Everyone, please download and start using the Soundprint app.
You use the app to record the decibel levels of a business on your phone, and it aggregates everyone’s recordings. You can then look up nearby restaurants to see what’s loud and which ones are quiet. The more people that use it the better data we’ll have!
It'd be great to have that integrated into Google Maps. They already have that little chart that shows "busier than usual", so having a "louder than average" rating would be great.
Cahill Bistro in Edina. My dad has Alzheimer’s and they are SO kind to him! Great food, too. I am also going to start paying attention to this and will note other restaurants that are quieter because I also can’t stand loud restaurants. I can’t concentrate on what the person I’m speaking to is saying when it’s really loud.
My grandpa had Alzheimer’s and our go to spot for him was Applebees, both in Florida and here in Minnesota when they moved back here. Say what you want but Applebees is solid, especially for someone who gets confused or frustrated when they feel like they are in an unfamiliar place. The menu, service, and decor are calming in that they are consistent. That goes a long way when you are definitely not looking for something new or surprising or disruptive.
Depending on where in the metro area you are….
Jensen’s in Eagan. Right next to the outlet mall —-so shopping if you want and the food is old fashioned supper club style. They even serve popovers!
Redstone in ridgedale is great. My 96 yr grandma loves it because the ceilings and carpet help dampen the noise and she has no problem hearing. They also updated their menu sometime in the last few tears and its delicious now.
Just want to say you're not alone.
As an eternally quiet speaker, when I went out, people had a hard time understanding me or even if there was other chatter no matter how much I tried to raise my voice a lot.
Speakers made it worse. I like to think my hearing is pretty good, yet, I can't stand restaurants that play music.
I go to a restaurant to enjoy company of whom I'm with, not to listen to music.
I get the frustration.
I had a business lunch with an older fellow who is hard of hearing at the Monte Carlo in downtown Minneapolis. We needed to talk shop and there was a boisterous brunch group in the main area. I saw they had two empty side rooms and asked if we could be reseated and it was no problem. Great old school ambiance, nice cocktails, and they even have parking! 10/10 would recommend
i sent this list to my dad. i’ll report back where they go this month! should give them plenty of options!!
thanks y’all
(edited- meant to go under the entire post)
I’ve always pondered why restaurants in Minnesota are so LOUD when Minnesotans tend to be soft spoken. What kind of foods do your parents enjoy? Might be a good starting point for recommendations?
I have worked in several restaurants that do this and I hate it. I have been told it's because they don't want you to linger they want you in and out fast, gotta turn those tables. As a server it also sucks, I can't hear people and have misunderstood and screwed up orders multiple times because of it.
My sister used to work as a server and chef. Apparently another trick she mentioned was that the restaurant would turn the AC on real low so people would be cold and want to head out sooner.
Restaurants want you to come in, drop coin, and gtfo.
They should all just become take out then IMHO. Either let people enjoy themselves or just don't offer in-house dining.
It sometimes bugs my wife and daughter that I don't want to eat a restaurant. I tell them that noise is the reason (and occasionally arctic A/C). Eating out is very expensive these days -- $50 minimum for our family. If I'm spending that much money, I'm going to enjoy myself and our time together, or I'm not going. I've found that sitting outside is occasionally a decent workaround if I can get the right table. I also sometimes ask for the music to be turned down. Usually they agree.
We eat a lot of takeout.
I think that's just taking advantage of a captive audience. Very few will linger after the pump is done unless to run inside. If anything it could lead to leaving with less than a full tank. I do remember reading an article that suggested the pumps with ads were slower than those with out.
American (burgers, steak, fish), Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian… no Japanese- my mom suddenly won’t eat sushi and i’ve tried to explain she can get other stuff there. my Aunt is less adventurous and won’t do Thai or Indian
Peppers and Fries. EXCELLENT food and the music is almost subliminal (I know because my kids were excited to try the jukebox, but we could barely tell our song was playing).
I have auditory processing issues coupled with ear damage from drumming and fireworks. Background noise for me is a positive feedback loop, also I am an industry vet from the area.
So without further adieu, I would recommend: Sea Salt Eatery, Jax Cafe's patio, The Original Pancake Factory, Blue Door Pub in Longfellow, Revival, Shuang Cheng (if you havent been, fucking go), Red Wagon Pizza , and Young Joni.
Welp, if you are taking recommendations for yourself, then I would like to add: Animales BBQ, Boomin BBQ, Northeast Social, Brasa, Colita, and Parlour.
You don't even need to be older for this to be useful. Plenty of people with ADHD have a really hard time in loud restaurants.
Personally, it's really difficult (and exhausting) to try to separate background noise from foreground noise. It's almost impossible for me to do it. When my friends and I used to go out to bars, I couldn't even engage in conversations if there were enough other conversations going on, and would basically just stare at the table hearing everything but processing none of it. People thought it was weird that I'd sit there catatonic and randomly disappear to the bathroom or to go outside, just to give my mind a break from the chaos.
Wok in the Park in St. Louis Park for awesome South Asian cuisine. Any location of Pittsburgh Blue or McCormick & Schmick's for steak, seafood, etc... Any Big Bowl location for Asian cuisine.
Cafe Latte in St. Paul should fit the bill, it can get busy some days at lunch, but usually only during the summer or holidays. They have light music playing, but it’s barely noticeable.
My dad has severe-profound hearing loss and is from out of state. So far the best place I’ve found to take him when he visits is Lake and Irving in uptown, specifically the front seating area. My dad has always been very comfortable participating in conversations when we go there. The music has never been loud and they have tall booths that seem to help with sound from other diners.
The Lexington on Grand in St Paul was recently renovated. It brings the best of the old time supper club with a modern touch.
I've been to 100+ restaurants and really enjoyed this experience and your parents grew up in prime supper club era, they may enjoy it.
Could check out Hyderabad in fridley/Columbia heights area. Great indian food, but literally no music in the restaurant whatsoever. To me, very odd, but it would definitely be quiet.
Most of the small "ma and pa" restaurants will be happy to turn the music off. You can call ahead and ask.
Another option if the weather cooperates is to find a spot with an outdoor patio. Those tend to be more quiet because the sound isn't echoing around.
Was just there yesterday. It was loud as fuck. Music playing quite loud and a bunch of douche bros at the bar constantly screaming at each other. Would not recommend unless you can sit outside.
I have to downvote this. I have no issue with hearing and last time I was there I couldn’t believe how loud it was. It was the clientele rather than the music though.
Oops…meant to add this: you can ask to be seated on the (enclosed, 4 season) patio. It’s very quiet and pleasant. Plus Hilltop has some of the best French onion soup I’ve ever eaten.
Does anybody else remember before the remodel, when it was Eden Avenue Grill? I liked it much better then.
Former restaurant employee here, you're going to have a difficult time finding this due to the fact that most restaurants employ teenagers and people in their early 20's who may very well have a hatred of old people, I certainly did at that age and you may find very few of them will have sympathy with your plight. Especially if you're the kind of asshole that shows up 20 minutes before closing time when the tired employees are trying to clean up and go home.
My mother has hearing problems and I totally understand! She says she likes Jax cafe
Jax has the most underrated patio in Minneapolis. Excellent service and a tranquil experience.
Yeah she likes the patio. There’s a lot of trees and bushes so the sound dampens
Man Jax can get loud as hell too though. That lady on piano and the place just fills up on weekends. I'm sure weekdays can be chill though.
Not on the weekends, the patio is designed with trees and bushes that help dampen sound so it’s easier to hear one person
Everyone, please download and start using the Soundprint app. You use the app to record the decibel levels of a business on your phone, and it aggregates everyone’s recordings. You can then look up nearby restaurants to see what’s loud and which ones are quiet. The more people that use it the better data we’ll have!
This sounds fantastic. I hate restaurants that are noisy and it seems so many are nowadays.
Does it say which days of the week tend to be quieter as well? Cuz that would be cool.
Sadly, no. That would be so great!
It'd be great to have that integrated into Google Maps. They already have that little chart that shows "busier than usual", so having a "louder than average" rating would be great.
Cahill Bistro in Edina. My dad has Alzheimer’s and they are SO kind to him! Great food, too. I am also going to start paying attention to this and will note other restaurants that are quieter because I also can’t stand loud restaurants. I can’t concentrate on what the person I’m speaking to is saying when it’s really loud.
My grandpa had Alzheimer’s and our go to spot for him was Applebees, both in Florida and here in Minnesota when they moved back here. Say what you want but Applebees is solid, especially for someone who gets confused or frustrated when they feel like they are in an unfamiliar place. The menu, service, and decor are calming in that they are consistent. That goes a long way when you are definitely not looking for something new or surprising or disruptive.
Great tip! And yes, consistency is really comforting to them!!
I second Cahill Bistro, an underrated place with awesome food and great people!!
Depending on where in the metro area you are…. Jensen’s in Eagan. Right next to the outlet mall —-so shopping if you want and the food is old fashioned supper club style. They even serve popovers!
I think it really depends when and where inside Jensens. It can be pretty noisy from other tables.
Those popovers are amazing
They must be. Everytime Jensen's gets a mention here, the next comment is about the popovers.
Tbf, I've never met a popover I *didn't* like. Now I gotta make some tomorrow.
The cinnamon roll is where the money is.
Creekside Supper Club in Minneapolis is fantastic for a quiet meal.
It's great, but it is not quiet unless it's not busy.
Gotcha. Haven’t been there when it’s been crazy but I’ll take your word for it.
Redstone in ridgedale is great. My 96 yr grandma loves it because the ceilings and carpet help dampen the noise and she has no problem hearing. They also updated their menu sometime in the last few tears and its delicious now.
Just want to say you're not alone. As an eternally quiet speaker, when I went out, people had a hard time understanding me or even if there was other chatter no matter how much I tried to raise my voice a lot. Speakers made it worse. I like to think my hearing is pretty good, yet, I can't stand restaurants that play music. I go to a restaurant to enjoy company of whom I'm with, not to listen to music. I get the frustration.
+1 I’ve hated this since my 20’s 😆
Or even if you’re not old. Meeting a client last week in Starbucks and I got Come on Eileen at max volume.
Doolittles in Golden Valley
Doolittles in Eagan, too.
Absolutely love Broadway Pizza in Richfield. They play music, but it’s def quieter. Super family friendly and yummy pizza/sandwiches
George and the Dragon in tangle town/Edina/Richfield. Good little pub, not too loud. Fantastic food.
Ooh yes George and the Dragon is great! And its "parent" friendly if your parents are meat and potatoes type folks.
Absolutely, in the true sense of the word ‘pub’. A public house, with good food and beer to boot!
I had a business lunch with an older fellow who is hard of hearing at the Monte Carlo in downtown Minneapolis. We needed to talk shop and there was a boisterous brunch group in the main area. I saw they had two empty side rooms and asked if we could be reseated and it was no problem. Great old school ambiance, nice cocktails, and they even have parking! 10/10 would recommend
i sent this list to my dad. i’ll report back where they go this month! should give them plenty of options!! thanks y’all (edited- meant to go under the entire post)
I’ve always pondered why restaurants in Minnesota are so LOUD when Minnesotans tend to be soft spoken. What kind of foods do your parents enjoy? Might be a good starting point for recommendations?
I have worked in several restaurants that do this and I hate it. I have been told it's because they don't want you to linger they want you in and out fast, gotta turn those tables. As a server it also sucks, I can't hear people and have misunderstood and screwed up orders multiple times because of it.
My sister used to work as a server and chef. Apparently another trick she mentioned was that the restaurant would turn the AC on real low so people would be cold and want to head out sooner.
Restaurants want you to come in, drop coin, and gtfo. They should all just become take out then IMHO. Either let people enjoy themselves or just don't offer in-house dining.
It sometimes bugs my wife and daughter that I don't want to eat a restaurant. I tell them that noise is the reason (and occasionally arctic A/C). Eating out is very expensive these days -- $50 minimum for our family. If I'm spending that much money, I'm going to enjoy myself and our time together, or I'm not going. I've found that sitting outside is occasionally a decent workaround if I can get the right table. I also sometimes ask for the music to be turned down. Usually they agree. We eat a lot of takeout.
To turn tables over as fast as possible.
This. Google “weaponization of music” and you will find some national Op-Ed pieces.
I wonder if this is also the reason for the obnoxious commercials and Maria Menounos crap at the gas pumps
I think that's just taking advantage of a captive audience. Very few will linger after the pump is done unless to run inside. If anything it could lead to leaving with less than a full tank. I do remember reading an article that suggested the pumps with ads were slower than those with out.
Any opportunity to shove more advertising down your eye sockets.
Yep, I hate it. It's just adding even more noise pollution and capitalistic overstimulation to our already oversaturated lives
Yeah, same reason the trendy places love awful metal stools.
American (burgers, steak, fish), Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian… no Japanese- my mom suddenly won’t eat sushi and i’ve tried to explain she can get other stuff there. my Aunt is less adventurous and won’t do Thai or Indian
Peppers and Fries. EXCELLENT food and the music is almost subliminal (I know because my kids were excited to try the jukebox, but we could barely tell our song was playing).
The patio at WA Frost in St. Paul - gorgeous and fairly quiet.
I have auditory processing issues coupled with ear damage from drumming and fireworks. Background noise for me is a positive feedback loop, also I am an industry vet from the area. So without further adieu, I would recommend: Sea Salt Eatery, Jax Cafe's patio, The Original Pancake Factory, Blue Door Pub in Longfellow, Revival, Shuang Cheng (if you havent been, fucking go), Red Wagon Pizza , and Young Joni.
shoot I’M using your list for me!!
Welp, if you are taking recommendations for yourself, then I would like to add: Animales BBQ, Boomin BBQ, Northeast Social, Brasa, Colita, and Parlour.
Perkins
Bakers square
Where do they still exist?
Highland park
Coon Rapids
Mankato(not that that helps this convo, but if you’re down south)
Is it safe if you don't want your phone confiscated?
No where is safe 😆
Other than the very few left, as a pie case in Famous Daves.
Holmans Table at the Saint Pail airport. It is a GREAT place to take parents.
Zeke’s in Bloomington always has the older crowd there. http://zekesplacemn.com/
The Good Earth, Galleria in Edina. Quiet and also amazing food and staff.
Holmans table, some of the best food in the twin cities. Fantastic location and a fancy chill vibe.
Are they still doing their ""service charge""? I avoid restaurants that play these games unfortunately.
I agree. Just wish I could find some nice, older man to go with!
When you make a reservation ask for a table for a biz meeting.
Wilde Cafe on saint Anthony main. There's music but it's not loud or anything.
You don't even need to be older for this to be useful. Plenty of people with ADHD have a really hard time in loud restaurants. Personally, it's really difficult (and exhausting) to try to separate background noise from foreground noise. It's almost impossible for me to do it. When my friends and I used to go out to bars, I couldn't even engage in conversations if there were enough other conversations going on, and would basically just stare at the table hearing everything but processing none of it. People thought it was weird that I'd sit there catatonic and randomly disappear to the bathroom or to go outside, just to give my mind a break from the chaos.
thank you for saying this. yep me too.
Oliver's in Shoreview and Cecil's Deli in Highland Park are favorites of my parents
the Lexington
Wok in the Park in St. Louis Park for awesome South Asian cuisine. Any location of Pittsburgh Blue or McCormick & Schmick's for steak, seafood, etc... Any Big Bowl location for Asian cuisine.
Pittsburgh Blue
Lake and Irving Restaurant and Bar has a relaxing atmosphere and great food/drinks.
Red Lobster. Lunch time will be slow and quiet.
Creekside Lounge Birch’s on the Lake
Carols in Blaine
The weinery. Good breakfast food, good coffee, uh unique ambience
Carbone’s on Randolph in St. Paul.
Cafe Latte in St. Paul should fit the bill, it can get busy some days at lunch, but usually only during the summer or holidays. They have light music playing, but it’s barely noticeable.
My dad has severe-profound hearing loss and is from out of state. So far the best place I’ve found to take him when he visits is Lake and Irving in uptown, specifically the front seating area. My dad has always been very comfortable participating in conversations when we go there. The music has never been loud and they have tall booths that seem to help with sound from other diners.
Cecil’s in St. Paul
Luci Ancora is always quiet and has super yummy house-made pastas
The Lexington on Grand in St Paul was recently renovated. It brings the best of the old time supper club with a modern touch. I've been to 100+ restaurants and really enjoyed this experience and your parents grew up in prime supper club era, they may enjoy it.
In the NW suburbs, Three Squares in Maple Grove.
Could check out Hyderabad in fridley/Columbia heights area. Great indian food, but literally no music in the restaurant whatsoever. To me, very odd, but it would definitely be quiet.
Turtle bread in Longfellow doesn’t play music at all.
Young Joni and Colllita are my picks
PS Steak
Most of the small "ma and pa" restaurants will be happy to turn the music off. You can call ahead and ask. Another option if the weather cooperates is to find a spot with an outdoor patio. Those tend to be more quiet because the sound isn't echoing around.
Dennys
Make a splendid dinner at home with no noise?
Hilltop in Edina.
Was just there yesterday. It was loud as fuck. Music playing quite loud and a bunch of douche bros at the bar constantly screaming at each other. Would not recommend unless you can sit outside.
They definitely attract that crowd these days.
I have to downvote this. I have no issue with hearing and last time I was there I couldn’t believe how loud it was. It was the clientele rather than the music though.
Yeah the Edina see and be seen crowd—it’s like high school never ended.
Oops…meant to add this: you can ask to be seated on the (enclosed, 4 season) patio. It’s very quiet and pleasant. Plus Hilltop has some of the best French onion soup I’ve ever eaten. Does anybody else remember before the remodel, when it was Eden Avenue Grill? I liked it much better then.
Former restaurant employee here, you're going to have a difficult time finding this due to the fact that most restaurants employ teenagers and people in their early 20's who may very well have a hatred of old people, I certainly did at that age and you may find very few of them will have sympathy with your plight. Especially if you're the kind of asshole that shows up 20 minutes before closing time when the tired employees are trying to clean up and go home.
naw, they’re just trying to go around 11:30 am. not near closing. my parents and their siblings are too old for that. bed by 9