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Loud or Quiet?
When you ask most people about the sound of a restaurant they will focus on the music system. In reality that is a very small part of the total acoustic experience for most diners. Acoustics play a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere of a restaurant, affecting both the mood and behavior of patrons. In a restaurant every sound has an effect oh how we feel.
The clanking of dishes and plates reminds us we are near food and for many triggers a hunger response. Certain sounds are expected when we eat even if they are very quiet. Imagine eating without one ice cube clinking in a glass. Not one knife tapping a plate. Or even eating without the sound of plates all together. It wouldn’t be right.
The other sounds include doors opening and closing, other diners conversing and the sound of fans or AC systems. One of my favorite restaurants has Chinese ovens in the middle and even though there is a large plate glass window I am pretty sure I can hear the wood crackling. All of these sounds combine to make the “House Sound” and set the emotional tone of our meal. The best designers know how they want to shape the House Sound and that becomes part of the persona of the restaurant.
