Love it or hate it, there’s no in-between
Rated this place:
It's ironic that even before we enter O.Noir, a concept resto where one can dine in the dark, my friends and I had trouble even finding it in the first place. Located at the intersection of Church and Charles, one would think that behind heavy wooden doors at the bottom of a public staircase awaits a fancy TTC station rather than a unique dining experience. We were lucky enough to drop-in rather than require a reservation and ordered our food from the ($40 prix fixe) menu in a warmly lit area featuring a bar, a bookcase, and some table sets occupied by equally eager and curious patrons. All servers are visually-impaired and greet the guests in the lobby before asking us to place our right hand on our friend's shoulder to form a chain, then leading our descent into darkness. I was confident enough in the food selection to choose the surprise option for all three meals (2/3 desserts included chocolate) and realized – as I attempted to feel my way around my table setting for cutlery and my martini glass – being able to eat here requires patience and an active imagination. This includes memorizing your food placement, improvising when sharing food (we tapped our plates and held out our hands), and wearing your napkin as a bib. It is pitch-black to the point where you can’t even see your hand in front of your face; cell phones are banned, so no cheating is allowed. As a result, it is a polarizing experience: you can either love its novelty or hate its impracticality. Either way, this is one of those rare places in the city that everyone needs to visit at least once with good friends, especially if they often seek an escape from everyday ennui.
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