Do you like NOISE with dinner? Name the city's loudest spots

well, for us, the hands-down winner for some time was Mozz (!) where we; used sign language with the waitstaff, *pointed* at the menu (to order) and when the mgmt. wanted to apologize, they *wrote* their apology on a post-it! really!

But now that Mozz has gone, our winner has to be - and, given it's pedigree, this was a shock - Milkwood. Despite the superb cuisine and service, dinner for four was a shouting match. We would *love* to go back, but would be hard pressed to do so.....

PF CHANGS (Sorry, I feel the need to shout every time I say it)

Also, Drake's in the Summit

For noisy restaurants, Jack Fry's.

Ambient noise can be a welcoming feature when you have young kids. We make it a point to eat at BBC St. Matthews for that reason.

I've never really thought of Jack Fry's as noisy, but I have only been at earlier, less crowded hours.

Where do people go nowadays who want a nice quiet romantic dinner?

I always thought that my wife and I were unique in that liking noisy restaurants considering it seems like they all are going that way but after reading the thread it appears many others agree with us. One restaurant I'm extremely disappointed about the noise level in recently is Equis. It used to be completely separate from Jack's and it was a nice quiet place to have a relaxing dinner. Now that they've combined the 2 is nothing quiet about the place at all. It's more like a sports bar that it is a nice restaurant. I don't expect to have TVs blaring in my face when I'm having a $100+ dinner! Matter-of-fact since this happened the last time we were there we haven't been back and probably won't be. There are too many other nice restaurants in Louisville.

I've never really thought of Jack Fry's as noisy, but I have only been at earlier, less crowded hours.

Where do people go nowadays who want a nice quiet romantic dinner?

Some of my favorites. J Harrods. Saffron. Majids. Also Porcinis and Volare ... both away from the bar area.

Where do people go nowadays who want a nice quiet romantic dinner?

We like Eiderdown - it's usually pretty quiet, despite being one big open room.

I've never really thought of Jack Fry's as noisy, but I have only been at earlier, less crowded hours.

Where do people go nowadays who want a nice quiet romantic dinner?

This may be too downscale for such a request, but we like Tea Station in Norton Commons.

our winner has to be - and, given it's pedigree, this was a shock - Milkwood. Despite the superb cuisine and service, dinner for four was a shouting match. .

Just there Friday night, and while I really appreciated the food and service as always, it was super loud.

So, what's the professional take on this? Do restauranteurs feel like this makes for a lively experience? Does it keep tables turning? It seems like noisy has been a growing trend for a decade or better.

Dinner at Texas Roadhouse last night. Might have well been a full-blown metal concert w/ a Thunder o'er Louisville fireworks show going off at the same time loud. @ 5:00pm, go figure. Food & service were, actually, very good. I was amused that our interaction with our waitress was yelling at each other.

Thanks for the quiet suggestions. I don't "get" the appeal of a noisy atmosphere for anything except a sporting event or a concert. Paying to eat in a restaurant should be a pleasant experience, and I don't see how shouting is part of that.

our winner has to be - and, given it's pedigree, this was a shock - Milkwood. Despite the superb cuisine and service, dinner for four was a shouting match. .

Just there Friday night, and while I really appreciated the food and service as always, it was super loud.

So, what's the professional take on this? Do restauranteurs feel like this makes for a lively experience? Does it keep tables turning? It seems like noisy has been a growing trend for a decade or better.

I've said this before and I know it gets taken as snarky cynicism, but it shouldn't: these restaurants should be setting aside reserves for the lawsuits that will happen when their employees learn they have suffered severe, long term hearing damage. I've heard that one of the restaurants mentioned did a lot of work to fix their sound problem and it's better (I still haven't gone back, but intend to), but the decibel level in restaurant before they did that would get my business in a ton of trouble if a single employee weren't wearing earplugs.

Restaurateurs, my understanding is you are responsible for meeting OSHA guidelines just as anyone is. If you're clocking in at over 90 decibels slow response (which at least 3 restaurants in Louisville were, when I last checked), you're eventually going to get hammered (and likely sued) over it. And if you're somehow not required to, you just have a damned ethical obligation to protect your employees (and customers!) anyway.

well, for us, the hands-down winner for some time was Mozz (!) where we; used sign language with the waitstaff, *pointed* at the menu (to order) and when the mgmt. wanted to apologize, they *wrote* their apology on a post-it! really!

But now that Mozz has gone, our winner has to be - and, given it's pedigree, this was a shock - Milkwood. Despite the superb cuisine and service, dinner for four was a shouting match. We would *love* to go back, but would be hard pressed to do so.....

Out of curiosity, what day/time was that at Milkwood, so I know to avoid it? We've been there four times and never had an issue (though normally before/after a play).

From personal experience, no one should want to hear "REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" 24-7.

[Robin Garr]

Out of curiosity, what day/time was that at Milkwood, so I know to avoid it? We've been there four times and never had an issue (though normally before/after a play).

We went to Milkwood a few times in the early going for reviews - loved it - but haven't been back recently. At that time, going during the play was a great strategy, because the before-the-theater crowd had emptied out, leaving it fairly quiet. This may have changed, though, as it became a destination in its own right.

our winner has to be - and, given it's pedigree, this was a shock - Milkwood. Despite the superb cuisine and service, dinner for four was a shouting match. .

I've said this before and I know it gets taken as snarky cynicism, but it shouldn't: these restaurants should be setting aside reserves for the lawsuits that will happen when their employees learn they have suffered severe, long term hearing damage. I've heard that one of the restaurants mentioned did a lot of work to fix their sound problem and it's better (I still haven't gone back, but intend to), but the decibel level in restaurant before they did that would get my business in a ton of trouble if a single employee weren't wearing earplugs.

Restaurateurs, my understanding is you are responsible for meeting OSHA guidelines just as anyone is. If you're clocking in at over 90 decibels slow response (which at least 3 restaurants in Louisville were, when I last checked), you're eventually going to get hammered (and likely sued) over it. And if you're somehow not required to, you just have a damned ethical obligation to protect your employees (and customers!) anyway.

Sounds like a lawyer looking for business AKA ambulance chaser. The Nanny State incarnate.

If you don't want to go there ... if you don't want to work there .. go away.