I stay away from these restaurants because I too, would like to chat. It's getting harder to find the quiet ones, though! I suppose the marketers think it makes the restaurants appear "hip"--(what's the appropriate word used these days??)

My son and I noticed that when we were on vacation at a resort. The level of music was perfect. It set the tone, but we could still hear the ocean and, more importantly, each other! So music can be ok. Just not in those cram packed restaurants that are so "trendy".

Hip
Cool
Phat
Sic
Tight

There are a million words that are used in place of hip. I'm sure I don't even know most of them! Heck, I love to watch First 48 (about homicide detectives), and I almost never understand what the suspects are saying. "Yea, this was all over a stick". The narrator comes on and says "So-and-so tells the detectives that this fight is about a rifle that he thinks the victim has stolen from him". What?! Stick=rifle? Really?! Kids today. tsk-tsk

Yes, it bothers me tremendously. As do "loud talkers". I know so many people these days that are very nice people, but I tend to avoid them because they cannot carry on a conversation in a normal tone of voice! You can hear their conversation a block away. I just want to ask them "Why are you screaming, I'm sitting 8 inches from you ..."

Also loud music in grocery stores, too. Can't concentrate!

We asked to be seated on a waterfront deck for that reason a few weeks ago when eating at a long popular place a couple of hours away that DH has enjoyed over the years even though the evening was a little cool. That seemed to be the theme with the rest of the diners out there, a little breezy but still preferable to the clamor of inside this trendy little place. DH went back to the car for a jacket for me, he wasn't the only DH performing that duty ;)

We asked that the music be turned down in one of our favorite Mexican restaurants one night, the sound was one of such energy, almost urgency, it was hard for our group to talk or relax to eat. Request was met.

Loud music is supposed to make people drink more! Also, it's a party atmosphere for the younger crowd.

I too avoid noisy places in general. We were out to dinner and stopped by at a new place next door. It was very noisy. I don't even know if music was playing, the noise level was high. They offered patio dining so if I were to go back I would do that. I was told that even during the day, it was loud.

I also hate loud talkers. Maybe I was rude, but a man was very loud at the next table at a place we stopped for breakfast. It was a buffet. As I waited online, I jus kept staring over, as if I was listening to the conversation. He quieted down.

Once, we were at a Dunkin Donuts and a man was holding court with a small group. My husband asked them to quiet down. Interestingly enough, we were there when this same group was told that they couldn't stay so long as they were taking up many spots in the lot. Certain places just aren't big enough to be a meeting place.

I'm with angel, there's been an population outbreak of loud talkers. Who knows why? And get a bunch of them in a restaurant or bar with too many hard surfaces (floors/walls/ceilings) and the noise can be very unpleasant.

I too have opted for patio seating when an indoors is too noisy.

We have crossed restaurants with live music off our list just because of the noise level.

DH and I often eat breakfast out (especially after fasting and blood draw) and it is hard to find a quiet place. One nice Motel (high class) has a restaurant, but somewhat out of the way. As a child and young person, I would be taken to some of the elegant hotel dining rooms in SF.... believe me, you could hear a pin drop and conversations were hushed. Our society has just changed. Those were rare occasions,...now days, eating out is just that.

That's one reason I prefer to entertain in my own home. I can control the sound level of the music and the ingredients in the food and nobody is bothered if my guests and I get a little raucous.

"we were there when this same group was told that they couldn't stay so long as they were taking up many spots in the lot."
If the same amount of people were there as individuals (not a group), would they ask them to leave because they were taking up space??

Old Fixer, my take on the original comment you quoted was that although the folks were there as a group, most had arrived individually, therefore taking up quite a bit of the available parking space. Since they were a group, more of the folks should have arrived as a group, as in "carpool."

If diners are truly there as individuals, they would naturally arrive as individuals.

Some people talk loudly because they are hard of hearing....they may not even be aware they have a hearing problem or are talking loudly.

I work with a woman who is very loud. Her husband is going through a serious medical crisis right now that has her reeling and she was on the phone today for 20 minutes telling someone all about it. Of course no one would have said anything....everyone was just surprised she would would be so loud discussing every detail of her husband's medical condition.

These people aren't hard of hearing, just obnoxiously loud. And, more and more, foul mouthed! Trying to get through a grocery store visit is a nightmare for me! People screaming into their phones, totally oblivious to what their kids are doing. Apparently, they can't compose a sentence without the F word in it! (In front of their children!) They just stop their cart, anywhere and everywhere, for whatever reason, totally oblivious to who is behind them, in front of them, or trying to reach something in front of them ... I totally don't give a carp that your college math professor is so stupid that YOU should be teaching the class .. just let me get to the darn salmon you are standing in front of! (Can you tell I just left Safeway?) The woman in the checkout line in front of me (different woman, maybe mid-forties) never paused her conversation once when she was in line or paying. I would, seriously, not do well in retail or working with the general public! I wouldn't hold the job through the first shift! LOL

I don't like loud music in any setting. Even worse than restaurants with just loud music are those with fairly loud music and loud tv's. When you add the two together, plus people trying to talk over the music and tv's, it is so loud that to me it's almost unbearable. I hate having to practically yell at my dining companions because it's so loud.

I hate loud restaurants, some of the noise is music~some is huslte bustle of the staff. My DH watches the staff and says they are not making that much noise he is convinced that they pipe in busy noise to make it seem more popular, does that sound as crazy to you all as it does to me??

I did like going to a coffee spot to have a sip and read a book, and people sit there and talk loud on their phones, as if they are the only people there;( I can not even read;(

We live in a rude world~~

These people aren't hard of hearing, just obnoxiously loud

Wow. How can you possible know if you don't know them personally or talk to them to find out? Just curious.

Boy, you like to cause contention, don't you?
If you read my first statement, I do know them, I like them, I avoid them because THEY SCREAM AT YOU WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CARRY ON A NORMAL CONVERSATION!!!

I agree with Angelaid. If that many people are hard of hearing, then it might just be the result of loud music. We used to eat at Logan's, but anymore the music is so loud you almost have to write down what you wish to order. We only get the occasional take out from Logan's. Another pet peeve is excessively loud talking on cell phones. Leave the cell phone off and pay a bit of respect to people around you!! If they find it imperative to use the cell in public, then I do wish they would do it discreetly. I don't care to hear your conversation. The foul mouths are the worst in my opinion.

KK

I'm not saying they are or aren't hard of hearing. I was simply curious how you knew. Yelling at me didn't convey how you knew. Just because you're carrying on at what you consider normal, doesn't mean they're getting why or that's their normal level.

My mom is hard of hearing. You think she's hearing you (not me, others. I can actually tell when she does and when she's doesn't hear you. She's so frustrated she can't hear you she doesn't answer), but she's not hearing you. She doesn't scream at you, instead, she just ignores you, for not talking loud enough, just pleasantly nodding at you. It's the blank look that gives it away for me. Daddy says hm? as sweetly as can be. Still no yelling. So I wasn't even talking about people I know personally.

Sure, a lot of people probably aren't hard of hearing, but I sure don't assume I know the reason why. It's too presumptuous. Mostly, I just think to myself, no wonder those from the other side of the world think Americans are loud... because they are!

I have certainly made a point to drop it a decibel or two. Especially when I am conversing with my teenage son in public. We pretty much whisper. Why? Probably because so many people are loud these days. Especially when yelling at their kids in public. That one bothers me. The kid will pay more attention if you're good and close and talk really quietly. They zone in really well when you do that. And no one has to hear us disagree.