Dans Le Noir is a landmark restaurant because it started my culinary journey. Dining in completeness darkness is designed to heighten all your other senses, and create a surreal dining experience, but was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Budding restaurant bloggers looking for inspiration
Those who love a bit of mystery
Dinner with a difference
Note: Dans Le Noir literally translates into “In the night” – and with the pitch-black atmosphere inside, no photos were possible. Nonetheless I was excited for this!
Ambience & Décor
The unspectacular foyer was lined only with lockers for your possessions and a bar at the rear for a “pre-show” drink. Entering the dark is an ineffable feeling, as the pitch-black abyss consumes you. I was disorientated and clammy, as the nerves kicked in because you see nothing. Fear not, the initial panic-sensation does abate as you adjust to the surroundings, and a comedic sense ensues as you try to eat the courses and drink your drink without making a total fool of yourself. At least in this instance, you are the only one who knows!
The ambience was buzzing as you can hear other diners enduring the same comedic fate.
Service
All diners are led into the dark room by a visually impaired waiter, and you must put your hands on the shoulders of the person in front to ensure you competently navigate the dark with the waiter at the head of the queue to your table. Service was excellent. Waiters navigate the darkness with consummate ease, and I was in awe of their skill, temperament and tenacity. They were the highlight of the night.
Food
Out of a choice of menus, I pre-selected the Surprise Menu. This has a selection of exotic meats to sample, and all is revealed at the end. Thankfully, the Surprise Menu is changed regularly to keep the surprise alive.
I must be totally frank here. Barring dessert, the food served was average. The problem is that the food cannot be piping hot as you could easily scold yourself. This did lead to child-like fun, but from a gastronomic perspective, tepid scallops are unpalatable. Both texture and taste were sub-par, and lack of sight exploits the dish being devoid of flavours.
The mains were more palatable yet remained unspectacular. I can reveal I tried crocodile, kangaroo and camel meat. They tasted like the more familiar meats of chicken and pork. Whilst the meats were all cooked well, it was lacking some punchy flavours.
The apple tarte tatin with ice cream was the best course by far, as it was one of the few items cooked well. Dans Le Noir is a real unique, surreal dining experience, and one I think everyone should try. Not necessarily for the culinary delights, but because it makes you more appreciative of 2 things; your eyesight and the stunning capabilities of the blind. Despite the wow factor, the food really hurt the ratings to a B+ rating. I heard, since my visit, the quality of the dishes have improved, but am I willing to put myself through that again? Dans Le Noir is unforgettable, and a great way to kick off Essen.
Final grade: B+
Final comment: Dans Le Noir is a surreal dining experience that all should visit once.
Hashtags: #B+ #Expensive #Continental #Farringdon #DansLeNoir #Dates #SurrealExperience #Blind #SurpriseMenu #Scallops #Crocodile #Kangaroo #Camel #Apple #TarteTatin #Vanilla #IceCream #Unique #Casual #Meat #Contemporary #Modern #Casual #Cocktails #Drinks #Fusion #Multicultural #Quirky #SignatureMenu
Comments