Imagine sitting in a top-tier restaurant, with the tantalising aroma of a gourmet three-course meal wafting through the air, about to embark on a culinary extravaganza. The catch is you won’t be able to see the food on your plate! The enigmatic Dining in the Dark event, where diners sit blindfolded in a dimly-lit restaurant and enjoy a scrumptious dinner, is returning to Melbourne.
On selected upcoming dates over the coming months, this mouth-watering experience will break down your perceptions of food tastings and challenge your senses—well, most of them… Taking place at Gingerboy and Transformer Fitzroy, you can expect stunning flavors prepared with the freshest ingredients. At Gingerboy, you will be served delicious food in vegan, seafood, or meat options, while at Transformer Fitzroy chefs will be serving up innovative plant-based alternatives. Hurry up and book your spot now before it’s sold out!
What to expect at Dining in the Dark?
Although eating with a blindfold can seem a bit daunting, no need to worry. At the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by helpful staff and handed a blindfold, which should be kept on throughout the entire dinner, otherwise it’ll ruin the experience. Then, you’ll carefully be guided to your seats where you will enjoy a secret three-course menu over the course of 90 minutes.
The theory is that with the sense of sight eliminated, you’ll focus solely on taste, smell and touch, which will allow you to intensify the luscious flavors of the unique dishes in front of you. Think of it as an unparalleled tasting experience, with each crisp bite awakening your palate with a symphony of flavours.
While the experience revolves around taste buds, it’s not just the food that becomes more interesting. Because you are blindfolded, the darkness also alters the way we communicate and relate to one another. Believe it or not, a lot of unknown personality traits come to the surface, so be prepared to also get to know your partner in crime better.
Where is Dining in the Dark?
These gastronomic adventures will be taking place at Gingerboy and Transformer Fitzroy in Melbourne.
Since its inception in 2006, Gingerboy’s chef Teage Ezard has created edgy and exuberant dishes inspired by Southeast Asia. Its funky, disco-style décor perfectly mirrors the restaurant’s vibes, bringing authentic and traditional Asian cuisine to a modern setting.
Located in Fitzroy, Transformer Fitzroy use impeccably prepared, fresh ingredients and their complex dishes that are bursting with flavour make this place one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. They offer delicious plant-based alternatives that offer an innovative dining experience inside a comfortable and relaxed space.
Dining in the Dark Reviews
Dining in the Dark has received rave reviews from diners across the world due to its unique perspective on tasting experiences.
Fantastic and well thought out experience. Really had to rely on other senses to get your way through the table and manage to carefully grab your wine without spilling. Food menu was well thought out… Waitress Georgia was fantastic. Had a great time and would recommend to all. – Aishlea S
Fabulous from start to finish. Waiters were great and welcoming and then food was amazing! Definitely would recommend and can’t wait to come back! – Devon P
Great food, great service, great experience. – Chelsea W
Don’t miss out on a fun and exciting culinary voyage that will forever linger in your memory! Grab that special someone or your close group of friends to share the chuckles with.
At Gingerboy, you can choose to book a table either at 6pm or 8:30pm, while at Transformer Fitzroy, there’ll only be one dining slot at 7pm. At both restaurants, tickets cost $110 per person. If you have any food restrictions or allergies, you’ll need to specify using the form that appears in your purchase confirmation email.