The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Some of you know from previous posts that one of my pet peeves is loud restaurants and total disregard for interior acoustics.  There are places I no longer eat because I can't stand sound coming at me from every angle.

MC and I finally got around to getting wedding bands made at Spexton after being married for over a year and a half.  We decided to try Andolini's for lunch.  We'd had pizza from their food truck and loved it so we figured it couldn't suck at the mothership. 

The food was excellent, but the place is freaking deafening.  I get the idea I'm getting near 50 and not as hip as I used to be, but do younger people really enjoy going to places you have to almost shout to have a conversation with the person sitting four feet from you?  I never enjoyed that when I was 18, at least not at restaurants.  If I wanted noise, I went to SRO.  I really don't get it, it's a huge turn off to me.  It wouldn't take much to absorb some of the sound splash in that space without wrecking the charm of the interior.

Thoughts?

Have a witty response to this? Line forms here.

You will have to speak up a bit, I can't hear you.
 
 ;D

Nah, he sports a mean fu-manchu, so the hipster is still there.   ;D

Get off my damned lawn...

Noisy restaurants are a nuisance.  Ate in a nice large and cavernous local Alpharetta, GA restaurant tonight that was crowded and very boisterous.  So much so that we spent too much time repeating ourselves because we were unable to hear one another.  The building's acoustics could perhaps have been better, but the rudeness of the diners was the biggest issue.  Why do some people insist on acting like fools at home when they go to establishments that serve the public?  BTW, the crowd tonight was mostly mid level professionals and not the younger bar crowd.

My biggest restaurant pet peeve however is when someone runs a vacuum cleaner or carpet sweeper while customers are dining.  This often happens later when the staff is anxious to start the closing process, but in effect it really ruins any dining experience.   The noise as well as the dust/ debris circulating from the vacuum or broom into the air and subsequently into one's food is digusting.  Customers also feel rushed and disrespected at the same time.  A restaurant shouldn't allow this to happen (or should greatly limit this practice) in the presence of diners unless there has been some type of spill or accident that necessitates immediate attention. This doesn't just happen in moderately or lower priced chain restaurants.   

I really can't feel too bad for you with the vacuum going at closing time. I know people who work til midnight cleaning restaurants and have to be up at six the next morning. If one goes into a restaurant nearing closing time and stays later than the posted hours, then I am fine with the staff beginning to vacuum, stack chairs, etc. However, if it's during normal operational hours I agree that it should seldom happen.

Conan's not the only one - this is a common complaint.

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/08/retaurant_decibel_levels.php

http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/07/adam-platt-on-loud-restaurants.html

A relative of mine (who managed some restaurants in Tulsa) said that noise, like excessive air conditioning, is a way to "churn" customers quicker, getting them out of the door once they have enjoyed their meal, to make room for more customers.
Lingering patrons slow the commerce, at least in that business model.

Yeah, but it runs some customers off permanently.  I will get take out from Andolini’s in the future, but I doubt we will ever eat in again which robs them of potential impulse purchases like salad, apps, or dessert.  I like the Sushi at ITR, but unless one of my daughters picks it for a birthday, I never go.  Even their Norman and Bricktown locations have the sound splash.

Loud noise in restaurants is to me what acorn lights are to you.

This got me thinking.  I wonder if restauranters also use noise for the opposite effect as well to perhaps entice people in by trying to create that "this is the place to be" effect.

The problem generally is a combination of the trend towards hard services (concrete floors and metal tables, etc.) with no buffers and loud music.  Much of the increase in volume/noise is intentional as restaurateurs believe loudness gives a place a sense of "energy".

I could definitely see that as a consideration.  “It’s noisy, therefore it’s popular.  If it’s popular, I must go in!"

I understand that thought but I guess I'm too old to agree.

Kind of like parking meters.

The problem is that as one is pulled into the restaurant by the sense of "energy" through the noise, you often times don't realize just how noisy that noise is until you are seated and begin trying to converse with your party or meal companion.  Really, when you enter you hear what you think are a just a bunch of casual conversations going on, but after a few minutes you just wish for it to be dialed down somewhat.

I also agree that the current materials trends in restaurant interior design effectively (whether or not purposely) exacerbate the acoustics.

You and me both.

Now you make me feel ancient. 
 
 ;D

That's because you are.  ;)

I'm only half ancient.

Oh, wait.  That's another joke about being half fast.
 
 ;D