Noir Dark Spirits — Restaurant in Scranton

Went last night for their Valentine’s Day dinner.. my recollection of the evening is as goes.. that our reservations were for 9 but we waited until 9:30 ish maybe a little later to be seated due to them having to encourage the previous group of reservations to leave so they were able to set up for a new crowd.. no big deal. It usually happens with these kinds of days especially having to wait to seat people etc. I get it, it takes time. We finally go to enter into the dining area and are told to wait off to the side for a second because there was clearly some kind of issue with the seating arrangements. We were the second to last group to be seated. Mind you our group was for 4 people, the majority if not every other reservation was made for 2 people, at least from what I could tell based on everyone’s physical seating. A lady by whom I’m assuming was the manager asked the host/hostess to grab another table and put them together to set up a spot for us while there is quite literally a booth right behind us, empty and unoccupied, with one couple standing behind us. So they literally sat us at the smallest table, facing a wall. Like away from the ambiance. Not able to look around. We actually had to move the table a little because the end chair was hitting the wall in an odd spot with some crown molding under the thermostat and you couldn’t even actually sit there correctly. They couldn’t even set it up where we could look around or like be able to look over our shoulder without it being complete rubber necking and weird. There were multiple bigger tables that they could have asked a single couple to move from and sat them at the small table they sat us at. Our table was crowded. They even had people there behind some glass wall for entertainment, couldn’t see it. We were just literally sitting under a giant ram (I’m assuming some type of ram, idk a mounted animal that looks like one) facing the dark wall. The food all came out at different times, which was fine but it was super hard to catch the attention of someone if needed, like if you wanted another drink that wasn’t already paired with the dinner, every other person said wait for your waitress/waiter and they will help you and then when you thought they were your server they weren’t they were just grabbing dishes. The food was okay, but we didn’t get everything that was posted on the menu. We were supposed to have olives for the opening course with the edible flowers. No olives. Just flowers. I’m assuming they ran out. The chicken was a little rubbery, enough that two of the people at our table wouldn’t finish it. I’ve had food here previously and always thought it was different but great and something new you never see. So I was a little surprised by that. The boar chops were good. The tenderloin and tail could have been slightly better, I ate one bite out of the lobster tail and didn’t take another one. I left still hungry. We went to sheetz afterwards. But maybe I’m not accustomed to fancier foods I guess. Overall I’m just frustrated that a $350 bill after the tip was included for our table was literally to sit and face a wall, unable to enjoy any of the ambiance. I think it was a poor seating arrangement and I don’t understand why we wouldn’t have been sat better. It wouldn’t have been that difficult. Photo of the wall for reference. In the end, I think the idea is beautiful. I hope most people enjoyed their night. It was just frustrating to pay for an experience and not even be able to enjoy half of it, or not get everything that was on the menu. Also I posted a picture on their facebook page and a comment about it and it was deleted. So...

In their defense maybe it was a weird night? It was for us anyway. Being an 'Elder Goth' I was looking forward to finally visiting Noir Dark Spirits, but perhaps my expectations were too... bright. Here's what I enjoyed; the decor & ambiance, the 'cage dancer', music, & the drinks, the prices. Here's what sucked; the dessert (ugh!) & the service. The service was... slow. The bar had 2 tenders which should have been sufficient. I bartended for yrs, & I understand the food & drinks are complex, take time & skill to prepare but we could barely get a word in with them the entire 2hrs. We gave up on second drinks. It took 20 mins just to get our check even with napkins in & on our glasses, pushed up to the well, waving at them. I finally leaned out over the bar to get someone to notice me. The desserts: We tried 2. The skull cheesecake was an interesting & fun gimmick. You smash the white chocolate skull with a mallet. The actual raspberry cheesecake was okay. We liked the novelty of it. The other lychee dessert was the lowlight of the night; it was so bad I actually enjoyed the horrible experience of it! Abstract & aesthetically pleasing, it seemed like it would be an exciting gastronomic adventure. But that's where the positives end. Before it even hits your tongue the perfume of the dish assaults you. Its pungency is not dampened by your taste buds. Floral notes of unknown origin, presumably lychee, maybe rose & raspberry? overpower everything & were reminiscent of a grandmother's musty purse. My partner could not make it past a first bite & did not want to kiss me the rest of the night... that aroma clings to you. Spellbound by just how awful it was I continued dissection trying to isolate which parts were the worst; the gelatinous mounds or the lavender ganache-like ribbons. I couldn't tell; it was all unpalatable & gave up about halfway in hopes of preserving a romantic evening with my partner! My thought was perhaps this dessert was old & sat too long making the flavors bleed together. Or maybe my taste buds are just too emo & unrefined to appreciate the scary dark horrors embodying it. I would like to give Noir Dark Spirits another chance, try their main food dishes which sound incredibly delicious & will update this if I do. But for now, "noir" might be a bit too hammer on the nail, or skull cake,...

TL;DR: Incredible theme, phenomenal drinks, delicious food, and stellar service — worth every mile of the nearly 6-hour round trip. Noir Dark Spirits nails the horror movie vibe with immersive décor, creative cocktails (including one in an IV bag!), and food that tastes even better than it looks. Small, intimate space makes the experience feel personal and unique. We can’t wait to go back!!

⸻ Full review: From the moment we stepped into Noir Dark Spirits, we knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary night out. The horror movie–inspired décor is spot on — immersive, detailed, and absolutely nailed the eerie-yet-inviting vibe. Every corner feels like it belongs in a film set, but it’s still cozy enough to settle in and enjoy the evening.

The drinks were nothing short of spectacular. Creative, unique, and perfectly in sync with the theme — from a whimsical potion for two to the unforgettable cocktail served in an IV bag (the coolest drink presentation I’ve ever experienced). Every drink we tried was balanced, flavorful, and just as impressive in taste as it was in presentation.

The food exceeded expectations in every way. While the menu photos are enticing, the flavors and quality far surpassed what we imagined. It’s rare to find a place where both the food and drinks shine equally, but Noir pulls it off flawlessly.

Service was outstanding from start to finish. The hostess greeted us warmly, made sure we were comfortable (even accommodating space for my husband’s medical alert service dog without hesitation), and the staff was knowledgeable and attentive throughout. Every interaction felt genuine.

The only “downside,” if you could call it that, is how far away it is for us — nearly six hours round-trip. That said, we’d make the drive again in a heartbeat. The intimate size of the space makes the experience feel personal and immersive, and it’s truly unlike anywhere we’ve been before.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable night with phenomenal drinks, delicious food, and top-tier service in a one-of-a-kind setting, Noir Dark Spirits is absolutely worth the trip. We can’t wait to come back (and next time we’re...