Oops. Html error. I mentioned that some restaurants can get rather noisy after a few rounds of adult beverages..
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I hate those super loud restaurants. What happened to restaurants quiet enough to actually discuss something?
Good question. My elderly parents belong to a country club. My mom likes going to the formal dining room because she can't hear anything in the sports bars even with hearing aids. The formal dining room isn't so formal anymore, but does require slacks and jackets for males.
It's usually the acoustics of the "modern" restaurant design.
They have large glass windows without curtains, and coated ceiling tiles to avoid stains and grease buildup. The floor The tables, booths, and half-height walls are laminate which also reflect sound. The floor is concrete covered with industrial carpet squares for easy cleaning.
The retail construction model is such that the restaurant you're in today could be reconfigured as a shoe store in a month.
The padded leather chairs, thick carpet over wood plank floors, few windows, curtains on the walls even where there are no windows, tablecloths, etc. are only found in pricier restaurants.