If we shut off one of our senses, the other senses become more active and intense. That’s the goal at BlackOut Restaurant located in NaLaga’at Center at Jaffa Port. This place is the only restaurant in Israel that delivers the blind dining experience.
Before entering the dining area, customers are expected to remove shiny jewelry that may direct light or stand out which distracts from the set-up. BlackOut also requires all attendees to put their phones in a locker: no pictures or light. That’s a fair rule since what’s the point of taking a picture of the darkness?
Then guests are ushered into a dark area where they can no longer see their surroundings. Even if the customers trip or fall, the restaurant still promises to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for the books.
All the waitstaff in the restaurant have visual impairments that add to the unique experience. Blind servers make their way to each table to take orders for an appetizer, entree and dessert.
For each course, the restaurant offers a surprise option. If the foodie enjoys venturing out with new dishes, they are encouraged to choose the restaurant’s mystery item. The staff pull up with the plate and customers put the fork in their mouth hoping for the best. The texture and taste will be the ultimate test since food aesthetics makes no difference.
Without their phones, the restaurant creates an atmosphere where people are engaging in conversations with each other. They can hear the voice of their loved ones rather than stare into their faces. No one is mindlessly scrolling while someone else is trying to carry on a conversation. Hopefully, the other person is intellectually stimulating, not just pleasant for the eyes.
A customer that visited the restaurant wrote: “BlackOut may have been dark but it brought light to a new experience and way that many people live life.”