Restaurant noise?

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JOhnH

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Has anyone ever complained that the music at a restaurant wasn't loud enough?
Perhaps I am just getting old and my hearing loss is affecting my opinion, but I hate it when I go to a restaurant and we have to yell to hear each other.
 
I carry my Airpods and set them to ANR in many places.
 
If we're lucky, some day, airpods will support intercom functionality via ad hoc mesh networking. That way, family members might converse with one another in a normal speaking voice, WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOUT OVER MULTIPLE DEVICES ALL THE TIME
 
I recently asked for them to turn it down. It was early lunchtime on a Saturday so they still had it at Friday happy hour volumes.
 
I asked a friend who owns multiple restaurants after we had a similar experience. He said the loud environment turns over tables faster.
 
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It doesn’t help that the reigning aesthetic for restaurants is a cavernous industrial-chic space with brick walls, cement floors, and a metal countertop. You might as well eat in an airplane hangar while a twin does its run up.
 
There is one restaurant that we simply don't go to any more. We like the food and the service, but it's just too damned loud. Can't carry on a conversation and it kind of ruins the whole experience. It's not the music, it's jsut the acoustics of the place and the fact that there is no wall in the joint more than about countertop height.
 
One of my wife's favorite restaurants is very loud, not because of music but (@AlleyCat67 posted while I was typing this) because of the high ceilings with terrible acoustics (don't cover the beams and ductwork, just spray paint it flat black). I like the place too, because of the excellent beer selection, but the noise! We concluded it's best to eat there mid afternoon when it's nearly empty.
 
We found a wonderful steak house in Holland Mich that is awesome sound wise. I have never been in a place like this. It's called Crazy Horse Steak House and Bar.
They have acoustic panels hanging down from the open ceiling. Very nicely done. All through out the place. The place was packed full and we could speak at a normal tone even though the place was full.
I don't know why other restaurants don't try to do the same? The food was really good also. We went there twice in 2 days.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Crazy+Horse+Steak+House/@42.8053103,-86.092221,60m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m7!3m6!1s0x881992a8461bfd59:0xa71fcaf9c986c504!8m2!3d42.805167!4d-86.092265!10e1!16s/g/1tj1n3n_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDExMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

https://maps.app.goo.gl/P8jM9gT3GTV9F2g27

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LeXpogHvRYG3mjFn6
 
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Maybe this earlier post explains it. However, I’m thinking many restaurants either don’t want to sink more money into capital improvements or don’t know the loud environment is actually turning away potential customers. Loud environments are something I’ve noticed much more now that I’m aged and have lost more hearing. As the server in a loud restaurant starts informing us of the specials, I’m lucky I hear every third word and can recognize at least one entrée.

GMascelli said:
I asked a friend who owns multiple restaurants after we had a similar experience. He said the loud environment turns over tables faster.
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AlleyCat67 said:
It doesn’t help that the reigning aesthetic for restaurants is a cavernous industrial-chic space with brick walls, cement floors, and a metal countertop. You might as well eat in an airplane hangar while a twin does its run up.
Click to expand...
I was almost excited to see a new restaurant (BBQ) being built here in town, Until I realized it fit this description. But it is right outside the airport FBO if anyone is looking to fly in for assembly line bbq that is within walking distance.
 
JOhnH said:
Has anyone ever complained that the music at a restaurant wasn't loud enough?
Perhaps I am just getting old and my hearing loss is affecting my opinion, but I hate it when I go to a restaurant and we have to yell to hear each other.
Click to expand...
Let me guess, Texas Road House?

It’s two issues, music played too loud and no sound deadening (ceiling tiles) because they build restaurants today as cheaply as possible. They play music to loud and then every talks loud to be heard at the table.

Your money, there are quiet places out there.
 
There is a really good small hole in the wall sushi place in town and while they always had music in the background on Friday and Saturday nights they would crank it up and flip on the disco ball and few lights and it was a fun vibe...well they started doing that EVERY night and their dine in sales plummeted...we stoped going cuz you could not even have a reasonable conversation at dinner...needless to say they stoped doing that crap all together and luckily they got the hint.

A sports bar or dive bar is one thing but some sit down restaurant operators are oblivious.
 
Our local Texas Roadhouse. I love the place, but it's the noisiest restaurant at which I have ever eaten.
 
I find my life's mostly a better when I don't go to places that are chains or that advertise on TV. Not always, but mostly they're just a different version of McDonald's - selling a branded, modified, and less desirable to me version of something that would otherwise be a commodity.
 
Albany Tom said:
I find my life's mostly a better when I don't go to places that are chains or that advertise on TV. Not always, but mostly they're just a different version of McDonald's - selling a branded, modified, and less desirable to me version of something that would otherwise be a commodity.
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I, too, like to patronize "the little guy" vs. the national brands.

Problem is, the little guys also have to get ingredients/products, and nowadays that often means a national brand. One, single, national brand.
 
Jim_R said:
I, too, like to patronize "the little guy" vs. the national brands.

Problem is, the little guys also have to get ingredients/products, and nowadays that often means a national brand. One, single, national brand.
Click to expand...

Indeed, many restaurants are supplied by Sysco. It’s actually fairly easy to tell when a restaurant sells food service food. It’s a consistent mediocre.
 
JOhnH said:
Has anyone ever complained that the music at a restaurant wasn't loud enough?
Perhaps I am just getting old and my hearing loss is affecting my opinion, but I hate it when I go to a restaurant and we have to yell to hear each other.
Click to expand...

Surely you must be familiar with the tables integrated with Garmin intercom systems. Just plug your headset and all the noise will go away. :)
 

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