Quiet Restaurants

[FiestaRed]

It seems as though quiet restaurants had become a thing of the past. I talking nice, sit-down, dress-up, good service restaurants that are still so damn noisy you can't hear the person across the table at a normal conversation level. My wife is soft-spoken to begin with, which makes it even more noticeable. Has anyone else noticed this?

[scottlr]

Around here, the trendy places are loud. The locally owned, and more expensive places are pretty quite, but you pay for it.

[rattles]

My husband and I have noticed the same thing. You either have to sit on the same side of the booth, or yell across the table at each other.
I want a nice quiet place where we can enjoy each other and not have to yell! Sometimes I think McDonalds would be less noisy!

[eurotrashed]

It doesn't matter if its noisy or quiet, I just sit there either way and act like I am listening...

[Flyin' Brian]

There has been a recent influx of upscale restaurants here in northern IN over the last year. They've been very welcome..all independent with excellent menu choices but still at reasonable prices, especially compared to nearby Chicago. Since it's very laid back around here they're also quite casual...people aren't trying to keep up with the Jonses here.

[QRSS]

i much prefer the elderly crowd for dinner.

[TwoTubMan]

No matter where I go to eat these days, I have to deal with multiple TV's blaring sports at me at full volume. Couple that with the screaming, uncontrolled brats that everyone thinks I should be amused by, and I find myself going to restaurants less and less these days.

[puckhead]

I have a 4 year old. I do not know what a quiet zone is.

[scottlr]

Well, y'all need to come to Iowa City and experience the non-sports bar scene. But like i said, it ain't cheap. But if you want a quiet relaxing dinner, we do have those places. and they ARE popular, but popular with a quieter crowd.

I don't ever recall getting a quiet table in a trendy restaurant. Only the more expensive places offer that. Even then, there is always the possibility of a noisy table, but unless they are wealthy patrons, the staff usually calms them down at these places.

Go to TGI Fridays, and you take you chances, and chances aren't good.

[Stike]

Plenty of options around here. Just avoid places with crayons at the host stand and TV's in bar and/or dining room.

[Donnie B.]

A lot of this is because of the way the rooms are designed these days. Hard floors, hard walls, just about zero materials that would absorb and dampen sounds. I usually end up eating in the bar than the main dining room because it's usually quieter!

[jcoloccia]

I've found that the smaller, family run places have the best food and best atmoshphere. For example, there's a little pizzaria/restaurant a few minutes away from my house. It's nothing to look at from outside, the menus are cheap laminated plastic, classic cheap checkerboard tablecloth, etc etc. The service is great, the food is absolutely top notch, and people know how to keep their voices down.

As a previous poster said, avoid crayons, walls filled with crap like trumpets, skis and boomerangs, anything with the name of different city in it, wait staffs that speaks in fake accents, etc.

[jaycee]

i much prefer the elderly crowd for dinner.

Wow. What do they taste like?

[diego]

I think the restaurant owners believe noisy equals exciting, dynamic, etc. It is a trend... restaurant reviews out here usually mention the noise level so you can factor that into your decision.

[crosse79]

I hate noisy restaurant unless I am in the mood for some noise. Most times I tend to pick on restaurants that are small, comfy and quiet. I don't mind paying slightly a bit more for this. These are some of the times I can just chill out and enjoy my meal.

[pir8matt]

Wow. What do they taste like?

Depends. Take that however you like. ;)

[Stike]

Sometimes a restaurant can be too quiet where everything you say can be heard by everyone in the room or where that one loud talker will be extra loud.

There are some places around here I go to because food is so damn good, they could be setting off M80's in the dining room and I wouldn't care. Some places I think put too much emphasis on the atmosphere but have boring menus of the same old "fine dining" fare.

[eBay]

Plenty of options around here. Just avoid places with crayons at the host stand and TV's in bar and/or dining room.

Some of the "adult" places are pretty bad. There was this trendy sushi place in LA that was so loud it sounded like they were doing a white noise check. When you would talk (fairly loud), your words just seemed to barely poke out of the stream. It was definitely hearing damage and I felt sorry for all the employees who were going to sustain some hearing loss later in life from it.

[Tonekat]

The restaurant reviews in the SF Examiner have included noise ratings for awhile now, and the Wash. Posts' main restaurant reviewer has recently started including them as well.

[Born2Blues67]

No matter where I go to eat these days, I have to deal with multiple TV's blaring sports at me at full volume. Couple that with the screaming, uncontrolled brats that everyone thinks I should be amused by, and I find myself going to restaurants less and less these days.

Amen on the brats! When i was a child i was expected to know how to
behave in a public place & i'm not that old.

:stir

[mcknigs]

Wow. What do they taste like?


Old chicken.

:)

-Scott

[Cottage]

It doesn't matter if its noisy or quiet, I just sit there either way and act like I am listening...

Yeah, me too. However, that's because all these years of gigging has definately affected my hearing and it is particularly evident in loud crowded places.

[Greggy]

Wow. What do they taste like?

Stewing chicken.

[DiazDude]

i much prefer the elderly crowd for dinner.

I do too...along with some fava beans and a nice chianti. :stir

[JamesT]

couples taking babies/toddlers out that want to exercise their lungs or whatever.

[Stike]

couples taking babies/toddlers out that want to exercise their lungs or whatever.

One of my favorite "date night" (kids with sitter)restaurants proudly and prominently displays it's award for "Best Place To Eat Without Kids" at the host stand.

[JamesT]

Man oh Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how many have been "ruined" by kids to young.

[PinoyBoy]

It depends where you go, and the crowd the place draws. Here in DFW, I don't have an issue finding a good "quiet" restaurant.

[FeloniousBishop]

so damn noisy you can't hear the person across the table at a normal conversation level

I've noticed this too. I think it's because we're all half deaf.