We won’t spoil the surprise of the 7 Paintings Dinner, the eatertainment show that combines art history, technology and cuisine across seven courses of culinary spectacle. After all, the most fun element of the evening is wondering how each plate will reflect a themed artist.

So bear with us as we barely explain the inexplicable: Leonardo da Vinci serves as virtual master of ceremonies for the international production, which takes place locally in the fourth-floor dining room in the Fairlane Hotel downtown.

Using "Mona Lisa" as a constant reference, LdV leads approximately 32 guests on a two-and-a-half-hour mad dash of masterpieces — Michelangelo, Banksy, Picasso, Pollock, Warhol, Dali and Van Gogh — while a synchronized waitstaff delivers dishes that are prepared by Modern Love restaurant executive chef Sam Greer to interpret iconic works.

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Produced around the world by Dinnertales, the 7 Paintings Dinner appears in only four locations in the U.S. Far from an art history class where a professor turns out the lights and puts everyone to sleep, the highly produced program offers plenty of immersive stimuli: music, animation, sound effects, film, news clips and other art-related revelations and riddles.

Remember when the Banksy poster was shredded at auction? What symbols are embedded in the Sistine Chapel? What do you mean by paint my own salad? And, of course, the question of the night: Is that a … potato?

There’s no need to know a Duchamp from a Degas to enjoy this evening of art history and edible artistry, which starts at $149 per person, before optional $45 drink pairings, taxes and tip.

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But be prepared to engage with other guests — and not just if you need help unlocking the Renaissance-themed appetizer. In fact, after seven well-executed courses and an educational evening of showmanship, our favorite part was chatting with out-of-towners visiting Nashville.

At our four-top, two of us had been to the nearby Arcade Art Crawl immediately before dinner, while our table-mates were coming from the Surrealist show at the Frist Museum. Among so much art, the art-filled conversation with new friends was the evening’s pièce de résistance.

7 Paintings Dinner runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations available through November at 7paintings.com