My best friend made reservations at O.Noir (Toronto) for my birthday. I was a bit hesitant and anxious about how our experience would be but it was beyond my expectations. Excellent service, staff was very kind and the food was very good. Once you enter the dining room, it takes a bit to adjust to the darkness but once adjusted, the experience is like no other. We had the 3-course dinner. I selected the surprise meat to start (I believe it was beef, gravy and rice) , the pesto chicken with potato puree and steamed veggies as main, and the Dark chocolate mousse for dessert. All very delicious!! O.Noir is an experience you must try. read more

Went: 8:15 pm Sat Apr 18 2015 Ordered: do not recall Cost: incl. tax and tip $80 Comments: I am reviewing restaurants that I've been into in the last 3 months, but I'm forgetting the details. My apologies. You go here more for the experience than the food. I felt a lot of anxiety after first entering. I prayed my stress level would lower or I would freak out. Luckily, I did calm down. My date and I ordered different dishes and shared. The food was average and not that memorable. Bottom line: If you are one that likes unique experiences and do not mind paying a little more for that experience, then you might enjoy dining here. It is a different but I would not do it again. The food is average and the restaurant is expensive for what you get. 3.5 stars for the food. read more

sorry to say that the food at O.Noir was not only disappointing but in my opinion and my son very bad. barely touched the plate, now I was not expecting high end quality but I was expecting to have decent food. vegetarian salad was smothered with balsamic vinegar that was inedible, my son's calamari appetizer was not much better. his filet mignon was unacceptable - this was not a filet mignon and it was so overcooked. my risotto was blend, the shrimps were tough (I suspect frozen) the green beans were smothered with oil - too greasy. I agree the chocolate mousse was good. groupon or not, the quality of the food should be fresher and tasty. . really annoys me that a salad can be prepared so badly, I am not the best of cook, but I can do better. Yes it's about the experience, but O'Noir has to do better. quite frankly Cuba is better and that is to say a lot. read more

Super fun experience, staff are great but the food (or at least the vegetarian option) was really really bland and not hot enough.

Worst place ever! NOT SAFE! In a complete dark, a creepy stranger(s) kept sliding their hands up and down my legs and both hands every few minutes. Also had my plate of food stolen off the table in front of me. My date and I felt completely uncomfortable. The servers couldn't help us. So my date and I left feeling violated. read more

Really fun experience. Staff did an excellent job explaining and guiding us through the restaurant and meal. Our server's name was Nasir and he was very friendly and attentive without being overly assertive. I tried the surprise starter and meal with the chocolate mousse for dessert and all three were great. The surprise starter and meal really played well into the whole experience while your sense of taste is heightened in the dark. Would definitely come back again. read more

Was at O.Noir yesterday with friends. The waiter never came to our table to replenish the water or check if everything is okay. And it wasn't okay. My friend ordered pasta with vegetables, but had no vegetables on her plate. Because you cannot see, you don't know if the waitress is around, so it is somewhat awkward to call her. I ordered a vegetable stir-fry and received green beans stir-fry with a couple of overcooked pepper and broccoli pieces. After learning about our experience, we were still charged the above-the-guideline tip which were already included in the bill. It is very unfair to decide for your guest on the amount of tip. Will not come back. Not cool to take advantage when the guests cannot see what they are getting. This restaurant is not interested in providing exceptional service or being fair to guests. You do not get what you are paying for. read more

I was actually there for my birthday. The experience of dining there was without a doubt unforgettable. Can't say the service was the greatest, but was not horrible either we pre ordered our dinner before entering the dining area. We were lead in by our server who then explained where we could find our silverware napkin bread and butter. It was completely dark in there. Took a while to adjust after I did you start hearing bits and pieces of other conversation I remember hearing someone curse because she had just spilled her drink I thought sucks to be her! lol Now our food was very yummy. Started with a salad was average. Our steak was cut up for us, it had great taste cooked just right. Didn't need anything no salt or sauce. The veggies were cooked just right. Desert was incredible. Chocolate cake with ice cream i couldn't even finish my desert it was just too much. After dinner we were lead out and asked for our check I was prepared to leave 25% tip but when they rang us up they included the tip with out asking, 15% for a party of 3 don't know if that is the way things are but I thought it was rude. Prices are reasonable our tab was a few bucks from 200usd for 3 with drinks. I will try one of these places again. Encourage others to go, I don't however believe that because you dine in the dark your taste buds are somehow more sensitive or that you will love your meal any more or less. :) read more

I thought it was great. Went there for my birthday and was impressed. I had the chicken thingy with mashed potatoes. I'm very picky and don't like fancy meals much but my fancy meal was delicious utterly amazing. I loved that because you can't see the meal tastes all the better. And our dessert was great too I had the mousse it was great my parents had the cake but said it was dry read more

So I went to Onoir with my boyfriend for valentines day, thinking it would be super romantic. I took a star off for each major issue. 1 - The dining room was FREEZING. I wore my winter jacket in the dining area the whole time. 2 - It took over an HOUR for us to get our entrees, and believe me, one hour in complete darkness feels more like 3 hours in real time. You can't take out your phone, you have literally nothing to occupy your time with, which would have been totally cool, if our food had taken maybe 40 min less to get to us. After that long you just start going insane from boredom lol. 3 - The place is UNSANITARY. I dropped my knife on the floor, and when I picked it up to give to our server I could feel huge clumps of dirt and dust clinging to it. I get they probably think 'nobody can see, so no one will know', but that can end up being a health concern. I get that the staff are blind, but think maybe you could work around that, for health and safety sake??? Say I don't know, hire a cleaning service at least once a month if anything... GROSS. 4 - The food was B A D. I ordered the risotto with shrimp and herbs. The shrimp was cold, but okay... However my risotto (supposed to be sweet, salty, and very creamy) tasted like oatmeal that had nothing in it. Like a mushy, tasteless hunk of grain, apparently even salting it was too much effort. In other words I think it is safe to say it is the WORST meal I have ever eaten in a sit-in restaurant EVER. Perhaps some of these problems were simply unfortunate experiences of mine, maybe I just got unlucky. But the impression I got is that, Onoir prides themselves and seems to have built their fame on their unique dining experience of 'dining in darkness', without actually putting any effort into everything else it takes to have a great dining experience, including factors such as food quality, comfort and cleanliness. At least i know never to go there again :) read more

wow wow what a great experience! .At first I was a little hesitant and kind of nervous. Because not being able to see what I am eating is a little nerve racking to me. apon arrival we were greeted by a very friendly hostess in the lighted bar area where we were shown menu's. we made our selections and then it was explained that we would be guided in and helped to our table. Our wine was promptly brought to our table and we were introduced to our server who was super friendly . She explained were our wine was placed on the table and the position of our silverware .Let me tell you I couldn't even see my hand in front of me. It sure heightened your sense of hearing and smell. Our steak arrived cut into little bite size pieces and melted in your mouth cooked to perfection. I was amazed we never dropped any food. What an amazing experience! . Highly recommended! read more

I'd hate to write a big long review and spoil the experience for others. Lets just say the (blind) waiters were classy all the way, the experience is as unique as they come, and the food was dull. I went as a second-date,and it was a big success. It helped a lot that we both have a sick sense of humour and a fairly dirty mind. There's something about making out in perfect darkness amongst strangers who are none the wiser that really got us excited. I can only imagine what others have been up to between courses. Great date spot, but not for real foodies. read more

The food was HORRIBLE!!! WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU START!!!!!! I was there last night for dinner our first time. If you want to come for the experience that's the only thing that's worth your time and money. The food was just awful!! I got the FISH which was suppose to be salmon.. which was FROZEN NOT FRESH!!!. Roasted red peppers with goat cheese.. AWFUL!!! it was literally eating a red pepper with goat cheese.. nothing made these dish special or delicious. I would recommend coming to experience dinning in the dark but if you're coming for the food don't waste your time. read more

I seem to have had a pretty standard experience at O Noir - similar to what others have mentioned. Great concept, good fun, decent food, sadly expensive. It's difficult to emphasise enough just how DARK the dining room is. It's not the darkness you get when you turn off your bedroom light, or the darkness of a nightclub...it's total, complete pitch black. I've never experienced anything like it, and no - your eyes will not adjust. It was very disconcerting being led into the room - quite creepy, in fact! I'd recommend this restaurant for people looking for a good laugh, and it helps if the people at tables around you are also up for some fun and giggles. We were seated next to a hysterical couple who found the whole experience very funny, which in turn made our experience much better, too! The food was good, but I definitely would be unhappy paying the same price for the same food in a 'normal' restaurant. The peppers served with my (delicious) goats cheese were soggy, and there was a distinctly salty flavour to my (otherwise delicious) steak and accompanying vegetables. Our visually-impaired server, Dianna, was hilarious and very efficient. The friendliness of the front-of-house staff however left much to be desired. I'd come back, but only if I was showing tourists around, or if it was part of a larger group who had never been before, and were up for a fun start to a big night out. read more

it is a good experience. the food is good, not unforgettable. The food need to include ingredients with strong smells. In that way, you can live the olfactory and gustatory experience. Of course, it's a unique dining experience in the dark. However, I consider that they lack to deliver a paper with the surprised dish that you eat or that you server tells you in the end.Beside, if you want to do a excelent service, the restaurant need other host with best attitude. Because, she speak as bitter and hurry you to choose your menu. She doesn't give suggestions. In this kind of restaurants is important a good service read more

This place is all about the experience, not necessarily a culinary one. Where else can you eat in pitch-black darkness? Located on the southwest corner of Church and Charles, much of O NOir is located underground. The dim, old fashion decor sets the mood for this place. As a surprise, the waiters/ waitresses are blind. Price ranges from $32-$38 depending if you want either appetizer or dessert with your meal. You can choose what to eat prior to entering the dark atmosphere, or you can request their "surprise dishes". For starters I chose to have their grilled octopus, which was nicely charred, and was not as flavorful, It would have made a difference with a squeeze of lemon to be honest.. 3/5 Entree was a surprise: I ended up having their Veal (already pre-cut) served with potatoes and veggies in a marsala sauce: 3/5 tasted pretty generic, and the meat was bland, would have prefferred to have it more seasoned. Dessert: was a surprise, their chocolate mouse cake, rich, creamy, and huge! that was definitely a great way to end it off 4/5. Would i come here again, probably not, but I would recommend everyone to try this place once. read more

Great experience. More of an a sensory experience rather than focusing on the food. Had a great time.

This is very different place. You go there and experience the darkness. Food is okay, portion is pretty small, I think this maybe because it will be easier for people eating without seeing the food. A place I probably won't go second time, unless a group of people are going together. But if you haven't gone to, definitely need to find out. read more

First of all, it's truly is PITCH BLACK, which is part of the experience, but it can be intimidating at first. I wouldn't go back, but I'm happy I experienced it. The food was mediocre, and service was above average. The only thing, the atmosphere in the main lobby before entering one of 4 dark rooms was terrible. You enter a lounge area, check out a menu and order your meal and beverage. The lounge hasn't been updated since the 70's! It was smelly, old and uncomfortable. The dark rooms where you eat obviously you couldn't tell what it looked like, but you could tell it was cheap, the cutlery, the tables, the chairs, everything was old and cheap. I don't think they should look good, but the feeling of the cheapness stood out. I would recommend going, but don't expect anything other than an experience. read more

Reading the comments really prepared me for my experience at O.Noir. So be prepared to read comments to prep yourself. First thing's first. It's definitely a place you want to try at least once. The experience itself with the concept of eating in the dark was really cool, but scary at the same time...you don't really know what to expect! The food came out cold. Almost like it was frozen microwavable dinners that were heated and served. So I wasn't too happy about that. The wait was pretty long, but I imagine it's because there were a lot of rooms filled with customers...or they were busy microwaving frozen dinners.... Since we're eating in the dark your senses are crazy heightened...there was a couple behind me who decided to move the night along quickly and engaged in a lot of sexual activities. This was both amusing and gross since they're young people thinking YOLO, but gross because I had to sit through all that noise. I don't know how close the tables were since it was dark, but I can only assume that if I were to stretch my arm out, i'm sure i would have touched them! read more

Dave was our server and he was absolutely fabulous! While there were some nervous members in the party, Dave created a lighthearted, happy atmosphere that made all the difference in the world. We all had a really great time, and I highly recommend Dave as a server! read more

Great service but mediocre food. My surprise seafood appetizer was oily, the Cajun fish was heavily seasoned and extremely salty and the chocolate cake was dry -all of which tasted like were pre-packaged frozen food. My guests' filet mignon was good but was a fatty cut. The banquet hall metal chairs, wood tables and hodgepodge utensils didn't help with the experience. read more

5/5 for the experience - very unique and I surprisingly enjoyed eating in the dark even though I was really nervous beforehand. 2/5 for the food - it's not terrible... you definitely wouldn't come here just for the food though. read more

This restaurant was a unique experience that immersed me into darkness. The decor seemed Irish pub style in the bar area. The dining room is of course pitch dark and requires imagination to picture the surroundings. We were provided with dulled cutlery and plastic cups for drinking (safety first of course), along with normal plates and casual dining music in the back ground. I would have liked if there were table linens; I mean hey if they get stained or are awful colours no one will know. The important thing would just be that they are clean. The food was very good. We tried squid and calamari for appetizers and the steak for our main. We couldn't see the presentation of the food but the flavours and textures were good. Tender steak, crisp green beans and chunky mashed potatoes. Finding all the beans in the dark was hide and seek. I tried to use only my cutlery, but resorted to cheating and used my finger tips to explore the plate and find those last hidden morsels. I found myself feeling a little sad because I ate the last piece of steak without knowing it; I think I would have savoured it longer. Our waiter was patient and gave clear instructions to ensure our escort through the dining room and meal were without knocks, bumps and crashes in the dark. Using my other senses was interesting and the experience highlighted my true reliance for sight during a normal dinner out. I would try it again and perhaps chose the 'surprise me' menu option next time to "up" the challenge. read more

O.Noir - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ordered a surprise starter (which seemed to be just a salad), filet mignon (DELICIOUS!) and surprise dessert (seems like my friend got something different from me). A unique and interesting experience that everyone should try at least once. Our waiter Gavin was awesome! read more

The experience was a once in a lifetime experience. You are plunged into absolute darkness when you enter the dining room, and you really have to rely on your other senses for the rest of the meal. The service was good too. The downfall was the food. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the "surprise menu", and it was very underwhelming. I would advise others to order from the actual menu instead of just getting the "surprise" menu, as the rest of my family's food was better than mine, but probably still not worth the price paid. read more

The food was great. we ordered 3-course meal. We went there for my birthday and I love every min we spent there. Our waiter, the experience, and the food were beyond my expectation. read more

Great food, service was good. Our waiter was amazing. It was a group of 15 people and we all had a wonderful time. Great experience, would definitely come back here!! read more

We went here as a group and it was one of the best experiences we've ever had! The waiting staff were lovely. And being in the dark while eating and chatting was a great experience. read more

Great experience and good food. Just don't order the chocolate cake as things can get messy.

Such a neat idea! I love this place! Came here for my anniversary with my bf and we had a great time. The food was delicious. I think when you are not distracted by everything around you, the food tastes a lot better! I definitely gained a new appreciation for the blind after this experience. Most of us take our eyesight for granted when we shouldn't. I'm so glad to see restaurants like this that provide jobs for the disabled! Will definitely come back again :) read more

It was a fun experience! Our waitress was very nice and clear in her directions. I got the Octopus salad, Fillet mignon with vegetables and surprise dessert. The filet mignon was so good! Tender, great flavours and a very large portion! Love love loved it. I've had filet mignon at Jacobs & Co and David Duncan house before and I was still impressed with this. Salad was ok, it was interesting to eat this in the dark. Dessert turned out to be chocolate cheesecake. It was rich but nothing extraordinary. Still I think everyone should try this at least once. And the steak alone is enough to win a return visit in my book! read more

This was a fun experience.. although sitting in the dark gets old pretty quickly. I expected that the food was going to be amazing but it was just ok, nothing fabulous. For the price we paid I expected higher end cuisine. They say you eat with your eyes and I now wonder if not having the visual of the food was part of the food tasting a bit bland for me!?! It's an interesting experience to eat in complete darkness wondering what the room looks like or what your food looks like. At some point most people end up eating with their hands. (You can't see where or what's on your plate). read more

After reading online reviews the four of us didn't have high expectations for the food but went anyway for the experience.... The food was delicious, our server (Chelsea) was kind and had a great sense of humour, and the experience was awesome. Highly recommend trying this restaurant! read more

This place Is definitely worth experiencing! Ever heard of the term "once in a life time experience"? well this is it! The service here was great, it was different from the usual places that you would ever go to eat at. I was not sure what to expect. we ended up following a blind waiter into a pitch black room with other people. I sat across from my girl friend trying to figure out the layout of the room. the food here wasnt amazing or anything but the experience of it was alot of fun. i would recommend this place for people to try. and also recommend this place as a first date if they know the girl is SPONTANEOUS and fun :D read more

Overall it was a fun experience but the food was average at best. It was also really loud so at times it was hard to hear my partner over our meal. Definitely worth trying out once for the experience but I probably wouldn't ever go back. read more

I wanted to experience O'Noir due to the high media coverage and unique experience. Here are my pros and cons: Pros: Seductive yet haunting setting when you enter the restaurant premise. Eating in the dark enhances your other senses and gives you a dining experience which will make you thankful for your sight. Helpful and friendly blind waiter/waitress. You will be impressed with their sense of directions in serving you the food. The food is ok in comparison to other restaurants It forces you to gain Cons: There is no advertisement on the front of the building. The restaurant is located inside an apartment building. The front end staff is not very helpful and didn't give us the feeling that we were about to experience something unique. She pretty much rushed us without directions to the menu. The portion sizes are very small - take note of the size because you can't see. I would not go back on a regular basis but maybe in another 2 years to see if anything has changed. read more

The food wasn't exceptional but not bad enough for me to complain about it. The experience definitely made it worth the while. The service exceeded my expectations as well. This isn't a place I'd go on a regular basis not because of the price (I just prefer seeing my food and look at people's eyes when I speak haha), but a place I'd take friends visiting the city for sure! read more

Was a bit apprehensive at first. Our server Brandon was very friendly and sat us at our table. It was pitch black. Hearing was the main sense I noticed with smell a close second. I had the grilled shrimp. It was awesome. Suzy had the filet mignon and it was so tender it cut with the fork. A must visit whenever in Toronto. read more

Loved it! The experience was very eye-opening! Staff was very attentive, courteous, and knowledgable. The room was full of guests but we weren't forgotten even though we weren't seen. The experience itself made me appreciate what I have and what others are missing. It also added a new dimension to enjoying a meal. Since I couldn't see what was on my fork with each bite, I had no idea what to expect. Try loading up your fork with your eyes closed at your table tonight! Tough, eh? I would highly recommend this! read more