Richard Cornish wrote a article that looks at the do’s and don’ts of the dining industry, here are his tips:
Diners: Our acoustic experts offer tips for diners on how to avoid noise in restaurants.
■ Check reviews online at goodfood.com.au or use apps such as Yelp, which provides information on a restaurant’s noise levels. If the review mentions the words “lively”, “noisy” or “hubbub”, be prepared.
■ Bare walls, floors, tables and windows mean a noisy restaurant. Add people and it’s a reverberating noise box. Avoid if you want intimate conversation but enjoy if you like a rowdy night out.
■ Don’t sit near speakers, open kitchens or coffee grinders. Outdoor areas can have a lot of background noise, such as traffic and aircraft.
■ Don’t dine in the dark. Even people with perfect hearing read lips and facial features to some extent.
■ Consider old-fashioned establishments with carpet, curtains and tablecloths. Reconsider the local Cantonese restaurant.
■ Let the owners know if there’s a noise issue — it may be good for you and other patrons in the future.
■ Ask for a quiet table.
Restaurateurs: Our experts’ tips for restaurateurs to keep the noise down.
■ Dampen and disperse sound using physical barriers and alcoves to break up the soundwaves’ path.
■ Use sound-absorbing wall linings and create feature walls that can also be turned into art.
■ Use sound-absorbing ceiling linings or create ceiling islands and/or baffles of sound-absorbing materials where ceilings are very high.
■ Use fabrics and other soft furnishings wherever possible.
■ Put rubber caps on chair legs and soft floor coverings on main walkways.
■ Turn down the music.
Date: August 6, 2013
Richard Cornish
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/good-food/food-news/din-and-dinner-are-our-restaurants-just-too-noisy-20130805-2r92e.html#ixzz2bLPR1jPz
