When I first came down here on my house hunting trip (corporate relocation), I dined at a restaurant with $30-$65 entrees. It was my first time dining at this location, but the first time I lived in Houston several times I had enjoyed dining at their original location (~45 minutes away). The restaurant had both a bar area and a dining area, and I had a reservation in the dining area since my plan was just to enjoy good food while reading a book. What I didn't realize was that it was a 5 minute walk to an outdoor concert pavilion and there was a concert that night.

It was very crowded and the restaurant was all hard surfaces (glass or concrete) so it was on the loud side. Then, they seated two tables of 12 in the dining area and it got obnoxiously loud since both the men and women acted like they were in a bar not a restaurant (e.g. yelling to someone on other end of table).

I said something to the waitress and she both agreed and promised to send the manager over. I saw the manager stop at a couple tables on the way over and the patrons were pointing at the two obnoxious tables. Manager gets to my table and that conversation did not go as expected.

Manager: "Good evening. [waitress' name] said you wanted to talk to me"

Me: "It looks like I'm not alone in my displeasure in patrons acting like they're in a bar when they're in an expensive restaurant. Please talk to the two large tables."

Manager/Dickbag: "If that's how you feel, don't dine here when there is a concert."

Me: "I'll choose option #2"

Digbag: "What is option #2?"

Me: "Never dine here again and write about this loud and poorly managed location on multiple review sites."

They went out of business in under 6 months.

My theory is that people start talking at a normal volume but then start talking a little louder so they can be heard over the background level. People then talk louder and so on until they're shouting to be heard. It's a feedback loop; if allowed to continue the speakers will blow. Management should blow a whistle every few minutes and tell everyone to turn it back down.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eponym,

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
My theory is that people start talking at a normal volume but then start talking a little louder so they can be heard over the background level. People then talk louder and so on until they're shouting to be heard. It's a feedback loop; if allowed to continue the speakers will blow. Management should blow a whistle every few minutes and tell everyone to turn it back down.

Management/ownership is part of the problem. Way too many restaurants are 100% hard surfaces so sound just bounces around in there. The acoustical art panels do wonders for restaurants.

My dad who has maybe 40% of his hearing left always wants to go to Texas Roadhouse when I take him out to eat. It's so loud in there I don't even bother trying to hold a conversation with him.

Does he like the food that much or is he trying to tell me something.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1s1k,

There's a Famous Dave's close to Bass Pro Shops here and it's incredibly loud, too loud to have a conversation with your companions.

We only went there twice, the second time to see if they fixed it....they didn't.

That's nothing, try sitting in my MIL's family room with 6 other women, 15 conversations, all going on, with multiple people talking about different stuff at an immeasurable volume that would have had my college apartment landlord beating on the door for me to turn it down..

I'd just excuse myself and go sit outside and listen to the coal trucks hauling down the hill with jake brakes on full for a bit of comparable silence...

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Here its Buffalo Wild Wings. Unbearable noise level. One visit was enough.

and if the noise isn't enough for you, try the food...

Yes can't stand noisy resturants and especially those with the uncontroled rug rats.... Today wife and I did a late lunch (2 pm) at a local steak/seafood resturant and as pleasantly supprised as was not crowded and not that loud . Small bowl of Seafood gumbo (south Louisiana style) over a scoop of white rice and 1/2 dozen oysters jacked up with bacon bits/melted pepperjack cheese/jalapino(??) peppers.. wife had fried catfish/sweetpotato fries/ salad w/ranch dressing. Plus split a serving of some warm hushpuppies. Told the waiter to put my name on the wheelbarrow list or he would have to carry me out to the car. .............. drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
That's nothing, try sitting in my MIL's family room with 6 other women, 15 conversations, all going on, with multiple people talking about different stuff at an immeasurable volume that would have had my college apartment landlord beating on the door for me to turn it down..

I think we may be related.

My wife comes from a large family and she has 8 sisters. When they get together, there are multiple conversations going on at the same time, which each trying to out shout the others. After we were married a few years, I just told my wife to count me out of any family gatherings.

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
My theory is that people start talking at a normal volume but then start talking a little louder so they can be heard over the background level. People then talk louder and so on until they're shouting to be heard. It's a feedback loop; if allowed to continue the speakers will blow. Management should blow a whistle every few minutes and tell everyone to turn it back down.

You're right about the feedback loop. An alternative is the place can put in some sound deadening and white noise.

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Yes can't stand noisy resturants and especially those with the uncontroled rug rats.... Today wife and I did a late lunch (2 pm) at a local steak/seafood resturant and as pleasantly supprised as was not crowded and not that loud . Small bowl of Seafood gumbo (south Louisiana style) over a scoop of white rice and 1/2 dozen oysters jacked up with bacon bits/melted pepperjack cheese/jalapino(??) peppers.. wife had fried catfish/sweetpotato fries/ salad w/ranch dressing. Plus split a serving of some warm hushpuppies. Told the waiter to put my name on the wheelbarrow list or he would have to carry me out to the car. .............. drill sgt.

Don's ? Duke's ?

I sat near two women at lunch a few days ago. They weren't particularly loud, but one of those women was a non-stop wall of sound. I don't even know how she managed to eat, since she never stopped talking.

I would have strangled her if she was my lunch companion. I nearly did anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Yes can't stand noisy resturants and especially those with the uncontroled rug rats.... Today wife and I did a late lunch (2 pm) at a local steak/seafood resturant and as pleasantly supprised as was not crowded and not that loud . Small bowl of Seafood gumbo (south Louisiana style) over a scoop of white rice and 1/2 dozen oysters jacked up with bacon bits/melted pepperjack cheese/jalapino(??) peppers.. wife had fried catfish/sweetpotato fries/ salad w/ranch dressing. Plus split a serving of some warm hushpuppies. Told the waiter to put my name on the wheelbarrow list or he would have to carry me out to the car. .............. drill sgt.

Don's ? Duke's ?

^^^^^^ Duke's (south location)... Sure miss the old orginal "Don's " on Airline Hwy, BR< La. which closed several years ago. ................. drill sgt.

quote:

Noisy people in restaurants piss me off

you just don't understand. people have rights /S

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Yes can't stand noisy resturants and especially those with the uncontroled rug rats.... Today wife and I did a late lunch (2 pm) at a local steak/seafood resturant and as pleasantly supprised as was not crowded and not that loud . Small bowl of Seafood gumbo (south Louisiana style) over a scoop of white rice and 1/2 dozen oysters jacked up with bacon bits/melted pepperjack cheese/jalapino(??) peppers.. wife had fried catfish/sweetpotato fries/ salad w/ranch dressing. Plus split a serving of some warm hushpuppies. Told the waiter to put my name on the wheelbarrow list or he would have to carry me out to the car. .............. drill sgt.

Don's ? Duke's ?

^^^^^^ Duke's (south location)... Sure miss the old orginal "Don's " on Airline Hwy, BR< La. which closed several years ago. ................. drill sgt.

Don's is much improved in the last year or so . Been a couple of times lately .

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:

quote:

Noisy people in restaurants piss me off

you just don't understand. people have rights /S

Sadly many do not have manners!

What happened to the manners in the olden days?? I have a lunch group I go out with every Friday. Ages 40-70. No manners!!! 3-4 conversations going on at once, hats on at the table, trying to talk over one another, and I won't even go with the older guys who refuse to use their VA supplied hearing aids!!!! What ever happened to one person talking at a time????

Okay, but it's Buffalo Wild Wings. Not exactly fine dining. They want it to be a fun place. They want it to be social. It isn't meant to be quiet.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Here its Buffalo Wild Wings. Unbearable noise level. One visit was enough.