Opaque - Dining In The DarkA category all its ownAs you probably know, Opaque is dark. Pitch black. You are led to your table by your blind server, hand on the shoulder of your guide. You never see your food. Nor the people you're dining with. While the food is good, it's not anything special. Go to Opaque for the novelty of eating in the dark and adjusting your habits to adapt to the darkness. My wife and I enjoyed setting the silverware aside and relying on our fingers. You might say substituting one sense for another. We also arrived at opening (6:00), so the start of the meal was silent--there weren't any other diners. That too added to the experience.
Go for the experience. The food is a bonus.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAn experienceExpensive and not a lot of options on the menu (although you can go with the surprise for appy, main, and/or dessert) but we were there for the experience of dining in _complete_ darkness. So, I've had better and cheaper food, but I don't remember those meals. I won't forget the experience at Opaque.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMTotally Unique ExperienceThis is one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. Dining without being able to see your food, your utensils, your companions, etc. It's surprising how easy it is to mix up what you are eating, when you don't know and can't see it. The food was only OK, but the service and the total experience was amazing. Highly recommended.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my boyfriend to OpaqueI took my boyfriend to Opaque for his birthday and we had a great time! I have never experienced anything like it before, dining in the dark is definitely an experience worth having at least once. It was very romantic and exciting not being able to see anything. I particularly enjoyed our server, who was incredibly patient and willing to answer all of our questions (and we had a lot)! I would certainly recommend Opaque to all who can afford it. It is quite pricey and we would not have been able to afford it without help from our family members.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMe and my wife dined at OpaqueMe and my wife dined at Opaque on our anniversary and it was the most fantastic experience. Sitting in a pitch black room felt a bit uneasy at first, but we were soon used to it. We could hear at least 4 other groups around us and thought that the room was a bit loud - but that should be obvious considering we were "looking" around only by our ears.
Being Indian vegetarians, we were glad that the prefix menu had vegetarian choices. They also had a mystery option for the appetizer, entree and desert - we went for it and loved it! The food was great, both in quantity and quality.
Highly recommend for a special romantic occasion.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had been wanting to goWe had been wanting to go to Opaque for a while and finally managed to get reservations. This place isn't cheap but you pay for the ambiance and the thrill of dining in pitch black darkness. Besides which the food is absolutely fantastic! The waitstaff are attentive, exceedingly nice, patient and guide you every step of the way. Our food came quickly as did our drinks and both were some of the best I've had in San Fran. I would absolutely recommend this, especially if you want someplace totally unique and fun! It was an experience I would go back for!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAn extraordinary experience!It is a completely different experience!!! Yo can try the food with all other senses besides the view. The food is amazing, I went there with my husband and a friend that is chef and he was amazed about the food!. It is for sure one must everyone have to experience.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was fun dining in dark :)The experience was amazing. We dined in pitch black. I was very nervous at first but the evening turned out very well. The food was excellent, service was great.. Just a great experience overall..3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI really enjoyed my experienceI really enjoyed my experience at Opaque. The service and food were excellent. My only concern is with the price - I thought the price we paid was extremely high for a 3-course meal.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMVery cool experience! PitchVery cool experience! Pitch black inside. Definitely opt for the mystery menu, half of the fun was trying to figure out what things were. A bit pricey, but a great special occasion place and a novel dining adventure!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMa unique experience in totala unique experience in total darkness. the staff was great and walked us through every step.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely try it at least once.Opaque is a great experience, and I'd recommend anyone try it at least once. The only downside is that it's quite pricey, but for special occasions or a unique ambiance it is worth it.
The food is par for a fancy restaurant, but nothing special. My date's and my dishes (vegetarian) seemed to rely a bit much on butter. They have a "Mystery Option" which is off-menu so you won't know until you taste it. You can also choose mystery cocktails, which in our sample of three were a bit on the sweet side, and nothing exotic.
The atmosphere is the best part; aside from the the absolute darkness, there are sound curtains throughout, so any noise is muffled, and it feels very private, but you have to know your waiter by name, for obvious reasons3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my third time to thisThis is my third time to this restaurant, and all my guests continue to be impressed! The experience is unlike any around, and initiaties some interesting and stimulating conversation with fellow diners, as well as the waitstaff. I always go in with mediocre expectations for the food, and come away every time wowed! On my last visit, I went with the "mystery option" for each course, and it did not disappoint! I will continue to keep this on my list for out-of-town guests!!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AM