For decades now, I’ve heard one topic discussed when it comes to restaurants, bars, cafes, and other eateries, regardless of the condition of the physical space, menu quality, and cost spectrum—and that’s how loud a place is. I’ve heard older folks talk about it as well as those younger, and everyone in between. A lot of people wish restaurants were quieter (though not as quiet as a “mausoleum,” as per WaPo restaurant critic Tom Sietsema). So why does it persist?
I understand restaurants wanting to have a vibrant, energetic feel to them, and a place that is too quiet also feels uncomfortable in its own way. But for as long as I can remember, restaurants with an ongoing loud din post a challenge to our ears. It can be exhausting and I know it’s not good for my—or your—aural health. It’s on my mind today for a couple of reasons: 1) I’ve been editing a number of articles about hearing health and hearing aids; and 2) a review from the Willamette Week of the celebrated Kann restaurant was published this week, and the issue of how loud the place is was described early on in the article. Here’s the relevant excerpt:
“But the most indelible impression was the wave of noise bouncing off all the hard, angular surfaces. It measured a steady 85 decibels … Gourdet acknowledged noise is a problem. It is unclear if a fix is in the works.”
What sticks out to me is “Gourdet acknowledged noise is a problem.” I know that figuring out the acoustics in some spaces is more challenging than in others, so I’m giving Gourdet the benefit of the doubt that he has run into some really contentious (and possibly expensive) issues in this realm, and that on his list of things to do is to lower the sound levels in there.
As an aside: I am not here to criticize the food at Kann or Gourdet as a chef or even as a celebrity. Despite the WW review, I am eager to try the food there, since the food I had at Departure was absolutely delicious, and I trust Gourdet to be consistent, perhaps even better than he was at Departure. I also love his interest in and commitment to zero-proof cocktails and other NA drinks.
I am, however, feeling leery about the sound levels there right now. I’ll wait and see how he addresses this issue (three online sources I read indicated others noticed the high decibel levels there).
That brings me to a website I ran across, called Soundprint, which is also an app. It features a large handful of cities, Portland being one of them. From submitted decibel numbers/levels, you can see if a restaurant/bar/venue is Quiet, Moderate, Loud, or Very Loud. Arenas, gyms, retail shops, and other locations are included.
I am not paid to write about this app, just passing on possibly helpful info for those who share the exhaustion that comes with being overstimulated by constant loud sound.
So how about you? How do sound levels affect you at a restaurant (or anywhere else)? Is it a concern? Is it a deciding factor in where you choose to eat on any given evening? I’d love to hear your thoughts on loud restaurants in the comments (or on social media where this is posted).
Meg Cotner
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Yes, Yes, Yes! My wife and friends have our list of restaurants we will not return to because of the loud noise.
It might be a good article, “Portland’s Loud Restaurants to Avoid.”
Thanks, Mike. I would like to expand on this post on loud sounds in restaurants with maybe a guide, map it out, and the like. I’ll be thinking on it. You know when I was younger I could work with the din but over the years it’s simply gotten harder and harder, so, like you and your friends there are restaurants I’ll avoid because of the sound. There was a bar in Astoria, Queens I used to go to, but only when it was lightly populated; when it was full I could only hear – barely – the person next to me. It wasn’t a good time.