Dining in the Dark

Modern restaurant dining often emphasizes visual stimuli. Plating is often thought of as just as important as flavor. Chefs are taught diners eat with their eyes first, taking in the visuals of a dish before ever consuming a bite. Well-composed dishes from the best chefs are edible works of art that diners eagerly photograph with smartphones and share on social media.

But a new trend called Dining in the Dark aims to turn this visual emphasis on its head by completely removing diners’ ability to see their food. These restaurants force you to eat in complete darkness, and you’re not allowed to use your phone to take pictures or illuminate your view.

In many cases, the servers are blind or visually impaired, which means diners learn to experience a meal the way the blind would — through all senses but sight. Flavor and texture are therefore heightened, as you’re forced to concentrate on the remaining sensory information.

This trend is especially popular in major U.S. cities, with companies like Opaque offering dinners in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York and Dallas. The Blind Café is a traveling pop-up with dinners in Austin, Boulder, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco.