As you probably all know, I am a huge fan of fine dining and cooking. This list looks at ten restaurants that are less fine than they are bizarre. So next time you are looking for an unusual evening out, be sure to check out one of these restaurants. If you have any experience of any of them, be sure to let us know.
Dans le Noir means “in the dark” in French, and that is exactly how you eat at this restaurant which can be found in Moscow, Paris, and London. According to one review: Nothing can prepare you for the uniqueness of Dans Le Noir? It works like this; you meet in the tall-ceilinged entrance bar, put your phones and anything else that might emit light in a locker, then order from the ‘surprise’ menu where you don’t know what you’ll get. Then you’re led through three sets of black drapes and to your table. You can’t see a thing. Nothing. Leaving you to rely wholly on the remaining four senses, and the blind waiter or waitress assigned to you. You’ve never tasted food like this before, that’s for sure. And because you can’t see who’s next to you, everyday judgments and fears are removed and chatting to your neighbors becomes irresistible.
Dick’s Last Resort is a small bar and restaurant chain in the United States, known for its intentional employment of an obnoxious staff and the use of vulgar decor. The chain consists of seven restaurants, including one near Petco Park, California and another inside the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, which is affectionately referred to as “The Shame O’ The Strip”. The restaurant, which uses picnic-style tables and no tablecloths, has its origins in the owners’ original opening of a “fine-dining” establishment. The establishment was a failure, which resulted in bankruptcy. Rather than continue with the upscale restaurant motif, the owners retooled their efforts and decided to “go sloppy”. Patrons of Dick’s are expected to be insulted, or placed in uncomfortable situations. Adult bibs and larger paper hats, representing condoms in their shape, are given to diners to wear during their stay. While there are no napkins on the tables, they are generally thrown directly at the customers by the serving staff. [Image Source]
The coffin restaurant, called Eternity, is the work of a funeral parlour in the town of Truskavets, in the west of the country near the Polish border. The undertakers hope that their restaurant will be confirmed as the world’s biggest coffin, attracting tourists to a region best known for its mineral-rich bathing waters. Morbid diners can browse the funeral paraphernalia before ordering from a menu that includes “Nine Day” and “Forty Day” salads – named after local mourning rituals – and an ominous-sounding dish called “Let’s meet in paradise”. Single candles on the tables contribute to the funereal mood.
Dinner In The Sky is for people who expect more from their restaurants than four concrete walls and a solid floor. Instead, diners perch around a massive table, which is suspended from a crane high up in the air. It sounds completely insane, but as the most unusual – and entirely legal – way of getting high over dinner, it is the new must-do experience for the super-rich and adventure-hungry who yearn for something a little more extreme at mealtimes. Although based in Belgium, the “restaurant” can be driven to any destination in the world. There have already been dining events in Paris and Brussels, while New York and Niagara Falls are on the agenda.
Located in Manila’s one−time red light district Malate, the Hobbit House, found at 1801 Mabini Street, at the corner of Remedios Street, is staffed entirely by midgets. Billing itself as The only restaurant in the world owned, managed and staffed entirely by Hobbits, the Hobbit House has managed to survive in an ultra−competitive area with its unique offer of fine dining, diverse offerings of live music and, of course, its unforgettable staff of Hobbits.
In Japan, Christianity is still a novelty, so they’ve turned it into a theme-restaurant in Shinjuku. This place looks like a church and is full of religious imagery and statues, which makes it an unorthodox venue for knocking back cocktails. Worth a visit, (but you might feel compelled to behave yourself.) Christian Cafe is decorated with statues of saints, the Virgin Mary and thing mostly commonly found in Catholic churches.
The bustling New Lucky Restaurant in Ahmadabad is famous for its milky tea, its buttery rolls and the graves between the tables. Krishan Kutti Nair has helped run the restaurant built over a centuries-old Muslim cemetery for close to four decades, but he doesn’t know who is buried in the cafe floor. Customers seem to like the graves, which resemble small cement coffins. The graves are painted green, stand about shin-high, and every day the manager decorates each of them with a single dried flower. They’re scattered randomly across the restaurant. The waiters know the floor plan like a bus driver knows his route, and they’ve mastered the delicate dance of shimmying between graves with a tray of hot tea in each hand.
At Modern Toilet, a restaurant in Taiwan, every customer sits on a stylish acrylic toilet (lid down) designed with images of roses, seashells or Renaissance paintings. Everyone dines at a glass table with a sink underneath. The servers bring your meal atop a mini toilet bowl (quite convenient, as it brings the food closer to your mouth), you sip drinks from your own plastic urinal (a souvenir), and soft-swirl ice cream arrives for dessert atop a dish shaped like a squat toilet. According to the manager, “it’s supposed to shock and confuse the senses”.
Hitler’s cross a cafe in Mumbai, India, complete with swastika logo was the brainchild of Puneet Sabhlok, a novice restaurateur, who said he wanted a catchy café name to sell his $3 to $4 plates of crostini tonno, pear & ricotta salad and pannacotta. So he went with Hitler’s Cross. “Hitler is a catchy name. Everyone knows Hitler,” he explained in an interview. After intense pressure from the ADL, German & Israeli diplomats, and India’s Jewish community, the cafe’s name was changed to “The Cross”.
In Japan there are many restaurants that follow the Nyotaimori practice of serving food on human bodies – usually naked. Before becoming a living sushi platter, the person is trained to lie down for hours without moving. She or he must also be able to withstand the prolonged exposure to the cold food. Body hair, including pubic hair, would also be shaved, as a display of pubic hair may be seen as a sexual act. Before service, the individual would take a bath using a special fragrance-free soap and then finish off with a splash of cold water to cool the body down somewhat for the sushi.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.





























The Hitler’s cross – although it scored 9 on my “weird” scale, might be slightly less odd as the swastika is a Hindu symbol so it is seen more in India. Still pretty odd though – not one for the first date!
All of these restaurants sound great! I’d much rather dine at any one of these them some of the “upper class” restaurants! Nothing worse than sitting in a room full of snobs eating tiny meals off oversize plates with more garnish than food!
mad list
the opening sentence to #5 cracked me up. cos turning a new religion into a restaurant is just the logical thing to do. excellent!
I don’t fancy eating surrounded by graves or coffins – creepy! The restraunt in the sky looks quite fun though…although it wouldn’t be a good idea to drink too much and fall off your chair!
Great list today
No. 10 – Great place to meet a blind date
Damn, JFrater, 5 lists in a row?
Awesome!~
Number 9 is just bizzare.
I’d love love love to get the chance to dine like number 7!
Check out some Medical Theme restaurants:
http://hautemacabre.com/2009/05/hospital-food/
Hardly bizarre, I’ve seen bizarre in a street corner, still not a bad list, you my boy JFrater
There’s actually a similar restaurant like the Modern Toilet in Hong Kong where food is served in toilet bowls, urinals and squatters
never eaten in one though… it’s just disgusting
Number Nine does seem a bit odd, I don’t understand why you would purposely go to a restaurant to be insulted?
@10, perfect for blind date and you can fart and totally get away with it
How about Buns N Guns in Lebanon?
There is a Dicks here in Texas, in San Antonio. We have been there twice. I hate it. The waiters really are rude and let you have it.
Its also NOT for children. They put very nasty things on my kids hats.
Live and Learn.
IDK, I hope they close them all down. I never thought being rude to someone was fun. We have enough crap to deal with in this world already. People should BE NICE!
Esp over dinner!!
damn! i want number 1!
My older brother went to a Medical Convention in Hong Kong and has eaten in Modern Toilet. He told me several stories about the restaurant.
Customers sit on decorated toilet seats and the tables are bathtubs with a glass table covered on top where food is served. The urinals are kinda cool, and no trace of urine in it, of course.
Surprised that we’ve got one from Ahmedabad here. I’ve been to the “New Lucky” and man, they serve some really nice tea, some of the best out there. The first timers do get a little “eerie” feeling but most of the ones coming there are regulars.
Surely you could have found a better photo for the Nyotaimori Restaurant? I’ve never seen sushi look so bad.
Is #1 actually legal?
Hmmm… In Singapore- they have a medical themed restaurant located in Clark Quay – complete with wheelchairs, dextrose bottles, etc. Hope it makes it in the next list.
The bustling New Lucky Restaurant in Ahmadabad is famous for its milky tea, its buttery rolls and the graves between the tables. ROFL jfrater you almost forgot to mention the graves haha.
The Heart Attack Grill is a weird restaurant in Arizona, USA. It has items like the “Quadruple Bypass” hamburgers & waitresses dressed as nurses. You can even get *****ed to your chair in a wheelchair.
You can even get *****ed to your car* in a wheelchair.
I’ve been to the Dick’s in Myrtle Beach, SC, and I will NEVER go there again! Most of the people were insulting and making fun of everyone else, the waitstaff is intentionally rude and, quite frankly, the food wasn’t anything special. What struck me as funny (funny-interesting, not funny-haha) was how everyone made fun of everyone else when others were being humiliated, but when the humiliation was turned on them, suddenly it wasn’t so funny anymore. I managed to escape the hat thing, finished my meal in record time, then went outside and waited for everyone else in my group to finish. My friends know never to suggest Dick’s again with me because I will walk home rather than ever set foot in that dive again.
#7, Dining in the Sky, looks kinda fun, ‘cept what if you need to use the ladies room? Hmm.. combined with #3, Modern Toilet, all the bases would be covered I think.
I want to go to number 9. Maybe it’s just for the cute chicks. Lol.
@ Radelaide (6):
“Great place to meet a blind date”
Funny!
Or to get blind drunk (or versa vice).
In The Netherlands, there is a `Dans Le Noir` too!
Yeah, the insulting restaurants actually do seem pointless, really pointless… Imagine being drunk in there though? Barfight!
This was a good list. People are truly bizarre for thinking these places up, it must be their way of being new and innovative!!!
Went to Dick’s Last Resort in Chicago about 15 years ago or so. Food was good and the noise level was loud. It was rather fun since everyone pretty much knew what to expect but they don’t “throw napkins” at you, they’re just exceedingly casual.
Ed Debevic’s in Chicago is almost as casual without the noise or rudeness. Prices are a bit more reasonable too, including the infamous .25 sundae (a tiny scoop of ice cream with a bit of hot fudge and a cherry). Just right to finish off any meal.
I just had to follow up with
http://images.google.co.za/images?hl=en&q=Nyotaimori&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=
I am a linecook at the Dicks last Resort here in Vegas. The level of rudeness vs. casual is really all dependent on cues they get from the customers. If a table seems really into it, the servers have permission to get pretty nasty. Its all in good fun though (especially if theres an old person at a table who wasnt warned what kind of place it is)
I only knew of some of these. Cool list!
However, I have to admit that I learned of Dans Le Noir from Hell’s Kitchen.
I visited a version of Dick’s resturant about 5 years ago. Same theme but not as nasty or as mean spirited. They also threw some of the food at you. Like rolls and the wrapped sandwiches. It’s was funny when someone missed because the wait staff got really bad.
@Princess (5) – You are obviously restrained to your chair by seat belts. Duh
Anyway, I’ve heard about dinner in the sky before, and I’d certainly try it. Most of those seem pretty harmless and entertaining, though I’d probably avoid number 10, because that food list two days ago scared me enough not to eat in the dark
There is one I would like to mention. It’s called Pennicle Peak. You have to dress casual. No formal wear. This is just for the guys, though. If you wear a tie, the wait staff comes up to you and says “Hi, and welcome. We have strict no tie rule here.” … and then the cut the tie off. They would then hang the cut off tie from the ceiling. There is probably over 10000 now hanging.
Great gag to pull on a friend who doesn’t know. I have done it twice so far.
I think every college town in the US has about 11 or 12 versions of Dick’s, albeit unintentionally.
I’ve been to Dicks. I think you have to know what you’re getting yourself in to. The food was subpar- kind of like Hooters food. I think it’s about the experience, not the food. (kind of like Hooters, actually) but I enjoyed myself.
It’s kind of funny that I live 20 minutes away from the Dick’s Last Resort in Myrtle Beach. Never been there though, and don’t really want to either.
@ oouchan (36)- Sounds like a nice practical joke
When I was living in Korea, I saw a number of Hitler themed bars and even a hiphop style clothing shop called Hitler’s with a big picture of Adolf on the window. In countries that were not directly involved in the European part of WWII Hitler is still seen as a strong and somehow sickly admirable.
That add at the top of the page that says “HELLOOOOO” everytime your mouse goes across it has to be the most annoying thing ever. I’m done with this site until that add is gone.
I ate at the Dick’s Last Resort in Boston, which was at that time attached to the Sheraton…or is it the Mariott? I always get those two confused. Anyway, somewhere around the Huntington/Copley area. It was seriously no big deal, and the food was completely forgettable – your average pub fare.
But having heard of the reputation, I was excited and nervous to be there when I first arrived. An hour later, I was bored and still waiting for something interesting to happen. I think they had a couple of open-mike comics, but they were mediocre. Pretty disappointing for all the hype.
I don’t think I could eat at a restaurant with graves or sitting on toilets. But I would LOVE to try the dark restaurant – imagine how much more intense all your other senses would be!
Do you think the wasabi would burn and irritate the “human platter” for #1?
Yayyy!! Dans le noir is going to open in Barcelona! (my city)… I am definetly going to eat there ^^
Regarding #10- I assume the kitchen is far enough away so that they can cook in a lighted room and no customer can see them? Or are the cooks blind, too? I’m debating if I’d eat there.
I love to eat in a restaurant like #1, can I take that chicks out? Just kidding….
^ I’m not…
Interesting places indeed. I do wonder though how non-blind people eat their meals in the dark as they would not be used to not seeing their food at all!
i’ve heard of #3 before (in magazines i’ve read). but #1 was absolutely bizarre. and #9 was kinda lame
no offence
but nice list. #7 seems really cool. too bad i’m not rich
dans le noir…i wonder if you pay your check in the dark too. could be interesting.
My son has his hat from Dick’s hanging up in his room as a reminder of the wonderful time we had at the restaurant (Itchy butt…stinky finger!). I think that you have to be in the right mood to enjoy yourself there. I definitely know that my mom would hate it and I would suffer years of *****ing if I made the mistake of brining her there. Dick’s is NOT the place for children later in the evening–best to get them out of there by nine o’clock.
I was waiting for a picture/video to be loaded at the black space on the Dans le Noir entry.
Waiting, waiting, waiting… Then I remembered what Noir means. How clever
Hi there. What a refreshing list today. I’d absolutely love to visit 10, 9, 7, 6, and 3 – but the girl in #1 looks freezing, poor chick. Item #10 is a fantasic idea, and I really must learn to taste food more [I tend to gobble things up]. Eating above Niagra Falls! Count me in. Unfortunately, I live 25 miles from anywhere that is anywhere – and even in Greater Manchester there is the choice between posh or slop. I don’t do posh. I can’t stand slop! Item #3 looks ace. Do they have holes in the tables so any spillage is instantly sent down the plug-hole? Are the plants actually loo brushes? These are the ideas we need! Would you rather eat off a table or off a surf board – I would. Hell, I’d rather eat off an ironing board; with plates shapes like little t-shirts. 8)
lets see #! is legal, i kinda saw something like it in CSI:Ny .
I definetly wanna go to #10, #7, #6, and #5
So how does the whole “I’ve got to use the bathroom thing” go in Dans le Noir? Can you imagine the males restroom, guys miss in the broad day light!
There is a chinese restaurant in dumbarton, scotland called “The Lucky Cat” which always raises a chuckle when I pass it.
I’m also thinking if I went to the Modern Toilet (3) after a night on the beer and that turd ice cream was put in front of me I would probably throw up.
It would be an ironic twist of fate as after to much beer its not unknown for me to be staring down a toilet bowl saying farewell to my stomach contents. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! carrots
I would love to dine at #8 and #4, but I think I would take #9 way to perosnal and my feelings would get hurt, haha.
@ 42 Freshies –>
“That add at the top of the page that says “HELLOOOOO” everytime your mouse goes across it has to be the most annoying thing ever. I’m done with this site until that add is gone.”
y dnt u jus turn your speakers off? duh!!
any way. man i really wuld love to visit #10 and #9, they seem pretty cool…man i wuld love to take my mother in law to dicks!! lol man that wuld b hilarious!!
but jfray u missed 1. what about that restaurant in new york called mars 1221 or something like that. its like u are on mars and the waiters are in alien costumes. its super cool! i was only 6 tho so i was really scared n we ended up goin to mcdonalds
GOOD LIST MAN//
Theres a place called “Kynsilaukka” in Helsinki, capital of Finland, that only server garlic. I think thats better than the Christian Cafe.