Whatever happened to quiet in restaurants? I’m not talking about the high-class places with tablecloths and six forks on the table that have music gently playing in the background – I enjoy that experience. I’m talking about those where the owner may make your meal for take-out or eat in. What happens is you walk into the place, order your meal, and wait while they prepare it. So far, so good. Then, someone gets the stupid idea that you want background music. But it isn’t background music – the volume is cranked so loud that you can’t enjoy your meal in peace and quiet, nor can you carry on a conversation without raising your voice.
Who decided we want music playing while we eat at such a loud volume? Why not ask the patrons if they want music? And the next customer who walks in must then yell his or her order over the music and the through the barriers that several places still have installed from the COVID-19 era.
It’s a trend that started 20 years ago and shows no sign of stopping. It’s part of our noisy world where it’s presumed everyone likes it that way. Fact: many (including me) don’t and prefer to eat in silence. And don’t give me that ambience crap for a place where you order off a menu board behind the employees. I now speak up and have told several places over the years that I prefer the silence and they comply. I wish more places would.
John Berkovich Talks 