Poland’s capital now has a unique restaurant which serves meals that embrace the sublime world of taste, touch and smell - in complete darkness. Its distinctiveness is also reflected in the name – Different.

The restaurant takes pride in bringing the exceptional skills of the visually impaired to their dining experience; indeed, table service is provided by waiters who are visually impaired.  Different’s customers are able to experience their meal using senses aside from sight – developing an enhanced awareness of how individuals with visual disabilities experience the world.

As a social enterprise, the restaurant is dedicated to providing job opportunities for persons with sight impairment. Its creation in 2018 was supported with a loan from the Poland's National Fund for Social Entrepreneurship, co-financed from the European Social Fund. The loan was granted to the restaurant by Social and Economic Investment Company TISE SA – financial intermediary contracted by the BGK-State Development Bank.

Anna, who manages a team of waiters, is enthusiastic about the capacity of places like Different to build personal and professional confidence: 'Working at Different has changed my life. Despite the fact that I am seriously visually impaired, I know that I can do things that are important and in line with my interest.' Beata, a server at Different, added, 'As a visually impaired person, it has been very difficult to find a job that suits my character. At Different I can show others how important other senses play a role for me, such as touch, taste, and smell, and that with “limited vision" I am able to cope with life without major problems.’

Anna further argued that in some scenarios the loss of vision actually offers a distinct advantage:  ‘During sight loss other senses sharpen, which is why I discovered my passion in tastings - I am a qualified wine advisor - a graduate of the International School of Sommeliers and Colegium Civitas.’

Different was founded by ’Man in Need’ Family Assistance Foundation. All profits from the restaurant are used to support local people.

Poland's National Fund for Social Entrepreneurship offers preferential loans also to other social enterprises such as cooperatives and NGOs. The EU-funded loan project 'Implementing loan instrument within the National Fund for Social Entrepreneurship', worth €34.38 million, is managed by the BGK-State Development Bank with a help of financial intermediaries like TISE SA. The  European Social Fund contribution to the loans is €28,98 million.  Since March 2017, the scheme has provided nearly 1000 loans – enabling over 850 people to find meaningful employment. These jobs often act as a lifeline, particularly for those with sight impairment.  

Marek, a waiter at Different, highlights the value of his abilities being recognised by potential employers, ‘ I have returned to the profession I had before losing my sight. Contact with the restaurant guests is an additional rehabilitation for me, which makes me more confident, brave and open to others. '