Visitors of Paris restaurant "In the dark" don`t know what they ate

Visitors rub eyes after they come out of the only French restaurant where absolute darkness inside is.

Few hours ago they were guided by blind leaders who helped visitors to get to table, fill glass with wine and find way to toilet. Several clients of this restaurant cannot say for sure what they ate for dinner.

Restaurant named "In the dark" is one of 3 similar ?blind" restaurants in Europe. Others are situated in Berlin and Zurich. Another restaurant is planed to open in London on charitable funds collected in support of blind people.

"The hardest moment is to finish eating when there is several pieces left on a plate", - said student Alicia Milani. She came to London from Milan accompanied with husband Jorgeo Beltrami after she heard about "blind" restaurant on radio. They ate menu-"surprise", which is a whole course including snack and deserts from French and Italian cookery. The meal costs 40-59 euro per person in average. "I think we ate chicken with vegetables. I?m not sure what I had for desert but I tasted ice-cream, jam and fruits", - says Milani.

For a year of servicing in the dark, by owner`s Edward de Broli words, there were no accidents. This restaurant exists for a continuous time in Paris. Though there were some restaurants like that in France they closed very quickly.

De Broli said that visitors begin to understand what is like to be blind and even make friends with waiters. "This is the only restaurant where clients kiss waiters as they leave", - he added.

Blind waiter Susanna de Brito says that clients are interested in life of blind people. "They begin to ask about food and end with conversation about our life. Clients understand that blind can manage with some work very well", - she said. "We want to give an example to other disabled. Many powerful politicians and other people who can change life of invalids for better often dine in this restaurant", - said de Broli.

But not all clients are pleased. "Darkness kills sensation of some taste and smell. And so people understand that many things they used to eat before are not so tasty", - added de Broli.

sections: Society, World News