Why Restaurants Are So Loud (Before Covid)

[Fyrefox]

Some restaurant noise relates to manners and upbringing, or lack of same. When I was a kid, my parents enforced using my “indoor voice” when at such places, meaning talk so only your own table can hear you, and otherwise show civilized deportment. Today, when some dolt’s cell phone rings at full volume, you are then privy to their entire unnecessary extended conversation, foul language included...

 

[Aunt Marg]

I'm with PackerJohn.

Overly loud music, time to turn around in favour of a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere, minus all the loud pounding.

 

[Packerjohn]

I might want to add that I have noticed a lot of noise in restaurants over the last 3 or 4 years. It used to be that the dishes were washed some place in the back that you never saw & you certainly never heard. Now, it appears that it's "trendy" to unload the dishwasher & put the dishes away right beside the diners. The clanking & the banging noise is just unbelievable. There are no more walls to separate the dishes being washed & stacked from the people eating. I'm not kidding here. Where I live there is a very popular restaurant called, "Nick's Place." I will never go back there again. It was so bad that I could not even converse with my wife. I have learned to "size up" a restaurant by sitting down & looking at the menu. If the noise from the dishes, loud customers talking/swearing on their idiot phones, bad music or just too much noise, I nicely put down the menu & leave. There are many other restaurants to chose from. I don't have to put up with this noise pollution & what to me is customer abuse. And yet they want a huge tip for eating in that noise! I leave with my cash for some place more civilized.

 

[JonDouglas]

 

[RadishRose]

Most restaurants are very loud. I own a restaurant. One of the reason they are as so loud are the surfaces dictated by the health department. They are hard, washable and cleanable surfaces. Typically when you have that hard surface on all four surface of a room, tables, chairs, including equipment, etc. there is nothing there to absorb the noise. The slightest sound bounces off every surface and it snow balls. Add a band or music that needs to compete with that harsh constant sound and they must get very loud to over come it, then the people in attendance talk louder to over come the band and it becomes a vicious circle.

Are drapes and tablecloths not allowed?

Also, won't dine where a band is playing. I go for the food and the company. If I want to hear a band, I'll go to a bar or a concert.

 

[RadishRose]

And yet they want a huge tip for eating in that noise!

The tip is for the server who has no control over the noise/music.

 

[needshave]

yep that's exactly right.. so if you want to have a quieter meal, then folks need to look for a restaurant that has covered seating, carpets... etc...

So true. I really have

Are drapes and tablecloths not allowed?

Also, won't dine where a band is playing. I go for the food and the company. If I want to hear a band, I'll go to a bar or a concert.

Hello Rose, Good to see you.

They will not prohibit draperies, but they will certainly inspect for those tale tale signs that someone is wiping their hands on them, have not been cleaned on a regular basis, etc. SO most restaurants will not have draperies due to the upkeep and maintenance involved, but will lean toward wood or plastic blinds that can be washed and maintained, again a hard surface for noise to repel from.

Linen table clothes, are certainly allowed. But must be changed when the seated customer is finished, then the table cleaned and a clean table cloth is placed over the table and utensils, etc. That takes additional time to complete, as well as someone to properly launder the soiled table clothes. SO again most restaurant stray from it for those reasons and go toward a hard surface that can be cleaned and sanitized in a fraction of the time.

Carpet is becoming less and less popular due to cleaning and cost associated with upkeep. Hard surface, wood, tile, concrete and composite materials are the norm for floor materials. Anything that can be easily cleaned, which also rebounds sound.

We do not allow bands, music or tv's in our restaurants. We have allowed bands in the outside courtyards at the request of a special group, but the amplified Music was so loud we could hear inside. SO now, we dont allow any bands, any where.

It's hard to go out and dine, I agree with you. We have a few here we go to, and they have become increasingly noisy and somewhat customer uncontrolled. For the most part, if we want to meet friends and dine, we have at my place and we provide the meal. I think that will be the new trend, is that meals will be prepared for take out then the customer will have the meal at home with friends, where it is more leisurely and accommodating. Just my thoughts...

 

[RadishRose]

So true. I really have

Hello Rose, Good to see you.

They will not prohibit draperies, but they will certainly inspect for those tale tale signs that someone is wiping their hands on them, have not been cleaned on a regular basis, etc. SO most restaurants will not have draperies due to the upkeep and maintenance involved, but will lean toward wood or plastic blinds that can be washed and maintained, again a hard surface for noise to repel from.

Linen table clothes, are certainly allowed. But must be changed when the seated customer is finished, then the table cleaned and a clean table cloth is placed over the table and utensils, etc. That takes additional time to complete, as well as someone to properly launder the soiled table clothes. SO again most restaurant stray from it for those reasons and go toward a hard surface that can be cleaned and sanitized in a fraction of the time.

Carpet is becoming less and less popular due to cleaning and cost associated with upkeep. Hard surface, wood, tile, concrete and composite materials are the norm for floor materials. Anything that can be easily cleaned, which also rebounds sound.

We do not allow bands, music or tv's in our restaurants. We have allowed bands in the outside courtyards at the request of a special group, but the amplified Music was so loud we could hear inside. SO now, we dont allow any bands, any where.

It's hard to go out and dine, I agree with you. We have a few here we go to, and they have become increasingly noisy and somewhat customer uncontrolled. For the most part, if we want to meet friends and dine, we have at my place and we provide the meal. I think that will be the new trend, is that meals will be prepared for take out then the customer will have the meal at home with friends, where it is more leisurely and accommodating. Just my thoughts...

Good to see you too, Shave.

I understand where you're coming from, but although we don't see them as much anymore, I love white tablecloths. It only takes a few moments to change them, but they are an expense.

I'm sure this is not the case with your place, but I don't trust a hard table that been wiped with a sloppy looking wet rag. Since Covid however, I think places are really sanitizing tables now which is a blessing as everyone is trying to open up to some degree.

As small and plain as any place may be, a white tablecloth makes it all really nice.

 

[Ruthanne]

I don't mind loud restaurants as I don't get out much and I like to hear all the noise that's going on.

 

[RubyK]

Some older restaurants have booths which cut out the noise. But you could sit down in a booth and realize there is a speaker in the ceiling above you. If there is loud music in any restaurant, the chances of talking with my dinner mates is nil.

@JonDouglas ~ the video you posted is excellent. Thanks.