A new idea in dining has started here in the states after making its debut in Europe. Its called dark dining and it started in Zurich in a place called Blinde Kuh. The people there wanted patrons to see what they see, nothing. They turned out the lights and with hand on shoulders, led customers to their tables. Thus began a trend that, within a few short years, found its way to Los Angeles restaurants and even restaurants in smaller less sophisticated restaurant markets.
This is an odd experience for most, but definitely one worth trying for the oddity of it all. When they walk you to the table, you will note you cannot see anything at all, you are completely in the dark. When you sit down, you are handicapped without a menu. You do not have the luxury of ordering your food. It is simply brought to you. You are not told of what you ate, until after you leave the dining area.
Since a diner cannot see what it is they are eating, other senses are heightened and thus creating an experience one normally would not have. One gentlemen recalled he could smell the red wine before it even got to the table. Some things, like the white fish, tasted flat in comparison to the vegetables which were alive with flavor. The sounds of people laughing in the darkness were eerie, like ghosts dining out at some deserted restaurant.
The dark dining concept has really taken shape in America with restaurants opening in Los Angeles and San Diego. Some restaurants cheat a bit and make you where a blindfold instead of darkening the room. In fact, customers are allowed to see everything until the meal arrives. The blindfolds are not made of cloth. They look like space helmets and definitely adds an element of humor to the experience. This is definitely for the less faint of heart.
For what its worth, about 99.00 per plate, its something that you should try at least once. You have to consider you will not have a menu to look at, so be prepared to dine on something you have not tried before. Many times you will take a stab with your fork and find nothing on the opposite end. Also, the food on your plate wont be the only surprise; one best kept secret is that celebrities in Los Angeles love to hide out in these restaurants. The next time you visit LA, you should definitely check out these unique establishments. Its a dining experience unlike anything any of us have seen.
One of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles, The Original Pantry Cafe, located on Figueroa Street, has been serving traditional American cuisine since 1924. The original pantry restaurant location consisted of one room containing a fifteen stool counter, grill and hot plate, and patrons were commonly seen lined up at the entrance and around the block for a coveted spot at the counter. In 1950, the original location was purchased by the state of California as a site for a new freeway ramp, and The Pantry moved its operations to its present location, near some of todays most familiar LA landmarks, the LA Convention Center, Dodger Stadium, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Another one of the many historic Los Angeles restaurants is the Pig N Whistle, which first opened its hand carved wood doors in 1927 and quickly became a favorite of the most popular stars of the day, including Spencer Tracy, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, and Loretta Young. The restaurant was also the location of Judy Garland fifteenth birthday party and the very first Oscar after party, and is considered today to be a historic Hollywood landmark. In the early 1950s the Pig N Whistle closed, but was reopened and restored by new owners in 2001 and continues to charm patrons to this day.
If you are in the mood for a nostalgic cafeteria style dining experience, Cliftons Brookdale Cafeteria, located in downtown Los Angeles, is the place for you. Since 1935, this cafeteria has been serving up comfort food to hungry diners, who eat underneath murals depicting forest scenes. The movie Fight Club, starring Brad Pit was filmed here as well as the 1950s version of the film DOA. Cliftons played an integral part in the Meals for Millions Foundation during the Great Depression, serving as the headquarters for the foundation, , which developed a special five cent meal designed to serve five hundred patrons daily. Cliftons is the largest public cafeteria in the United States, and continues to be a popular stop on the itineraries of many people.
There are so many historic Los Angeles restaurants to choose from that one article simply can not mention them all. Take your own tour of Los Angeles today and you will undoubtedly discover even more hidden treasures in Americas most famous city.
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