Where you aim your fork could miss the plate. And the food that you try raising to your mouth might easily end up hitting your cheek at first.

A unique and off-the-wall dining experience awaits at Opaque in the Hyatt West Hollywood, where every Saturday evening guests fumble over drinks and three-course meals in a totally pitch-dark dining room.

The concept, established a decade ago in western European cities, may soon find its way to San Diego, says Ben Uphues, a managing partner of Opaque LLC. “We get requests from people all over California to start dining-in-the-dark events in their cities. Here in West Hollywood, everyone seems to come at least twice because they’re so amazed by the idea. We’re looking to start something regular in San Diego by the end of this year.”

The windowless room used at the Hyatt West Hollywood seats 50 people. Guests gather initially in a lighted lounge to choose their entrées from a pre-fixed menu before servers, all of whom are legally blind, lead them into the darkened room in a single-file human train. The waiters are trained at the Braille Institute to “serve, escort and comfort people in lightless environments,” says Uphues.

“They take customers directly to their seats so there is no risk of tripping or falling,” he continues. “The room is so dark that people can’t see their hands in front of their eyes. Nobody complains about the décor or ambience because the food is the only means they use to release that journey of the senses. The only thing customers have to do is sit down and enjoy.”

Non-blind hotel chefs prepare the meals in the Hyatt kitchen. “We supply them with the menu requirements, and we want to have different items on the plates to challenge people’s taste buds in the dark.”

Main-course selections currently feature pancetta-wrapped filet mignon with seasonal vegetables and Moroccan-barbecued salmon with grapefruit and mache. Salad and dessert are included in the meal, which costs $99 per person. Wine, beer and cocktails are extra.

Though Uphues insists that nobody has ever tripped or spilled their drinks during the two-hour dinner experience, “We put a lot of safety measures in place, such as being able to remotely turn on the lights within seconds. The worst thing that’s ever happened is when I accidentally pushed on the switch,” he quips.

Opaque’s popularity stems exclusively from word-of-mouth buzz and media attention, which has resulted in full-capacity business each week and requires that reservations be made about two weeks in advance.

“Our customers are open-minded people entering into a blind person’s world, which actually opens new horizons. Dining in the pitch dark takes people beyond ordinary thinking and reveals so many things that we are not aware of in our ordinary lives.”

Uphues adds that Opaque also attracts a fair share of celebrities. “They come not to be stared at – and they know they won’t see themselves in People magazine the following week.”

Guests are seated each Saturday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Hyatt West Hollywood is located at 8401 Sunset Blvd. For reservations and more information, call (800) 710-1270 or visit www.darkdining.com.