I have a new request for Yelp, Google, and other places that provide information about restaurants and bars: Add a decibel rating.
Perhaps I’m just getting old, but twice this weekend and once a few weeks ago I experienced issues with music and restaurants and bars in St. Louis that resulted in people at the same table shouting so that others could hear that. It absolutely baffles me that the proprietors are okay with this.
The one a few weeks ago was at Press, an innovative pizza place. We actually had after-dinner plans, but we were so exhausted from shouting and lipreading that we all just went home afterwards.
Press was new to me, but I’ve been to the next few places without any issues. The first was Union Loafers, one of the best sandwich places in St. Louis, where I joined several coworkers for lunch. The music wasn’t too loud, but the bass was turned up so high that every few words were a blur.
The second was at None of the Above, an amazing speakeasy bar with really creative drinks. It’s a small space–maybe 8 tables–and for the first 30 minutes everything was fine. Then a DJ turned on the speakers and blasted music for the next hour. In the context of a club, totally appropriate (and good music). At a low-key bar where people chat quietly while sipping on $15 cocktails, no thank you.
This brings me to my solution: When I search for restaurant and bar ratings, I’d love to see a rating for their decibel level. It won’t keep me from trying new restaurants, but it will provide the opportunity for me to know when to get carry out vs dining in. That’s a much better first impression than the shouting situations.
Is this just me or have you experienced it too?
It’s usually a conscious decision by the owner/operators. An increased noise level leads to more beverage/alcohol consumption and thus to more sales.
I wonder if it’s having the opposite effect in some places. I’m more likely to stay longer (and eat/drink more) in a pleasant environment. For a place with thumping, loud music, I’m more likely to leave as soon as possible.