Overall, this was a fun and reflective experience that I would recommend others to try. It definitely makes you reconsider the thiings you don't have to think about if you have sight. Of course, being blind throughout one's life and eating in the dark one time are not the same thing--and so I wonder if the "I tried it, it's hard but manageable" attitude that might come out of this experience could backffire a little bit. That said, there are a few things that could improve. The "vegetarian surprise" was indeed a surprise since there was no protein in the dish. This is a major pet peeve of vegetarians (simply taking out the animal protein or serving mains that are really sides). The flavour was good on the other hand. However, the rice was undercooked. If you ar serving a rice dish, then the rice has to be properly cooked. It was well-under as a simple test of this by the chef would have revealed. Cheesecake dessert was too sweet. The ambience of the staging area/bar/lounge was great. The place where we actuallly go to eat was very tight. I felt like I was one foot from the other tables on either side. Part of this is because you're in the dark so you are hearing everyone a bit better. But the tables were very close together. I would have liked much much more space so that I didn't feel like everyone was hearing the conversation I was having with my (first) date! Prices seemed fair for what's going on. I like prix fixed. But again, when you simply take out the protein from the vegetarian dish, what are we really paying for food-wise? read more

Fantastic experience, great food! We will definitely go again if we make it back to Toronto!

Very interesting concept and memorable experience. The food was alright. I felt that the restaurant could focus a little more on the dishes, encouraging customers to discuss the flavours, textures and taste of each course (like a wine tasting). But there was zero discussion about the dishes served (even the surprise ones). I would suggest that all patrons wash their hands on their way in as fingers definitely touch the food throughout the meal. All in all, a worthwhile visit but it could be made much more interactive. read more

Unique dining experience with tasty food and great staff service. I went with my friend and while she opted for the filet steak as her main, I choose the surprise options down the board. I learned after the meal that it was a BBQ-glazed Pork and it was delish. Definitely worth checking out at least once if visiting Toronto! read more

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

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I enjoyed this location entirely for the experience. The surprise seafood appetizer was seriously lacking, but the seafood risotto was decent. Just needed a little more salt and pepper. read more

No complaints on this awesome dining experience. This is quite a unique and thought-provoking way to dine. When we arrived at our reservation time we were quickly greeted and checked in for dinner. Once checked in, they present you with the menu so you can order your app, dinner, and desert, as well as beverages. I really enjoyed the "surprise" options they offer. After ordering your meal and beverages, you are introduced to your server. Our server was Tracey and she was phenomenal. Your server will ask the first person in your party to place their hand on her shoulder and you then form a single file line, everyone in line places one hand on the shoulder in front of them. As you make your way inside the completely darkened room, you quickly realize what it is like to have no sight. since I don't want to ruin any more of the experiecne I am going to leave the rest of that for you to experience. My wife and I both thought the food was flavorful and creative. I had the filet with potatoes and vegetables and was very pleased with my choice. My wife had a chicken dish and she was equally as pleased. I can't say enough about how awesome our server was. She was very attentive and informative. Tracey was always there when we needed her. This was an awesome experience. We would do it again and suggest it to anyone to try. read more

Definitely a unique, one of a kind experience. It gives you a good appreciation of what blind people go through as you are eating in complete darkness! The location is pretty dingy as you feel like you're dining in a dungeon. The greeters dress in sweats so it's not really classy or anything... But that's not why you're here anyways.. You order in the hallway area and then are led into the dining area by your blind waiter. We had Nasir, who was really good. He led us to our tables and had us seated. The food itself was pretty decent! I opted for surprise options and had a calamari starter, pork chop main, and cheesecake dessert. All in all was a cool experience but don't see myself going back again. read more

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

Service was really good, I got the mystery entree and appetizer but ended up with the same items as my fellow diners which was disappointing. Nonetheless, great experience! read more

Went here for my birthday one year and absolutely enjoyed the experience! Since you eat in the dark, you have to look through the menu and order first before you head in. They also make sure that you do not have anything that exerts light (example, glow in the dark things/phones, etc.) - understandable since it is "o'noir" after all. The waiter guides us through the restaurant and we have to form a train line so that we don't lose one another (as it's extremely dark and can be a bit daunting). It's sort of strange to be eating in the dark, but I guess it's a new experience. I enjoyed my food a lot though it is a bit difficult trying to navigate your plate. I got the filet mignon, which I thought was tasty (kinda wished I knew what our dishes looked like). The only thing that wasn't too great was the fact that my friend lost his utensils and it was extremely difficult to track down someone to help us - therefore, I'm not sure if he enjoyed his experience to the fullest. It's def something you would go for if it's a special event like a birthday, anniversary date with your S/O, or anything on the fancier side. I would come back again if there's a chance to! read more

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

The food was amazing and service was impeccable!! The ambiance was very unique in a good way I would 100% go back!

Great Experience. Way more than what I expected. Definitely don't want to spoil it for anyone. The food was good also!

Definitely a great experience to try! Especially if your from out of town or want to bring some out of towners to dinner! If you like experiencing new things, this is definitely one more the books. "Eating in the dark" doesn't justify it until your actually there. Only down fall is the food wasn't the greatest, especially for the price your paying. Despite having the "surprise options" I've personally been here twice; once pre-pandemic and another this last summer and the food has not gotten any better. My boyfriend and I both finished our entrees and appetizers and still left feeling hungry. Bottom line, go for the experience - not the food. read more

Had an anniversary dinner here with a Groupon and we had a really good experience here. Definitely not your usual restaurant but that I do say that it is worth to try! Service here was really good, food was surprisingly yummy as well, we had curry and steak as our main course dishes. It was so cool how the waiters knew who came in first and where they sat as I do remember there were a number of other people in the room. The timing was right because we were finished with our food and talked a bit and was prepared to leave and then the waitress appeared and asked if we were ready to go. read more

Came with a Groupon with my girlfriend. You place your order before hand in a dimly lit waiting room. Then you are introduced to your waiter and he guides you in through a buffer room closing the door behind before opening the one in front to the actual dining area. So you really have no clue what the dining room looks like. The waiter sits you down, brings water and bread and leaves you to feel out your place mat while you wait for the food. The experience really is quite interesting. There's very little opportunity in life to just sit there blind trying to eat your food. I tried to copy what I've noticed visually impaired people do while eating; had an imaginary location for all of my things. Fork on this side, knife here, cup right above on the left. The food itself was pretty good. Although I want to say some of it was a little burnt, but I'll never know as I couldnt see to confirm. The meal took much longer than usual, both to eat and for plates to come and go. I really enjoyed the experience, but not sure if I'll need to come again any time soon. read more

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

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It is pricey for what you get. The quality of the food is just not there for the price you pay. For starters I chosen the surprise seafood, and receieved 3 breaded shrimp. For the main course the filet mignon was not cooked correctly (asked for med rare) lots of potato and broccoli. For dessert the sorbet, tasted like store bought tub of ice cream with canned fruit. The biggest upset was that we were seated before the couple beside us and they were served way before us and finished their dinner when we were still waiting for our main course. Even our drinks came after theirs.. It is obviously impossible to wave the waiter down to settle these issues and we were also forced to tip 20%. read more

Food was Incredible, we were so happy with the surprise everything ! Everyone in our party of 6 loved every minute of it. Dave our waiter was fabulous! Would definitely recommend this unique experience. It was my sons birthday and everyone sang so loud!!! We will be returning. read more

It was an experience like no other! We opted for surprises for our three course meal and each time they did not disappoint. Dianna our waitress was so sweet! If you've not made it out here, you HAVE to. It is truly a life changing experience. read more

This is enough of an experience, you do not need to order the surprise meal, especially if you're a pescatarian. I got a bunch of cooked zucchini with tomato and rice for dinner. Couldn't see a thing. The ambiance is very noisy but you have no idea who is there talking. I liken this experience to eating with. My hands tied behind my back. One time is enough. read more

I have a lot of mixed feelings and emotions on how to rate this review. If you judge by the experience of dining in the dark - 5 stars isn't enough. If you are basing it off of our waiter - Dave is the cats meow!! He was very attentive, informative, and also just the kind of guy that you're happy to have come around to your table. But the food - the food was just not good. I would have given it 2 stars, but the chocolate mousse, chocolate cake and "surprise dessert", which I'm pretty sure was cheesecake (but this was not confirmed) bumped it back up to 3. We went to O.Noir on Thanksgiving (American thanksgiving). Let me just say that it's been my dream for a few years to go to a dining in the dark restaurant. We purchased a groupon for the 3 course tasting menu. I think they have it offered quite often, so save yourself about 30 dollars and check that out first! We were not sure what to expect. We kept saying "oh there has to be SOME kind of light.." - if you're wondering, there isn't. It is pitch black. I want you to go into a dark room and then close your eyes.... now you know what it's like to sit in the dining room with your eyes open at O.noir. It was pretty overwhelming at first. But once you take a few breaths, it was actually really amazing!!! You could hear sounds that normally you don't even pay attention to. I remember a couple of times that my cousin mentioned she could hear other people in our dining party eating. It was crazy, just a simple fork clink on the plate was super amplified. Dave was fabulous! He did a really good job of explaining how everything was going to work. He was really happy and upbeat and when I heard his voice nearby, it made the initial anxiety lower. I would highly recommend this experience!!! The food here was pretty bad, I would stay far far away from the "surprise seafood" appetizer. The main course (we all chose the filet) - was fine but not amazing... the overall experience just got me super pumped and ready to try my dream restaurant, the blindekuh, in Switzerland!!!! read more

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

Dining in complete darkness was a new concept to me. I have heard of places that blindfold guests but being seated in a dining room completed void of light was too intriguing to pass up. I made a reservation for the earliest of the two seatings available and selected the two-course, prix fixe meal which featured an appetizer and entree. I opted to skip dessert. I greeted a young woman standing in the doorway to the dining room and followed her direction to place my hand on her shoulder. She lead me through the door and into the darkness. The experience of dining in complete darkness is definitely something everyone should try. The server provides excellent direction in terms of getting guests seated, helping them to orient themselves with what is on the table and making sure they have everything they need throughout the meal. I found it fascinating to gain a better understanding of what it is like to live in a world without the benefit of sight. It is also exciting to have this opportunity for people who are blind to, not only work in the "front of the house" of a restaurant, but to also interact with the public in this manner and demonstrate how they can handle themselves, and the meal service, so capably. Listening to the conversations surrounding me, everyone seemed to be enjoying their food as well as the entire experience. No mishaps or order mixups as far as I could tell. The food was very good but I did miss out on the chance to enjoy the visual presentation. The menu options are limited in comparison to the extensive choices offered at other restaurants but the dishes available do offer something for everyone, vegetarians to meat eaters. My only difficulty came from trying to spear the lettuce leaves on the appetizer dish with my fork. What I believe were shrimp were easy enough to eat but lettuce can be very elusive in the dark! read more

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

"Walk a mile in my shoes" Ever think that being blind would be easy? Think you will be the next Devil of Hell's Kitchen? Think again. This restaurant allows you to truly walk the same path as a blind person and I must say, it is not an easy undertaking. I have been in the dark many times, like before bed etc but the level of darkness and atmosphere is just different. This place puts you in a social situation in which you need to use fine motor skills to eat, navigate to and from places and something as simple as "Hey, try this piece of steak girl across from me" ends up becoming a huge logistical undertaking worthy of it's own episode of Extreme Engineering! I highly recommend going with a group of four or more since it is actually a very fun place. I give it 5 stars for the experience since it is a unique concept that had spread all over mainly through word of mouth. The food however is mediocre but good enough. Like I said, it's all about the experience. A great place to try but in reality, you will have a one nighter here, it will be an evening to remember, you will never come back but will relive the experience for years to come. read more

O.Noir - How it looks in the dining room. No, it's not having trouble loading. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

What an interesting concept and an amazing experience. To loose your sense of sight while dining out is a real eye opener (I know, no pun intended). For those who live in darkness without vision, I realize that having vision is quite a privilege. Our server (I'm sorry I don't remember his name) was wonderful. Polite, efficient and assisted our group to and from our table, oriented us to the place setting and cleared our plates when finished. Was able to identify the mystery meat for the starter and I think I guessed the mystery dessert. The main was Filet Migion which was tender, perfectly cooked with green beans and mashed potatoes. Definitely a must try experience. read more

An excellent experience but mediocre food at a hefty price. You're definitely paying for the experience here and not the food. I came here on date night with the $64 coupon for two (Keep in mind you will still have to pay taxes (around $25). Excellent service, our server Dave was memorable, kind and just awesome overall. I won't be going into the details of the experience as I really think you just need to experience for yourself! I'd definitely recommend giving this place a shot for the experience but I personally probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

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

It's exactly what you think it would be like looking at it from the outside. It feels like a community centre pretending to feel like a fancy restaurant. The staff were pleasant. The tables are crammed in a long line so you're sitting almost directly next to someone. The table was sticky which creeped me out in the dark needing to feel around. There is a shower curtain dividing the rows of tables. The food is horrible. I ordered the surprise vegetarian starter which was a tiny bit of baby greens and maybe one grape tomato cut in two. Definitely used Kraft Italian dressing. My main was shrimp risotto. No seasoning on the shrimp at all. Came with defrosted frozen veggies (you know that weird texture the carrots get when they've been boiled or microwaved after frozen?) And the dessert was a surprise- freezer burnt cheese cake I think. The food surprised me. Dining in the dark means heightened tastebuds. Quality delicious food should be a given. On the plus side there's an A&W next door! Lol. They responded to my review and now I'm disturbed that clearly I was given food they don't even normally give to customers. I definitely had frozen veggies and there was definitely a grape tomato in my starter. I'm actually even more grossed out with it now knowing that I was prob getting someone's leftovers from home. Therefore I'm changing my review to a 1 star from a 2. read more

I visited this restaurant after finding it on Groupon. Hubby had gone out of town and I wanted to have a nice dinner with one of my best friends while he was away. Groupon is one of the best places to find great eats. This one did not disappoint. Upon arrival, you pick your dinner items from the menu in a well-lit space. When you go inside to eat, however, the lights are off! Yes, that's right; you eat in complete darkness and your server is blind. This experience opens up all the senses in a way I didn't expect. The food was phenomenal The steak was cut up for me and seasoned/cooked to perfection. The potatoes were unbelievably tasty. The only disappointment was the dessert. They accommodate gluten free beautifully excepting this option. The only choice I had was a fruit sorbet which had a sour touch I didn't enjoy. Otherwise, everything was delicious. At first, I kind of freaked out and thought it would be far too difficult to eat in complete darkness, but you get used to it faster than you'd think. And you gain a new sense of empathy for those left without sight. Our blind waiter was far more capable in this element than us. He performed perfectly and helped us find our utensils and was careful to show us where our cups and plates were by taking our hands He did a phenomenal job. The conversation took on a new element as well without being able to see my friend. No one can see you, so it's okay to touch your plate to see if anything remains or to guide your fork. Great food, perfect service and one of the most unique experiences I've ever had. Highly recommended and wish to visit again! read more

I was very excited about going to this restaurant and even more excited for my boyfriend who's never dined in the dark. I've done this before in Thailand and I was glad I could have him try this new experience close to home. Booking our reservations online were very easy. We found the restaurant with problem. When we walked into the building it appeared to be somewhat dated and a bit drab and dark (no pun intended). It could use a good dusting and perhaps some updating but we kept an open mind. Our host took our name and gave us menu's to review in an open bar area. There was little seating and it was bit awkward but we just went with it. We thought maybe we could get a drink while we waited to be seated but the bar didn't have anyone working behind it. It seemed like a very bare bones kind of set up so we just kept going with the flow. After about 10min the host came back and asked us to line up on the side of the hall and wait for our server to come and get us. Nasir came out and said hello. He was very quiet spoken and when asked to repeat himself he was abrupt and almost annoyed. From that point on I made sure to listen closely and follow directions. When directed to do so, we took his shoulder and entered the darkness. We were seated very easily and began to accept and adjust to the dark. My boyfriend was a ball of nerves in the best way possible. However within moments of being seated it became unsettling clear how loud it was in the room. Everyone was yelling at each other. It was as if people couldn't believe that their peers/partners were right next them because they couldn't see them so they had to yell at them. It was the noise level that absolutely ruined this experience for both my boyfriend and I. We could barely hear each other and there were some younger people who absolutely insisted on yelling about ordering the surprise meat, and asking if the other could see them waving their hands in front of them and if so-and-so was happy... It was annoying and rude. Throughout the meal, Nasir (I'm assuming) actually requested THREE TIMES that everyone try to keep their voices down. Each time is lasted for all of a minute before a roar started again. I don't know if it was the room itself or just a bunch of rude people but it was awful. The meal itself was wonderful from start to finish. I opted to get a surprise starter, meal, dessert and cocktail. My boyfriend got the surprise starter and dessert. We were both quite pleased with our meals. Full of flavor, cooked very well and overall quite impressive. My cocktail was very strong but I guess that was part of the surprise. We found out later what our surprise dishes were and we were pretty spot on with what we guessed, so that was fun. I wanted to love this place but the ambiance just wasn't what I expected at all. I would love to give this a try again but I'm not sure if my boyfriend would. The idea is wonderful but it really just missed the mark for me. read more

You have to be open-minded for an experience like this. Some of us tend to over think everything. The restaurant is located in a corner and you have to go down some stairs. It doesn't look fancy on the outside but to me, it made it all the more inviting. We were visiting Toronto and I wanted to surprise my BF w/a new experience. He knew something was up when he saw the Braille alphabet on the wall and a vision impaired man carrying at least 5 drinks on a tray entering a room! We were seated in the lounge with other people and a hostess came to take our order. We were then called and were given instructions- phones off, hold on to waitresses shoulder and walk. It's scary to trust a stranger but that's what it's all about. I ordered all the surprise dishes and it did not disappoint. I had rice w/a succulent beef curry (I think) as a starter, a bbq style pork and mashed potatoes w/green beans for main course and a coffee tasting cheesecake for dessert. The boyfriend had the Cajun fish and we both enjoyed our meals. My food was seasoned well and so was his. The fuzzy navel is dangerous--it was soo good! My waitress was polite and professional. I couldn't even find my mouth and she took all these plates and drinks! The things I take for granted... I highly recommend. read more

THE BEST PLACE EVER..... our servers name was Dave and I went with my mom for her birthday and a friend, so there were three of us! Dave was also a blind server and was super friendly and accommodating, hes the reason why we had such a great experience. food was great and would definitely recommend anyone to visit . was a true eye opening experience! would for sure come back another time! read more

A restaurant with no lights on in the dining hall. The experience is to eat in darkness. My bf and i had the 3 course meal which was excellent. However,, it is a real shame for the many incidents of the overall diners that ruined the whole experience with smart watches and cell phone screens lit up, young children making noise and people shouting as they are eating. read more

Unforgettable experience. Food was delicious, service was great, and we appreciated the surprise course options, kept things interesting! Loved that the restaurant was bustling with this fun energy and we couldn't see anything in the pitch black dining room. We would definitely come back. read more

Interesting concept, interesting location. I entrance was kind of shady, but after u pass the fascade it was a warm and entertaining resturant. We ate in total darkness, so I'm not too sure what we were eating. The food is not the best, but eating in the dark was interesting. I would recommend you bring your most interesting friends along, so they can tell u stories in the dark. Props to the servers who are visually disabled and work in the dark. read more

This was an incredibly enhancing and unique date night for my boyfriend and I. You dine in the complete darkness for this - literally pitch black. It really makes the dining experience special and unique as you have to feel your way around for utensils, food and your drink. You begin the experience in a lit room where you prepay for the meal and wait to be led in by a staff member. After that, you are led into a pitch black room and shown to your table, with your hands on the staff member's shoulder and your dinner guest's hands on your shoulder. The food was great since you got to taste it better due to your other senses increasing to make up for the loss of sight. The staff were also very friendly and accommodating, though sometimes it was hard to figure out whether they were there or not if you needed to flag them down. Overall, I thought the price was definitely worth it for the experience. read more

So disappointed with this place. The food was not good at all. Tasted bland, everything industrial, from the frozen entry to the frozen chocolate cake. I guess they are just trying to milk you out for the concept. Also the hostess asked us how much we wanted to tip and gave us three options 15% 18% 22% which made me a bit uncomfortable. Don't waste your time there please. read more

For those that don't know, O.Noir is that unique place where you dine entirely in the dark. Yes, it is completely pitch-black, and no, your eyes will not eventually adjust. You can't see a dam thing down there in O.Noir's dark and dingy basement dining room. Seriously though, O.Noir is easily one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had in Toronto, not just because the food and service were awful, but also because I left the place feeling ripped off. O.Noir took a concept that could have been interesting and did absolutely nothing with it. It was nothing more than eating crappy food in a dark basement room with the lights off. First off, the food at O.Noir is horrible. It's just glorified, hotel banquet food. You know the stuff: salad with balsamic vinaigrette, pre-cooked steam-table-held vegetables, chicken with coriander sauce. It was all of those boring old courses served at weddings and buffets in the 80s and 90s; there's nothing imaginative going on in the kitchen here. The food had absolutely no bearing on eating in an environment void of light. You'd think that if they were going to block your sense of sight, they'd want to serve food that would heighten your other senses, like food with strong aromas or flavours. Nope. Just unthoughtful, crappy food. In a way, the food was so bad that I'm glad my other senses weren't heightened by the lack of light. I ordered the 'surprise' menu. I mean really, why wouldn't I? I'd like to at least try to see if I could use my 'enhanced' senses to not only guess but also to better appreciate whatever it was I was eating... For me, the 'surprise' was that I still don't know what the hell I ate. No one ever told me. I sort of assumed that once we were finished eating, the server would have at least told those of us that ordered the surprise what it was we ate so that we could confirm our suspicions, but nope, he just took our plates away without any explanation at all. Speaking of our server, he was one of the worst in the biz. Not only did he not bring us anything to drink until we were finished our first course and constantly get our orders mixed up, but he was inattentive and bored; I don't blame him though, it'd be hard not to be bored down there in the dark dining pit of O.Noir. He often left us wondering where he was, not because we were in the dark, but because he often left the room or crept up behind us. The seating arrangements leave you feeling bored and isolated too, especially if you're part of a group. In a dark environment, you'd be better off sitting at a round table so that everyone can be part of the conversation. Our seating arrangements at a long, rectangular table left those on the end of the table feeling isolated and alone. Sitting near the entrance to the dining room sucks too. Believe it or not, the servers actually signal that they're entering the room by banging on the door. We must have heard it 40 or 50 times. In a room that is supposed to heighten your senses, this seems absolutely ridiculous. Surely there must be a better way to enter the room and make sure that no light enters. If there is, O.Noir didn't figure it out, or they didn't care. They just decided to stick with the loud banging. Although we couldn't see anything, a quick feel confirmed that we were using those cheapo hotel-style metal chairs and wooden tables. I mean, I know we can't see anything anyways, but if our senses were supposed to be heightened, then surely our sense of touch should be a part of that. You could argue that because you're eating in the dark, the restaurant doesn't need to spend as much on the space, but I'd argue that because you're eating in the dark, the restaurant needs to spend more on the space and everything in the environment needs to be taken into consideration. On the way out, the bartender asked us if we were staying in the attached hotel, and right then, it all made sense to me; this place was taking up the old banquet facilities of the hotel. It explains the strange layout the dining room has and the trend of hotel food and furniture. It confirmed one thing for me: if you're going to have a restaurant where your guests eat in the dark, then the space definitely needs to be built specifically for that purpose. There's little doubt that because they didn't, O.Noir sees little repeat business. People come for the novelty, but likely leave disappointed. O.Noir offers nothing more than eating crappy banquet food in a dark basement with the lights off; absolutely nothing more than that. The pitch-black did nothing to make the experience better or heighten my senses in anyway. I was just eating crappy banquet food in the dark... read more

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

Pros: This is a unique dining venue that is a great concept overall for the "experience" factor. The chocolate mousse in particular was great dessert option in taste and quality. Cons: The location isn't convenient and does not have much parking. The food (besides the dessert listed above) was mediocre or less in quality and taste, and the dishes that they cook are not tailored to a dark environment. If the food were easier to eat, it would make the experience better and make it easier to not focus on the immediate difficulty. The food service took a long time and the portions left a lot to be desired. The service we received was satisfactory at best since we were not checked on after receiving our meals until dessert came, and no way to flag anyone down. Disappointed that after we finished our meal we were coerced into tipping at 18% by the cashier. read more

Firstly let me say that I enjoyed my experience eating in the dark I think it's something that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. The food was excellent (I had the filet mignon) it was tender soft and just the right amount of flavor to tantalize the senses. Potatoes and asparagus were amazing (I enjoy a bit of butter on my asparagus) the joy however was attempting to spear my food as the gravy caused the food to move around more than I would have liked My appetizer was great as well...seasonal veggies with goat cheese...the goat cheese was so liberal, it was a refreshing change from other restaurants that sprinkle a little and charge you an arm and a leg for it Now for the not so good...I am always blown away when I see more than $2.00 for any regular soft drink anywhere and on this occasion $2.95 for general soft drinks (coke sprite, ginger ale, etc) is not the best way to leave a positive experience in my mind...then to add the fact there are No refills well things weren't looking all that positive. I had the water cause hopefully water will continue to be free. For you drinkers..wine list highly overpriced and nothing that lines up appropriately with the choices available Lastly the desert menu is nothing special the chocolate cake tasted like dry McCain Deep and Delicious...with out the delicious part applying. Our server was excellent (yes he was legally blind) and made for an enjoyable experience which is what I wanted Ultimately I would go back simply because it's something out of the norm and the main course was certainly worth it. If you are looking to go I would recommend the following: 1. Reserve your seating (3 choices) online, don't' call as the staff are incredibly busy 2. Look for a Groupon if you are concerned about cost - currently there is a $64 Groupon for two for a 3 course meal that you can purchase now and it expires in October 2014 otherwise it's $90.87 pretax 3. Look at the menu before hand online there are pictures that may help you make your choice of what you want to eat read more

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I went to Onoir for the experience and not just the food. I've been to the Montreal location and really had a great experience, although there were members of my party that had slight panic attacks. It's an experience that I have never went through and I feel like each time I go it's a bit different. Eating in the dark not only heightens all your other senses, it also makes you aware of how much you know your surroundings! The service at the Toronto location was good. Our actual server (who was blind) was super helpful and got us everything we wanted quickly and guided us well throughout the darkness. He was great in getting us drinks and brought the food out without ever spilling anything or knocking anything over (unlike us lol). The hostess and people at the front however, took an extremely long time to get us to our table. We waited over 30-40 minutes and I had reservations already. The hostess finally told me she mixed up our table with another because another guest had the same name as I did. I took off a star for that alone. The food isn't the best you'll ever taste, but it's fun to eat in the dark, especially when you're trying the unknown mystery dishes. Most of the food tasted average at best and it's really the experience you're paying for. Although my friends tell me I can just eat at my own place and turn off all the lights and save myself $100...overall give it a try at least once. It's a fun experience and I have all the respect in the world for the blind servers that work there. read more

Food is so so bad. Essentially a school cafeteria with the lights off. Best part was walking blind to the table and getting oriented. Everything afterwards was just an lol. read more

To celebrate my sister's birthday, I wanted to do something fun and different. I thought O.Noir would be just that. I'd heard from friends that it is an interesting experience. Already the rage in Europe, Australia, L.A., New York and Montreal - O.NOIR - Canada's first-ever "Dine in the Dark" restaurant now invites Torontonians to experience food, drink and conversation like never before - without their sight! "It's a sensual dining experience like no other!" says O.NOIR owner and founder Moe Alameddine. "When you eat food in the dark, your remaining senses are heightened to savour the smell and taste of food. Even simple, everyday dishes like potatoes and yogurt take on a culinary flare." But O.NOIR does more than just fire the imagination and stimulate the senses. After a few hours in complete darkness (that's right, no flashlights, matches, cell phones, cigarette lighters or luminous watches), customers gain a better understanding of what it's like to be blind - just like the restaurant's entire wait staff. This socially conscious concept sprang from Jorge Spielmann, a blind pastor in Zurich who used to blindfold his dinner guests at his home so they could share his eating experience. In 1999, Spielmann opened Blindekuh (German for Blind Cow), a project aimed at teaching the sighted about the sightless world, and provide jobs for blind people. When you enter, you wait in the lounge where you can have a drink. Maria, the bartender, took our food order in the lounge. Gord and Sister Sarah ordered Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Parmigiano shavings and balsamic vinegar for their starters. Gord and I both ordered Five Spice Filet mignon served with Potatoes and Vegetables (we passed on the veggies, though) as our main. Sister Sarah ordered Pasta with light Tomato Sauce and Vegetables. For dessert, Gord and I ordered Dark Chocolate Mousse with Rasberry. Sister Sarah opted for the "Surprise Dessert". They have a "surprise" starter, main and dessert on the menu ... you have no idea what it is until they bring it to you and you have to figure it out when you eat it. Gord and I knew we'd be eating in the dark. We had told Sister Sarah that there was something special about the restaurant but we wouldn't tell her what. Tracy, our server, came to lead us into the restaurant ... we had to put our left hand on the shoulder of the person ahead of us. No doubt that confused Sister Sarah! The restaurant is pitch dark ... serious, it's DARK. You can't see a thing ... nothing! I must admit that it is freaky at first and takes a while to get used to. Tracy was great and told us where everything was ... our knife, fork, butter, etc. The potatoes were thickly sliced and the steak was cut up. I tried eating with my utensils but gave up and ate with my hands. I did eat my dessert with the my spoon ... which was guided by my fingers. Because it wasn't very crowded, they let us stay longer than usual (we were there about three hours) to continue to enjoy the experience. The next time I have visitors from out of town, I'd definitely take them there. The food was good and the service was excellent! You should check it out! Go during the week, though, because Tracy said it gets loud during the weekends (it's sold out) and not as enjoyable. read more

O Noir is a "dine in the dark" restaurant experience that has just opened its doors to Torontonians after serving Montreal for over 3 years. The concept is very simple - dinner in a pitch black dining room where you remove sight from your sense with the hopes of enhancing your ability to taste. Quick note - you arrive at the restaurant by traversing a maze of doors in staircases at the Town Inn Suites. This, although frustrating at first, helps give the restaurant a real, underground, gritty feeling which serves the overall ambience well. Pricing is fairly reasonable at $39 for a three course or $32 for a two course. I highly recommend the surprise dishes since I felt it enhanced the experience by truly making you embrace using your smell and touch in attempts to figure out what it is you are actually eating. And it's not all about the experience - the food is actually good! Overall, a great, highly recommended, dining experience that I believe everyone should try at least once. read more