I am overjoyed to see that another authoritative voice has joined the chorus of diners who are pleading with restaurateurs to “turn down the volume.” My husband and I have chosen to never return to restaurants that have assaulted our hearing; consequently, and sadly, we don’t go out to eat very often any more. Money that used to go to restaurants and waiters/waitresses is now being spent elsewhere.
About four or five years ago, at the Chicago Humanities Festival, a panel of revered local chefs was asked about the noise levels in their restaurants. They said something about it “adding to the excitement level” and actually seemed surprised that there was resistance to this level of din by the majority in the audience.
I’m wondering when the experience of dining out, especially with friends, transformed from a fun and enjoyable experience to an “exciting” experience? It seems we have enough excitement from other distractions in our daily lives.
Perhaps food and the experience of dining out could become the new oasis of calm and respite and a chance to actually focus on a tablemate and the wondrous experience of new foods and flavors? Surely some adventurous new chef out there is willing to buck this exhausting trend and take a first step in returning civility to dining out.
— Elaine Haydock, Chicago
