Dark Table

731, 6th Avenue SW, Calgary

A project that first started in Switzerland when a blind man, Jorge Spielmann, introduced his guests to the dining life of a blind person by blindfolding them. People loved it so much, the concept expanded to other countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, the United States, and since 2006, Canada.

The concept not only helps employ the legally blind who suffer an employment rate of only 30%, but it encourages patrons to experience eating without one of their senses, one we rely on for so many things: sight.
This situation enables diners to heighten their other senses and enjoy their meal on a different sensorial level.

Starting in Montreal under the name of O.Noir, Moe Alameddine continued to open more in-the-dark restaurants, with the support of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. After Toronto, he opened a Dark Table in Vancouver, and finally, Calgary, where our journey begins.

You won’t miss the entrance as black displays featuring braille, the embossed alphabet you read with your fingers, plaster the outside walls. A big sign reads Dark Table, with D and T in braille above the front door.

The first room is dimly lit in soft blue hues and alcoves with free lockers flank the main entrance’s door, facing the bar where all transactions happen. While there, it’s a great idea to turn off your phone and put it, along with any glow-in-the-dark items you may be wearing, such as a watch, in a locker with your other valuables. If you are expecting an urgent call, you may leave your phone with the hostess. In this room, a friendly hostess will greet you, help you choose your meal from the menu before introducing you to your guide server, someone either completely blind or partially blind—and the best person to help you navigate the darkness.

Once you have met with your guide server, they will explain how things will proceed. Before going through a covered doorway, they will ask you to put your left hand on their left shoulder, and this is how they will guide you through the darkness to your table. Don’t worry; you are in good hands as the guide waiters are gentle, deft and good-natured. Should you need to use the facilities, your guide server will escort you there and back. I would recommend going there first, at least to wash your hands, as you might be tempted to forgo the utensils and eat with your hands.
I was under the impression this restaurant would be somewhat of a cozy 20-seater, especially since this is a reservation-only type of establishment, but it turns out they hold an incredible 80 seats. It’s hard to tell once you have been swallowed up by the pitch-blackness, and trying to pinpoint your whereabouts has made you disoriented.

Getting to your table, your guide server will ask you to feel for your chair. I find this helps to orient you. Once you feel something familiar, the large table as you sit, and your cutlery, things start to fall into place. If you go with a friend or partner, you'll find the setting quite intimate; it’s like being in your own bubble. It can be liberating; no one to judge what you’re wearing, or pay attention to that piece of broccoli stuck in-between your teeth, but they might notice the lingering notes of your perfume. You can talk about practically anything, people that may be around you will never be able to identify you on the streets after this meal. No one will know if your feet are touching…

We sat down, and our ordered drinks came soon after, I had a virgin Caesar with their unique spice blend. It was tasty and had a nice spiciness to it. I ordered a second one soon after. My partner had a red wine from South America he claimed was absolutely divine. As we were waiting for our munchies and starters, I tried to identify the smell of foods and herbs around me. I spent the whole evening trying to guess what was on my plate and failed terribly. The hostess readily offered to elucidate the many mysteries afterwards. I was close enough, but as a food enthusiast, it decidedly put me to shame. I rely a lot on sight to decide whether or not I will like the quality of food. But here, I ordered ALL of the surprise items on the menu: the surprise munchies ($5), the surprise starter, the surprise entrée and the surprise dessert. They were all delicious, but there was this one item I feel I should have appreciated better. I let my judgement of what I thought I was eating influence my sense of taste. This is nothing short of a revelation that I can fool myself into liking or not liking something simply because I thought I knew what it was. But if you are like me and love to discover the unknown, their full-surprise selection menu is worth trying. It might be a shot in the dark trying to guess what you got on your plate, but I can assure you, whatever it is, it is delicious.

I should mention that anyone who has claustrophobia should reconsider eating at Dark Table, or at least, mentally prepare if they think they can take it. I have slight claustrophobia, and by the time we were getting dessert, I was starting to feel like I needed a little fresh air, but not to the point of panic. Everyone was so amiable and calm, and the environment, albeit dark, felt cozy, and the room temperature was perfect. I liked to imagine it was like being served food in bed but refusing to open your eyes yet. If you’re wondering, the average time spent here is about one and a half-hour.

The only thing that bothered my partner and me was the music. While pop music is quite common in most restaurants, it certainly felt out of place here as our hearing senses were heightened and the constant beats felt a little assaulting. Soft piano or Jazz music would lend itself better to this setting. I let them know, so hopefully, next time will be even more fun.

The price we paid for this memorable evening may seem a little high, but given the setting and the experience, it feels right. You can select either the 2 courses ($36) or 3 courses menu ($42). If you choose the former, I say go with dessert over starters, not because they are not great, but because their desserts are genuinely fabulous. I’m the peculiar kind who doesn’t like chocolate desserts much (with very few exceptions), and I was not disappointed by what they got me instead. My partner isn’t a fan of cakes, but when I asked to taste his, he lowered his voice and whispered: “I already ate all of it…”

Their menu items are quite versatile to accommodate needs; you simply have to let them know in advance if you request a vegetarian or vegan meal. They will ask for any allergies, but if there is a food you really can’t stand, let them know as well.

No request is 100% guaranteed, but they do a great job giving it their 100%.

They do write on their website that kids 5 and up are accepted, but I wouldn’t bring children there unless you are sure they can behave because you won’t know what they are doing most of the time.

If you are interested in saving some money, Groupon offers a few deals on the 3 courses menu for a limited time. However, the offer is not valid on Saturdays.

You can gift an evening at the Dark Table to friends and family as they sell gift cards directly on their website. If you prefer a physical card, you can grab a few after you are brought back to the bar area while you pay for your bill.

While the place does mostly dinner, it is possible to do lunch for groups of fifteen or more. There are also special group rates for weekdays, if you call or email. They are open all week except on Mondays.

This kind of business has been going on for a long time, so don’t fret you might drop soup on your lap for they do not serve any, and drinks are never served full to the brim to avoid spillage. It's safe, and like nothing you have experienced before. Enjoy a sensorial evening that will leave you mesmerized, and give you something to talk about at the water cooler next time.

Check out their website (menu and FAQs are useful): http://darktable.ca/indexc.html

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Table-Calgary-1421647387871214/