Life is made up of various experiences, which we generally hope will be positive and enjoyable. Some come to us of their own accord. Others must be actively sought out, and those are often the most exciting, such as dining at a Montréal institution more than 19 years old where the meal is served in complete darkness. It is genuinely SENSational, with every sense except sight heightened.
Alejandro Martinez conceived and founded Montréal’s O’Noir restaurant in 2006, the first of its kind in North America. The concept, already established in Europe and Australia, appealed to Alejandro and several family members, who became his partners in the venture. Originally located on rue Sainte-Catherine ouest, the restaurant moved in 2016 to a larger, more suitable building on rue Prince-Arthur near Carré Saint-Louis, where it could meet all the requirements of such an operation.
It has two dining rooms, one on the ground floor and another upstairs, and can accommodate up to 170 guests in an evening. A summer terrace offers a different, more bistro-style menu without reservations. O’Noir serves a range of starters, main courses and desserts, as well as drinks, cocktails and wines. Diners choose a fixed-price menu of two, three or four courses regardless of the dishes selected; drinks and wine are extra. The menu changes three or four times a year according to the seasons and special events.
Beyond the darkness that envelops diners as soon as they leave the entrance hall, where they are warmly welcomed and select their food and drinks, the experience is fairly conventional. A server leads guests to their table (how do they even find it?!) and explains what is on it. Once seated, diners become familiar with the contents: utensils and a napkin. That is all.
One important point: the serving staff are people with significant visual impairments who have been specially trained for the work. O’Noir partners with Horizon Travail, an organization that helps train and prepare visually impaired people to enter the workforce. The staff demonstrate exceptional skill, courtesy and attitude.
Every effort is made to ensure an enjoyable experience and ease any concerns that may arise on a first visit. Naturally, people with claustrophobia or severe anxiety would find little pleasure in it. Drinks and dishes are brought and placed on the table with precise directions from the server. This helps prevent accidents or sudden movements that could have unpleasant consequences. Alejandro also notes that a staff member remains in the dining room whenever guests are seated, ready to respond to any safety issue or emergency.
Alejandro is very proud of what he and his partners have created. Because this is not a “normal” establishment, safety, hygiene, food quality and other aspects of its layout and operations require rigorous rules and standards. Staff training is also essential and ongoing. All carefully selected employees are bilingual; they must learn the premises inside out and practise moving through the darkness with dishes, then serving them to the correct guests. It is genuinely impressive.
O’Noir employs about 25 people in total, although its kitchen and bar staff are sighted.
There has also been an O’Noir restaurant in Toronto since 2009.
Restaurant O’Noir
onoir.com
124, rue Prince-Arthur Est
Montréal, QC H2X 1B5
514 937-9727