The New York Times had an excellent story last week about noisy restaurants and how some restaurateurs are paying more attention to acoustics in the interests of most diners’ desire to go somewhere and have a good meal and good conversation.
The story, titled “Taking the Din out of Dining,” said:
“(A)t some places, at least places where the target audience is more than a few years out of college, owners are spending money so that a big night out is actually decipherable.
“…After years of paying lip service to the idea of fostering civilized conversation over deafening clatter…some restaurateurs appear to be listening to customers’ pleas.”
This is music to my hearing-reduced ears because I have been to far too many restaurants in the Kansas City area where it is extremely difficult, sometimes nearly impossible, to engage in comfortable conversation.
The loudest restaurant I have been in, by far, is Char Bar in Westport. Of course, it does cater — to borrow The Times’ line — to people a few years out of college.
Patty and I went there with another couple several weeks ago, and we weren’t smart enough to leave when they told us the wait would be 30 to 45 minutes. We had plenty of time to assess the noise level, but we hung on, mainly because one member of our party had her heart set on trying the place.
At the table, I couldn’t hear any of the conversation, and neither could the other guy. Every once in a while I would shout something at him, and he would either nod or shout a few words back. The ladies did a little better; neither has a hearing deficit…As for the food, I don’t remember much about it.
Other restaurants I have been to that are extremely loud, when crowded, are Summit Bar and Grill, near 75th and Wornall, and Louie’s Wine Dive, Gregory and Wornall. The Yard House, with locations at The Legends and the Power & Light District, is also very loud, but when I was at the P&L location recently with Brooks, we sat at a rear booth that was sheltered from the cacophonous main dining area.
The quietest restaurant I have been to — and by far the most pleasant dining experience I have had in a long time — was at Cafe Provence in Prairie Village. The Tavern in Prairie Village and Avenues Bistro in Brookside are also fairly easy on the ears.
A significant problem at many restaurants is that the owners or managers are convinced that loud music is a requisite. So, they turn the music up loud, and then the diners try to shout over the music, creating a true din. Frequently, I ask waiters or managers to turn the music down. Sometimes they do and sometimes not.
But restaurants don’t have to be loud. As The Times story said, “acoustic buffers and panels are nothing new, but restaurant designers are becoming more precise and scientific, working to create self-enclosed huddles of talk at each table without losing the low rumble of activity that makes a place feel alive.”
…Don’t call me a fuddy-duddy. Like most people, I like restaurants that “feel alive”; I just don’t want to have to strain and turn my hearing aids up to their highest level, which makes everything sound tinny, to hear what my companions are saying.
:: I read with awe and admiration today about firefighters from the Midwest gathering in Kansas City Sunday for the fifth annual Memorial Stair Climb at the Town Pavilion to honor firefighters killed in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
The Star’s Matt Campbell reported that the participants climbed 110 stories — the number of floors that many fire fighters attempted to ascend on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s still hard to imagine the courage it took for those guys to climb up all those flights knowing they probably wouldn’t be coming back alive. The ultimate sacrifice of their own lives.
One of the most amazing aspects of this story, to me, was that “it took only 4 minutes when registration began on June 1 to fill up the 343 slots for the climb.”
Three-hundred-forty-three. That’s the number of fire fighters who died that day in New York. Proceeds from registration fees and T-shirt sales go into a fund for survivors of police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical providers who have died in the line of duty.
A snappy salute goes out to those climbin’ fire fighters…I think it would take me half an hour to make it up 10 floors.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Restaurant noise is one of my pet peeves. Thanks for drawing attention to it. Another is televisions in restaurants. I have come to ask for a table where they are out of view. My smartphone has a decibel ap which allows me to provide a noise level rating as part of my Trip Adviser restaurant reviews. It’s my way of fighting back.
Patty has mentioned that app, but I don’t think she has it…I will continue battling the din, too, but I went by Char Bar the other night and it appeared to be very crowded. I don’t think we’ll see much of a dent until people wise up and stop going to noisy restaurants.
Funny, before I got to your reference to it I was remembering an especially noisy meal at The Tavern in PV. They were really busy, tho — bar was packed. The extreme opposite of that would be Tatsu’s. Almost too quiet, and so small you have the feeling everyone can hear each other’s conversations. But the only place I know of where you can get vichyssoise!
That decibel app — what will they think of next!!
On another note: yesterday’s Star A section was SIX pages?! Is that a new low??
The last time we were at The Tavern we sat outside, and it was OK except for a bit of yelling by youngsters passing by and occasional car noise and headlights. As we were finishing our meal, we began hearing a rising level of conversation, and it took us several minutes to figure out it was coming through the windows, from a loud party inside!
…I’m sure you’ve had the experience of being seated right next to a large, loud party, and when they leave (if you’re lucky enough it’s before you’ve gotten your food), you can feel your tension level drop along with the newfound (relative) quiet.
…I can’t remember a six-page A section, Gayle; I noticed it, too. The Memorial Stair Climb was the best story in it.
Haven’t been there in awhile but don’t remember outdoor seating. Trying to think where they’d put it?
Right out front…
I agree about noise levels. I tend to avoid peak times to get around this type of atmosphere. 2 o’clock lunch breaks mean that most people are back to work, I get better service from a wait staff that isn’t overloaded, food comes out faster, and I get some quiet time.
My wife and I generally target the 4-5 o’clock hour on the weekends (mostly for the same reasons stated above) if we decide to dine out.
Like yourself Jim, my compromised hearing can’t follow a conversation when there is a lot of background noise. May as well be listening to the cicadas!
And thank God they’re gone! That’s one aspect of nature I could do nicely without.
I love ’em! They personify summer to me. :-)
The last two times I went to Avenues (both in the past three months) there was a small child screaming and shrieking the entire time I was there, and from across the restaurant, too. Made me feel like a geezer thinking about how my parents would not have allowed us to disrupt others in public… guess times really have changed. But usually it has been quiet there. (I haven’t been back, though.)
Lord Fitz, you are showing your age. However, regardless of my age, I have never liked loud places. I think people ought to be able to hear ALL my pearls of wisdom !!
Your pearls of wisdom are worth straining to hear, Steve. Down at The Star, when one of the political writers needs a good quote, you get the call.
It’s not just the music and conversation, it’s the finishes within the space that impact the noise levels.
My wife and I went to the new Jack’s Stack in Lee’s Summit Sunday. As we were being led to the table, I commented to my wife that it was loud. The hostess overheard me and said she would ask for the music to be turned down (and they did to their credit).
But the real problem was the hard surfaces. The concrete floor, wood tables and chairs and an exposed wood ceiling all contributed to the din. Good eats though.
You’re 100 percent right about those hard surfaces.
Thanks for bringing attention to noise levels in restaurants. Hard surfaces seem to be the problem.. I avoid places that I would otherwise like. Some of the worse offenders include Lulu’s in Crossroads and Harry’s Country Club in the River Market.
It’s unanimous: No one here at jimmycsays likes loud restaurants. If any restaurant owners are reading, please take heed.