Montreal is a cutting edge city. Our music, fashion and art form a cultural epicenter of influence. Now, the local restaurant scene has stepped up, introducing an innovative new concept restaurant called O. Noir. Unique and cutting-edge, O. Noir opened recently at 1631 Ste. Catherine Street West. It occupies a small, unassuming space just across from the bustling Le faubourg complex.

O. Noir is home to a unique kind of dining experience. It has the distinction of being Canada's first establishment in which patrons can enjoy their meals in complete darkness. Seriously. Although many restaurants have dim ambient lighting with candles on the tables, O. Noir’s 50 seat dining area is pitch black. “When you eat without your sight," says O.NOIR Manager Moe Alameddine, "your remaining senses are heightened to savour the smell and taste of food. Even simple, everyday dishes like potatoes or plain yoghurt take on a culinary flare.”

This socially conscious concept first hit the scene when Jorge Spielmann, a blind pastor in Zurich, opened Blindekuh (that’s German for Blind Cow). The project set out to teach the sighted about the sightless. Because the dark restaurant was a roaring success, others have emulated the idea in Los Angeles, New York, Australia, Europe and finally here, with O.NOIR.

O. Noir employs a blind and visually impaired (50% - 90% vision loss) wait staff. Because of their restricted sight, the waiters have acquired a keen grasp on the entire restaurant milieu. They are able to guide patrons through their entire meal experience. Servers have the added responsibilities of safely escorting customers to their seats, leading them to and from the dimly lit bathroom, and aiding in typically simple tasks such as sprinkling salt on to food; you should be specific.

Dining at O. Noir differs greatly from the usual restaurant experience. It begins as patrons are greeted at the lit bar area. Here, patrons place cell phones, watches, and flashlights into a secure locker. After receiving the key, viewing the menu, and ordering, one of the wait staff escorts patrons into the blackness of the dining room. Once at a table customers must adjust to eating in complete darkness.