Opaque - dining in the dark
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Categories:
New American Restaurants, Traditional American Restaurants
Details:
$$$, Date Spot, Hidden Find, Prix Fixe Menu, Romantic Dining
Products & Services:
Unique sensory experience.
Message from Opaque - dining in the dark
Arriving in Northern California on the crest of the latest dining trend sweeping through Europe, based on an ingenious European concept that has enjoyed great popularity in cities like Berlin, Paris and Vienna the first ever Dining in the Dark experience is now available in San Francisco. Just imagine that you can not see for an hour or two, that you are abandoning vision in exchange for a new, multi-sensual dining experience. Opaque is enhancing our senses of taste, smell, touch and hearing by abandoning one that we often take for granted? This is "Dining in the Dark." Brought to you by Opaque, the dining in the dark experience allows you to willingly plunge into a world of sensitivity you have never experienced before, taking you through a journey of taste, sound and touch, all in the dark.
Editorial by Citysearch
A European concept by way of LA, "dark dining" is like a power outtage with gourmet cuisine and white-gloved service. Before entering, diners are presented with a multiple-choice (beef or fish, salad or pasta, etc.), three-course prix-fixe menu. Guests are then introduced to their servers--all of whom are blind--and led by the hand to their tables. The inside of the restaurant isn't dim, or even "dark;" it is eyeball-achingly black, the idea being that with one sense completely extinguished, taste and smell are heightened. Hearing sharpens, too, and people-watching becomes people-listening as diners feel their way through the meal (most people quickly abandon silverware), and start planning their next blind date.Key Points
- Uniquely Splendid
- Eye/Soul Opening
- $99 for a 3 course dinner
The Inside Scoop
- Look good - Or, rather, don't look bad; this meal can get messy, so don't wear white unless you want it tie-dyed with food and wine stains, and don't wear anything that's irreplaceable.
- Know before you go - No walk-ins are taken at this reservation-only affair.
- Parking - It's fairly easy to find a spot on McAllister, and there is a parking lot on Gough and Grove.
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
nice
by amandavelasco
This is such a nice place. I love the food. I would recommend this to anyone. I will visit this place again. Good job. :D
Posted 05/02/09
Reviews rigged
by CaFineDiner
I was considering going to this restaurant since the concept looks so cool. I saw too few reviews on the bay area page, so I googled it. There are more locations and more reviews in other cities.
Interestingly, I found glowing reviews by the same people in other locations. Very fishy! For example, the 5-start review "This Friday is the day of night" review by testa123 appears in the Santa Monica location verbatim.
Another 5-start review by joshuatree appears in both cities as well. I am steering clear of this place until I see some more honest local reviews. Also, if the restaurant is too lazy to properly rig the reviews, I am not sure how good the place itself is going to be...
Posted 02/12/09
Yummy!
by petekazanjy
Soo good! It was absolutely delicious. I would recommend to anyone. I can't wait for the next time I get to go.
Posted 02/07/09
where is the light switch
by joshuatree12
Man they really turned off my lights. I was seeing sparkles for about 30 minutes, before i could see nothing. What is better of both, I don't know, but both together added up to be the crescendo of 2008. The evening out of a decade, my night with the one I love in perfect memory whether we die together, or our ways part. This night will remain unforgotten.
Posted 01/06/09
This Friday is the day of night
by testa123
I have been getting ready for this day a long time. I am putting my best gear on... gonna look real pretty, as there real beauty is proven when no one sees. This is so exiting and I will follow up when its on my 'seen' that done that list.
Posted 01/06/09
Interesting experience! So glad I went!!
by onebadasspacop
Let me start off by saying I highly highly recommend Opaque. My friends and I visited the San Fran location and let me tell ya, it's a great place to visit with friends or sig other. We laughed from the minute we stepped foot into the darkness until we broke out into the light to pay our bill and leave!
The food was great and the dessert was even better! I can't recommend this experience enough. The staff was friendly and the seating was comfortable considering everything.
The only complaint was my friend ordered the chicken, being told there were no bones in it, she cut into it and found a bone! After the waitress took her plate and returned again with another boneless piece, my friend found yet another bone.
Strangely enough if you feel you might be prone to motion sickness I think there is a chance you could feel a little woozy in there. You are truly unable to see anything. It's total blackness and it is a little disorientating when you step in there. Once you get over the nervousness and being anxious and you let yourself relax, the experience is something that shouldn't be missed if you visit San Fran.
Pros: Great food! Nice selection, not your average dining experience
Cons: Alittle on the expensive side when drinks start to factor into your bill but overall worth it
Posted 11/07/08
hide
by johnyboyflamenco
Johnny Depp was there!!!! or at least someone that damn sounds like him, I could have sworn I heard his voice. Staff wouldn't tell me as 'people' come and hide in the dark. Apparently more so in Hollywood where this originated. We were not the first ones to find out but apparently Thrillist subscribers had the first go on this as they were on to it before Opaque even opened getting them into the opening night, shame on you dailycandy!!!! I am subscribing.
Posted 07/31/08
Somethingcrazylicios
by bujaka
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttch black! That is all all I have to say! It does not get darker. At no point can you see your own hand in front of your eyes. This place is wild. Just opened and I will tell my kids that I had the pleasure of beeing the first one to review.
Bottom line is: This place is not a restaurant, it is something different which does not even have a name yet.
Let me try. This is: Somethingcrazylicios ...mhm... That works.
Pros: no where else to be found
Posted 07/24/08