down, we were told our drink was at one o' clock, with our appetizer plate immediately in front of us and a stew directly behind that. We were invited to begin dinner, and developed the most relaxed conversations with our neighboring dining guests. Many remarks would have not been well received had we been dining with strangers in a lit room, but many of these were confessions of what we felt as we attempted relatively simple tasks, and how we were using our secondary senses to assist us in doing so. It was most analogous to sticking your hand into an opaque box through a small hole and attempting to identify what each object was as you felt it. After dinner we participated in a question and answer session with the blind servers and volunteers. Finally, a place to ask burning questions such as how blind individuals keep up with internet pages with their omnipresence in everyday tasks, how they handle money transactions, what their dreams are like, how they approach the dating world, how to maintain a refined appearance and so on. The answers were telling, and fascinating. The only question I wish I had asked besides dating was how individuals perceive colors, if blind from birth. Immediately following this Q&A was a mousse-like dessert, which we passed around to our dining neighbors, often grabbing each others' hands to make sure each cup was handled safely. I could easily see this dinner being a fantastic team-building event, in that it serves as a community awareness venture but also as a challenge to work together and become comfortable depending on others to help you. Dessert was followed by an intimate performance by a string ensemble led by guitarist and vocalist Rosh Brian Rocheleau. As a resident of Austin I noticed the first thing I did as the group began to serenade us was to close my eyes. I find I do this at many smaller music performances to thoroughly grasp every note the musicians intend for their audience. The problem arises when the music setting is in a public venue where socializing and visuals seem to take on an equal if not greater importance to listening to the music itself. Eventually I did not need to close my eyes at all as we took in each note. My dining partner and I were encouraged to dance along to the music in the room's central dance floor, which was a treat in itself. All dining guests were invited to sing chorus lines in a few songs, which involved acute listening for each breath the lead vocalist took to mark our transitions. After playing violin in symphonic orchestra for 7 years in my youth, this was the closest I have come to reviving the same sentiments of losing myself in each string's notes, and recreating the sensations sound can have on our bodies if we allow it. Once the last song was sung, Rosh joined those in the center of the room to give thanks for supporting this widespread community awareness project and how much it has bridged the gap of misunderstanding between the sighted and blind. In a final remark he adds, 'I never know how to say this so I'll just go ahead--' and lights a single tea candle, illuminating the entire room with it's tiny flame. Our eyes did not squint at the sudden light, and there was no painful readjusting. Other small candles were lit and gradually added to the room's light level. I thanked my table's server and other blind volunteers profusely for this incredible night, shaking hands and connecting with many in the process. Walking away, we vowed to spread the word about this initiative and its invaluable lessons. Thank you all for a truly a profound and enlightening experience. read more

The Blind Cafe Experience - the blind cafe - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stages of my experience: intrigued about the event, curious of what's to come, excited to try something new, informed of some struggles of the blind, skeptical of the live performance, bored after one too many songs from the band......and anxious to leave. After checking in outside, we were given one ticket each for a beverage. I was dissapointed to learn that they only offered red wine and apple cider. I took the cider because I don't like wine. Each additional serving was $5. We then gathered in the extremely tight lobby where Rosh (the ringleader of the event) gave a small speech about what was to come. Each group was then led to their assigned table by one of the two blind hosts for the event. This part was pretty fun because we had to link together and enter the pitch black room, thus eliminating being a social introvert. ****My favorite part****was communicating with my table-mates in a way I've never experienced. Instead of looking someone in the eye, I was forced to fully listen. I found that I was listening more than talking, which can be unusual for me; but loved every minute of it. Also, it was fun to giggle and laugh while we were searching for our food and chatting about what we were eating. ****Food: mediocre. There was a watermelon/mint/arugula salad that I really loved (in my opinion, the best). On the plate was a cauliflower soft taco that was wayyyyy too salty and another Mexican inspired food that didn't really blow my mind either. The cornbread flaked everywhere and lacked any kind of interesting flavor. It was all vegan, but I was still a little put off that the food was on the tables before we were even seated. I kept wondering just how long they had been sitting there. Food was finished too quickly in my opinion. Instead of socializing, I would've preferred to discuss how our experience with eating was different without seeing. Jim and Rick were the two blind hosts and it was refreshing to get to hear their stories and ask questions about their experiences. There should've been more time dedicated to bringing awareness and information about blindness instead of listening Rosh's band. As previously mentioned in other reviews, it seemed the emphasis fell upon Rosh's performance at the end. Two songs would've been appropriate, but he kept on for too many to count. I won't go into more detail, but it left me bored and anxious to leave. ***maybe instead of promoting his band, they could organize interactive exercises to engage the audience and their possible listening capabilities without sight*** Just when I thought the droning music was over, he started up into another song to end the night. After way too many repetitive counts of the room singing a verse, a candle was lit and the room was enveloped in a glow that I almost thought could never exist. In conclusion: the experience left me with a better, slightly more educated sense of what it's like to be blind and the many opportunities that are available for that population. The food was sup-par and the music overpowered everything. Not worth the price. Just donate the money to an affiliated organization if you feel inclined. I agree with another review : someone needs to take this idea and run with it in a different direction. One with more formality and centered around education....not the band. read more

Disappointing. The best part of the cafe was the Q&A with blind staff. But the conversation was cut short only for the audience to be held captive by Rosh for most of the night. We were forced to listen to his songs. The music was okay but the lyrics were bland and I did not appreciate Rosh's commentary, especially stereotypes about my culture (No Russian's are not all alcoholics) and his story about his fetish of a "little librarian girl". Yuk. Who is this guy? As far as I could tell, Rosh and band were all sighted and it felt a bit dishonest the way that they used the idea of a Blind Cafe to trap people to listen and buy their music. They would have been better off just playing background music and letting us interact with others at our table and the blind staff. Or playing one or two songs and stopping. The "dinner" made by a "chef" was really not a dinner, just an uninteresting salad with some Ritz crackers, cheap cheese, half a banana, a spring roll and random mix of a few grapes and olives on paper plates. At $65/person tickets, I expected something a bit more interesting. Props to the blind staff for their willingness to answer a lot of silly questions about being blind. read more

I have been to the Blind Cafe twice now. As another reviewer mentioned, it's straightforward. You're eating a light vegetarian meal in the dark. Prepare to get a little messy, since the odds are your hands will drift into the wrong place at the table. Remember, it's about the money being for a good cause, it's not about a gourmet meal. It does create a very intimate experience for you and your tablemates. You get to be a little closer with your friends, and you also seem to engage more with the strangers at your table than you would in a sighted situation. Both times, I really enjoyed the Q&A with the blind waitstaff. It's definitely an experience. Everyone should do it at least once. I never think of orange segments the same way anymore. read more

What a fun idea, right!? That is what we thought too. It was such a disappointment. The food was lame and then we were forced to listen to an hour of bad music. What made it even more insulting was the music was from the organizer's own band. His voice was good but lyric and song arrangements were simply amateur. At one point he was so high he just forgot the lyrics to his own song. Dude, lame! Not to mention I didn't like being tricked into funding his band tour. I hope someone takes his idea and does it right. Like with delicious food, good music (in the background) and more time to interact fellow guests and the with the blind folks helping. read more

It's a phenomenal experience! And you must understand that it is an experience. It raises your awareness and gratefulness for the gift of sight. As with any charity dinner or similar, you are supporting a cause, and a worthy one at that. So go with an open mind and soul. With that said, you walk in and check-in. Make sure that you buy your tickets in advance because they sell out! Then, you are assigned a table number and you have an opportunity to have a glass of wine and get socialize with your "table mates." These are the people you'll be dining with at the community table. After a short time of socialization, you are led into a dark pathway into a dark room. Then, it's pitch black. You can't see your hand in front of your face. Feel your way to your chair, and enjoy the company. Talk to the people around you, get comfortable, and enjoy the meal... all of which you cannot see. You are hosted by blind wait staff the entire time. They are super friendly and cater to your needs if you need assistance. There's a time of music (singer-songwriter style), and question/answer sessions with your wait staff. Think about the questions you'll ask beforehand as this can be very informative. The food was delightful. Asian Fusion tacos, veggie chips, empanada, with bread/dessert on the side. Again, you can't see it, but you ARE able to go on the website after the event(s) have ended and see what you were eating. Honestly, it's a really great eye-opening (GET IT?!) experience, and you should definitely check it out at least once. Take a date, enjoy your meal, have a once in a lifetime evening. Oh, and leave your cell phone in the car! :) read more

The thing about The Blind Cafe is that you'll get out of it what you put into it. They're very straightforward about what to expect: a community meal in the pitch black dark, followed by a conversation and music with members of the blind community in Austin. You're not there for a gourmet meal and there's never any pretense mentioned otherwise. The food is sourced locally, much of it donated, so you're also supporting the local community in that way as well. Starting out, I was a little worried. The waiting area to be seated was a loud, crowded mess. No one was where they were supposed to be and the line for the bathroom seemed to go on for days. My fears were wiped away as people started organizing us and taking us to our tables. The waitstaff was amazing and helpful, the food was interesting (though I still have no idea half of what I ended up putting in my mouth), and the post-meal conversation was enlightening. There was a Q&A session for diners to ask the blind servers about aspects of their daily life, like how they match their clothes, what kind of sports they play, and what it's like to be a blind stay-at-home father of four. Attending as a couple, it was a very intimate experience. When my husband asked me a question, my first instinct was always to nod or shake my head. It took a few times to stick that we needed to verbalize everything, taking careful note of the tone of our voice since visual cues were unavailable. Much of the time was spent touching him lightly on the shoulder or arm, just to make sure he was still there. It can be very disorienting at first, so having a person that you rely on next to you is extremely reassuring. The next time this comes to town, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an experience that could change much of the way they see. read more

3 stars because our Host was Garrick from Atlanta and he made the experience amazing. The experience is unique! You learn from the open Q&A. It is what you make it!! Go with a small group and plan on engaging in interesting table conversations. You sing along with a band briefly. It is PITCH DARK for 2.5 hours (all electronics OFF), food is good and vegan. However, for $85 I expected wine (not served in Seattle) and a catered meal not something like a $9 Chipotle dish and dessert made by volunteers handling. 1 star for value and cleanliness. read more

First of all, I am giving this experience one star not because you shouldn't go--you definitely should--but because this could be done so much better than it was. After loitering around outside with healthy pours of wine (thank goodness!) we were called to line up and enter the completely dark room. Seriously, you cannot see your hand inches from your face! We sat down and began exploring the food that was set out for us. It was already cold, which was fine for the salad, but the tamale and cauliflower tacos seemed like they should have been served hot. Maybe next time the chef should only serve items meant to be served cold. Also, I was still hungry!!! I kept longing for a snack. More food please! The best part was meeting the table mates across from us. Getting to know someone without ever seeing their face was an extraordinary experience. I even attempted to put lip gloss on the guy across from me! (Long story) I'm sure Rosh is a really nice person, but he shouldn't be in charge of the music at the end. Two songs should have been performed, tops, maybe with an emphasis on hearing a unique style of music. Instead it went on and on, which left me to slump dejectedly in my chair, longing for a wine refill and more food. Again, it was an amazing experience, but it's a diamond in the rough (very rough). I'm interested to see how this event grows and polishes within the next few years. read more

I totally disagree with the other yelpers on this one. This event is a beautiful, life changing experience! I have been several times over the years and was just looking when they would be back in town when I noticed the negative yelp reviews. I have to add my two cents. The first thing to know is that this is an experience, not a dinner, not a concert, but a totally unique experience that brings people together in a new and unusual way. The last time I went with two of my friends. We got there early and had some wine and met the staff who would be leading us into the dark. My friend was so nervous about not being able to see that she almost left but one of the blind staff was so reassuring and patient with her she was convinced. She later said that this experience alone, of facing her fear and embracing the unknown, was the most powerful part of the night for her. Once we made it in we ate our food. Sure, the food isn't a five star restaurant experience but it was filing and fun to be at a table all together laughing with friends new and old trying to figure out what was on our plates. Also, the food has gotten better every time I've gone and Im excited to see what I get next. I can only imagine how hard it would be serving everyone at once in the dark so I cut them some slack. After dinner there is my FAVORITE part of the night, a wonderful conversation with the blind staff about what it means to be blind and whatever else anyone wants to ask. I always leave with a new appreciation for my site and a bond with my peers at the event. No question is off limits and I love the heart that goes in to the conversation. People really open up, maybe because you cant be seen! This was followed by dessert and amazing music which is always a good time and everyone sings together and laughs a lot!!! All I can say is this is NOT for anyone that takes themselves too seriously or is not willing to go on an adventure. It is all heart and love and fun with a unique learning aspect to it as well. I have to say it is unlike any two hour event I have been to and I can only imagine the amount of work they all go to to put this together. I HIGHLY recommend this event! Oh and if you have kids they will love it and I assure you it will make an impact on them in a most positive way. Ok, longest review so far! But I had to come back from yelp retirement to set the score right over here. read more

(sigh) What a huge disappointment. My friends and I were ready for a really amazing experience. In short, we felt trapped, the musical entertainment was akin to a sing-a-long at summer camp. The food was just absolutely horrible AND the ticket price is about $65 bucks per person. Terribly disappointed. read more

Even though there may be ways to improve the experience, I am giving this DIAMOND in the rough 4 stars. NOT TO BE MISSED. I heard about blind cafes over a decade ago in Europe and always wanted to experience it both because many of my japanese-acupuncture teachers are blind [Japan has a 400+ year tradition of blind acupuncture], and because I am a long time meditator and have always wanted to do a "dark retreat". Plus I am always exhorting my students to open all their senses and not rely on vision alone. Rosh and his team have a huge heart and a great vision and I loved the experience. Yes, the food was finished rather quickly [I liked the food! especially the arugula/mint//watermelon salad and the "fire and ice" desert of spicy chocolate cookie with passion fruit (?) iced desert] and I would have loved even more social interaction, and yes there are still some aspects that can be improved in terms of planning, etc, but the experience was still rich and profound. Thanks to all for bringing the Blind Cafe to Seattle. May it continue and thrive! read more

The Blind Cafe is a truly unique experience that appeals to all of your senses. It's more than a meal; it's an individual experience as well as a shared one that heightens one's senses to light, music, food, drink, community, fear, no inhibitions...Another aspect I appreciate is the emphasis on keeping it local. This traveling event is held in different locations across the nation, hosted at a local venue, featuring unique culinary creations of local chefs, members of the blind community, musicians in the area, and largely supported by community volunteers. It's a great event to attend and for which to volunteer. Every night is different! read more

I just came home from this incredible experience! If you have the chance to attend, DO! What a beautiful opportunity to encounter life differently. It's truly perspective altering if you allow it to be. The food was vegan and gluten free and good (I have celiac so this is important to me!), all the flavors were heightened by the lack of visual input. I highly recommend it! read more

Absolutely loved it! It was such a neat and different experience. I have never done anything like it. Initially, when I entered in the dark room I got real nervous and had a small panic attack (esp since I'm already claustrophobic). I didn't realize just how dark the room would actually be, and it was pitch black. It was scary for me at first and I almost decided to skip out on the entire event due to the level of darkness. But I started taking big deep breaths to calm myself down and was able to finish the entire experience and am soo glad I did. If you are looking for fine dining then this is probably not for you. The food was good but no 5 star restaurant and it was vegan. So don't go in thinking you will be getting a prime rib. The music was beautiful. It was a great way to get to meet people. Overall, it was something I will remember for life. I would definitely go back again in the future if they come back. Ps I went to the one in Austin Texas but I know they rotate between cities in the US read more

Yes, I am a fan but this is the kind of experience that "it is what you make it." My husband and I were given tickets as a gift and and I didn't really know much about it so I didn't have any particular expectations but here's what I came away with: First off, the food: The food was good, vegan, and an interesting variety of tastes and textures. There was plenty of food, I thought. I didn't finish everything...and not just because I couldn't find it. I've learned it is hard to use a fork when you can't see. There was a Q and A session with our blind waiter. People asked about all kinds of things - fashion, drug use, sleep cycles, dreams, movies, etc.. We had lively and interesting conversations at our table and there was very nice live music to listen to toward the end of the evening. It was very nice to listen to all this. read more

While the mission is noble, the execution leaves much room for improvement, especially at the high price point. At the event in Seattle, the food was distractingly bad and pre-allocated on the table. There was no attention paid to hygiene - which is especially critical as people explore the table, your plate, and the shared butter with their hands. The musicians were good, but the room had terrible acoustics. The Q&A session was honest, but more can be done to explore the depth of the mission and opportunity. read more

My wife took my brother, sister in law and I to this event in Boulder. I can appreciate the experience in the dark to heighten other senses and get an idea of how much we count on our visual sense. Advertised as a remarkable dining experience is not at all accurate. The food was atrocious! It was uncomfortably loud. At $85 per ( going to what I don't know), we felt completely taken advantage of. To sit in an overcrowded room with lukewarm mush on a paper plate with plastic utensils and tap water in a plastic cup for that cost is inexcusable. The "dark chocolate" tasting was even worse. It tasted like powdered chocolate pudding with grains of sand mixed in. No flavor, no texture, no appeal whatsoever. No comment on the music! Rosh and company are taking everyone for a miserable ride with this one. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. read more

After reading the reviews I was really nervous attending this event as a date Valentines Day. Well, unfortunately the reviews were everything they stated. The ticket prices were absolutely ridiculous for the event I attended. I was expecting an elegant dinner for my date. This was not the case at all. My food was cold. It absolutely did not feel like "family style" dinner as promised. For the ridiculous ticket price charged for this meal I was shocked. Where does the money from this event go. I called the Boulder County Alliance which is stated in The Blind Cafe web site as being the affiliate association they are registered under. They stated this company has not been registered under them for years. So again, where does the money from this event go... the ticket prices for this event over Valentines Day were extremely high priced. Seeing as the event was sold out... they profited over $20,000 or more. The food, service, and atmosphere in no way reflected this outrageous pricing. So again... where does the money go? This event is not registered as a non-profit. Yet volunteers assisted us through the event. Serving wine, I saw them helping set up, etc... how is this possible. Only non profit events can legally use volunteers so how is this possible? The event itself was actually inspiring...only due to Rick Hammond the waiter. He carried the event in my opinion. He was fun to talk to before the event and his charm led the event. The music was nothing special. The singer, I guess he runs the event, seemed very full of himself. The way he interacted with his help and the other crew members was painful to watch. The way he talks about how magical his event is, and then watching him interact with his staff... doesn't seem so magical. When he did the announcements prior to the event I was positive he kept trying to look down my low cut dress... which upset my date greatly. To the point that it actually kept messing up his announcements... maybe it was just me. This started my night out very uncomfortably.... and after the event my date and I were completely dissatisfied. We had to go out to dinner again just to end our night on a good note (and get full as the food was very inadequate). I give this event ZERO STARS!!!!!! read more

This was a very interesting and unique experience. I can't compare it to anything else I've done before. On the plus side, I'll say it really opened my eyes up to blindness. I never really thought about what it must be like to be blind. It was a fascinating experience learning how hard it must be to dip bread in olive oil or what happens when you drop something on the ground. I really enjoyed the Q&A. On the downside, the food was not anything special at all. It was mostly food from the grocery store thrown together. Also, I agree with Rita that there was way too much emphasis on the music and Rosh. It did seem like a venue for his music. Dude even sold CDs outside! Also, Rosh is pretty inappropriate...especially for children. This event is also expensive for the food. I think the best way to look at it is that its a donation for helping the blind, a completely worthy cause. Don't think of it as a food event. read more

This was my second time experiencing the Blind Cafe. I really enjoy the work Rosh and the rest of the Blind cafe staff do. Great food, great atmosphere, great music and great conversation. read more

This was a very awesome and unique experience. Food was solid. Very tasty well made meal. Waitstaff was incredibly pleasant and very cool too talk too. My only wish is that the event ran longer. I loved talking to my fellow tablemates in the dark and I would have loved to have that continue. Overall I will for sure be returning next time the blind cafe is in town, and look forward to future experiences with the blind cafe. read more

We were at the Blind Cafe tonight. I had gotten nervous about our evening because of the other reviews.... but here was my experience. Punchline: I would give it ten stars if I could . Details: The basic premise is that you show up, have a glass of wine or other beverage while you wait, and then are escorted in a beautiful evening of darkness. You eat dinner, interact with strangers, hear music, and have Q&A with a blind person who is willing to answer any question you might have, all over the course of a few hours. The food is simple, because you are not at "an evening with Cannelis," but just learning how to eat the food you do have is a challenge (ever thought about scooping something with a spoon, only to have the spoon upside down when you put it into your mouth so it is empty?). The sense of community is very strong as you immediately need to depend on everyone around you to help navigate your surroundings and not having to multitask with stupid cell phones is amazingly freeing. You listen to what people around you are saying. You suddenly become a team just to pass bread around... overall, I HIGHLY recommend this experience to anyone. It is truly moving, the music is great (other reviewers complained about the amount of music or the sing-along stuff and I would say that the amount of music was just right and the beauty of the darkness is that you can or can't sing along and nobody even knows....). Just please go. You WILL be moved. Oh yeah. And dessert ROCKED. read more

$45/plate. Cold food, all the same with no selection, preset on banquet style tables with paper plates, and plastic ware. The jokes were in poor taste. The strangers in the dark sitting across from me put their fingers in my salad (the food was not covered), and people passed around butter and bread which also got contaminated. The most interesting part was the Q&A which was cut short. Didn't really like the sing along, which they tried to sort of force by making us stand up. No waiters. One token blind guy that i could tell. And as i was leaving, i overheard someone ask for donations at the end. Complete waste of money. Scam. read more

This is hands down one of the coolest experiences I have had in Austin. The staff was great, the program was moving, and the food was BOMB! Do your soul a favor and check it out - you won't be sorry. read more

Loved the Blind Cafe! Dinner in the dark is really exciting, and it's so cool what they've done with dinner, would be a great date spot or a fun thing to do with friends. You eat as if you were a blind person and because you don't see anything, your other senses are magnified (especially taste). I go whenever they come to Austin, usually once every year or two. read more

This was such a great time! I have been receiving newsletters for years and have been trying to catch it in Seattle. Something told me check the email recently and i saw a final showing on Valentine's day weekend. They were incredibly accommodating in getting me a pair of tickets to surprise my boyfriend with. Upon entering, there was a bit of chaos getting the check in and the wine, but all was quickly forgotten. Upon entering, i felt like i was swimming a a velvet sea of nothing...truly surreal. About ten minutes in and I became comfortable in the darkness, hearing my boyfriends voice, and drawing my own picture of what the space and people looked like. It was fun figuring out the meal and how to pour wine and share with others. Music to end the night and the thing that brings it all together! What a wonderful memorable time...thank you! read more

I appreciate that the money is going to a wonderful cause, and an evening without the benefit of sight was a unique experience. BUT, i was definitely disappointed and wouldn't recommend this dinner to friends, at least not at the current ticket price. The Good: The wait staff/blind guides were very helpful and very generous in sharing their experiences as sight-impaired individuals. The OK: The food was fine, although there was wasn't a lot of it. I went home and had a snack afterwards. Also, the musical part at the end is a bit over-the-top, and people's patience was worn pretty thin by the end of the meal. Personally, I felt that the evening dragged on--it could have ended 45 mins earlier and I would have been fine. The Ugly: I think they pack WAY too many people into the dining hall. It was SO LOUD. I had to shout to talk to people sitting inches away from me. What could have been a good opportunity to chat with strangers in the dark was just an exercise in frustration. Also, diners weren't very good at respecting the "keep your cell phone off" rule. The light from the cells phones interrupted the experience multiple times, and the staff didn't enforce the rule, even though it's stated clearly that violators will be asked to leave. However, the worst part of the experience was drunk young men sitting at the next table. They were excessively loud and disruptive during the entire dinner; they were also incredibly rude to the blind hosts during the Q&A. At one point, they threw wine on us. At another point, they threw food that landed on some of the diners at our table. While Blind Cafe can't screen every patron, I feel they should have intervened much earlier in the dinner, when their behavior was becoming problematic. Near the end of the evening, one of the hosts publicly told them to be more respectful, or they would be asked to leave. However, it was too little, too late. Most people in our vicinity were just over it. I realize not every Blind Cafe experience will be like this, but I can't trust that it won't. read more

THE ADDRESS SHOWN IS NOT THEIR ADDRESS, this is a PRIVATE residence for someone else...Wonder why a viable business still doesn't have their correct address shown after 3-4 months...Wierd!!! read more

This experience delivered exactly as promised and exceeded all expectations by a long shot! I loved every minute of the experience, made new friends during the event (that we went out with after the event), and was touched by the sincere, authentic and genuine way the hosts led us through the experience, from the moment we arrived to saying 'goodbye's' at the door. I am already looking forward to the next time they come to town in Seattle (September 2017), and I'll be there -- with a bunch of friends too! Thanks all -- you all rock in every way. read more

This was a joke and not a funny one either. We paid $146.00. It is sold as "dining in the dark". It was in the dark but it was not dining. The hors d'oeuvres were the smallest cubes of jicama in balsamic vinegar that I have ever seen. The "dining" was two small trays with 3 sections each. There was one maybe two bites of food in each section. And a basket of bread with olive oil for dipping. Oh it is not vegetarian as advertised we were told it was vegan when we got there. After sitting for a very long time thinking more food would be coming out they announced they were bringing out dessert. Hmmm you could hear the people around you asking the same question you were "that was the dinner"? They should have called it "tasting in the dark" and might have set a more accurate expectation. Oh and the food was awful! 6 bites and I spit 4 back out. I guess if you are eating in the dark you aren't suppose to worry about things tasting good. The food and bread were already on the tables and the dessert was previously made and refrigerated. No lighting which was the experience and an interesting one. No wait staff and I am not sure why they introduced the "chef" because I am not sure why a "chef" was needed for what they served. I will never go back and I will not recommend it to anyone!! If anyone asked I would tell them about some top notch restaurants in the area where they could actually dine and not spend as much money. And if they want the experience put on a blindfold. This is not advertised as a charity event but I don't know where the money was spent. read more

A powerful and fun evening! We were impressed by the whole night -- food (yummy), conversation (honest), music (great), and overall experience (moving). Highly recommend trying it out and highly recommend coming with a great group who is up for learning and sharing a special night together! read more

I have to largely agree with the previous reviewer. Went to this experience as a date, and it was quite expensive. So let me break down the portions of the event, and rate each one as I feel it warrants. A) The food. You think this is what you're paying for, and if that had been true, I would have been extremely angry. The food was good, but was in such tiny amounts that it really was no more than a small snack. If this organization is paying most of the cost of the tickets in order to rent the venue (I can't think of another explanation, because it's NOT on the food), then they are making a grave mistake. We're in the DARK THE WHOLE TIME, but we actually eat the food. So it tasted good, what there was of it. There is no 'service' in any real sense, you get a bottle of water at your place when you sit down, there's tiny bits of food in front of you, and there's bread on the table. That's it, and that's all there's going to be. The desert is also good, and also small. This point is so major that it almost ruins the whole experience, because we were all STILL HUNGRY. If I were rating on this alone, I wouldn't even give it 1 star. I hope the organizers take note, because this is a major problem with this event. The quality is fine, it's unusual, and that's why you're there, so no problem there. it's that you get so very little, even calling it a snack is really generous. B) Atmosphere. Awesome! The experience is really very unique and unusual. Some people freak out, (for real), but overall myself, my date and my table all found it to be really interesting, fun, and something you have NEVER done before. Loved it, was totally happy with this, and it was so relaxing, so totally GREAT, that it outweighed how crappy (amount, not quality) the food was. C) Music. Very cool. The music was great, totally fun dancing in the total darkness, and that was a great finish to the evening. Look, overall this was a great event. it's an unusual experience, the food is very unexpected and that's part of what you're signing up for. The major disappointment was the amount of food, which was totally insufficient. One other point was that it seemed very disorganized, was run apparently by volunteers, and yet this is NOT the first time this event has happened. Even if volunteers are used, the organizers should have it WAY more together. They've done this many times, in many cities, and it seemed like their first time through it, which I also think was not acceptable. It also seemed a bit disingenuous that the whole event tries to tie itself to some kind of humanitarian or social betterment type of goal, and it seems that this is really done to make you feel better about how expensive it is for what you get. Would I go again? Probably, because it's so unique and totally different that I enjoyed it. It's very relaxing, and I at least found the experience of being in the complete darkness for a couple of hours to be something that was just fun enough that I'd give it another chance. I'll eat dinner BEFORE I go next time... read more