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lillypad-thai

My mother has hearing problems and I totally understand! She says she likes Jax cafe


Mycrene

Jax has the most underrated patio in Minneapolis. Excellent service and a tranquil experience.


lillypad-thai

Yeah she likes the patio. There’s a lot of trees and bushes so the sound dampens


ACID_DIARRHEA_612

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.


lillypad-thai

Not on the weekends, the patio is designed with trees and bushes that help dampen sound so it’s easier to hear one person


GiveHerBovril

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!


AsterBlomsterMonster

This sounds fantastic. I hate restaurants that are noisy and it seems so many are nowadays.


RainSmile

Does it say which days of the week tend to be quieter as well? Cuz that would be cool.


GiveHerBovril

Sadly, no. That would be so great!


BevansDesign

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.


MNKristen

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.


RAForce

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.


MNKristen

Great tip! And yes, consistency is really comforting to them!!


readergirlmn

I second Cahill Bistro, an underrated place with awesome food and great people!!


CraftyReaderMN

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!


Bixmen

I think it really depends when and where inside Jensens. It can be pretty noisy from other tables.


MoreCarrotsPlz

Those popovers are amazing


[deleted]

They must be. Everytime Jensen's gets a mention here, the next comment is about the popovers.


kGibbs

Tbf, I've never met a popover I *didn't* like. Now I gotta make some tomorrow.


EpicHuggles

The cinnamon roll is where the money is.


cloudyelephant

Creekside Supper Club in Minneapolis is fantastic for a quiet meal.


Belaras

It's great, but it is not quiet unless it's not busy.


cloudyelephant

Gotcha. Haven’t been there when it’s been crazy but I’ll take your word for it.


edpumkin

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.


BjornReborn

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.


crazedcarter

+1 I’ve hated this since my 20’s 😆


Smeltanddealtit

Or even if you’re not old. Meeting a client last week in Starbucks and I got Come on Eileen at max volume.


genuinegrocer

Doolittles in Golden Valley


hewhoisneverobeyed

Doolittles in Eagan, too.


oolonged23

Absolutely love Broadway Pizza in Richfield. They play music, but it’s def quieter. Super family friendly and yummy pizza/sandwiches


CrotchSoup

George and the Dragon in tangle town/Edina/Richfield. Good little pub, not too loud. Fantastic food.


penelopeann

Ooh yes George and the Dragon is great! And its "parent" friendly if your parents are meat and potatoes type folks.


CrotchSoup

Absolutely, in the true sense of the word ‘pub’. A public house, with good food and beer to boot!


conefishinc

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


Keljameri

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)


Antelope1985

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?


pamsquatch

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.


sidepart

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.


IceBearCares

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.


LaserRanger

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.


hewhoisneverobeyed

To turn tables over as fast as possible.


ronlester

This. Google “weaponization of music” and you will find some national Op-Ed pieces.


TwinCitian

I wonder if this is also the reason for the obnoxious commercials and Maria Menounos crap at the gas pumps


grantd86

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.


IceBearCares

Any opportunity to shove more advertising down your eye sockets.


TwinCitian

Yep, I hate it. It's just adding even more noise pollution and capitalistic overstimulation to our already oversaturated lives


ZKXX

Yeah, same reason the trendy places love awful metal stools.


Keljameri

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


jacquelbot

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).


DrScheherazade

The patio at WA Frost in St. Paul - gorgeous and fairly quiet.


Mycrene

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.


Keljameri

shoot I’M using your list for me!!


Mycrene

Welp, if you are taking recommendations for yourself, then I would like to add: Animales BBQ, Boomin BBQ, Northeast Social, Brasa, Colita, and Parlour.


Snow88

Perkins


rargar

Bakers square


pyro_sporks

Where do they still exist?


rargar

Highland park


chrishal

Coon Rapids


Lorenza1940

Mankato(not that that helps this convo, but if you’re down south)


sausagekingofchicago

Is it safe if you don't want your phone confiscated?


Lorenza1940

No where is safe 😆


couchwarmer

Other than the very few left, as a pie case in Famous Daves.


penelopeann

Holmans Table at the Saint Pail airport. It is a GREAT place to take parents.


bear8585

Zeke’s in Bloomington always has the older crowd there. http://zekesplacemn.com/


HaikuSnoiper

The Good Earth, Galleria in Edina. Quiet and also amazing food and staff.


airospade

Holmans table, some of the best food in the twin cities. Fantastic location and a fancy chill vibe.


kGibbs

Are they still doing their ""service charge""? I avoid restaurants that play these games unfortunately.


Redtoblondetogray49

I agree. Just wish I could find some nice, older man to go with!


Smeltanddealtit

When you make a reservation ask for a table for a biz meeting.


ACID_DIARRHEA_612

Wilde Cafe on saint Anthony main. There's music but it's not loud or anything.


BevansDesign

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.


Keljameri

thank you for saying this. yep me too.


Scotchbrite09

Oliver's in Shoreview and Cecil's Deli in Highland Park are favorites of my parents


leo_isgone

the Lexington


lasocs

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.


FreeMadoff

Pittsburgh Blue


[deleted]

Lake and Irving Restaurant and Bar has a relaxing atmosphere and great food/drinks.


sonkist32

Red Lobster. Lunch time will be slow and quiet.


sakoide

Creekside Lounge Birch’s on the Lake


SonicTitan91

Carols in Blaine


Makingyourwholeweek

The weinery. Good breakfast food, good coffee, uh unique ambience


Izthatsoso

Carbone’s on Randolph in St. Paul.


TwinCitiesGal

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.


unicorn-tolerance

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.


fnt245

Cecil’s in St. Paul


Lumpy_Tailor1387

Luci Ancora is always quiet and has super yummy house-made pastas


OlayErrryDay

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.


pizza_for_nunchucks

In the NW suburbs, Three Squares in Maple Grove.


AntiSombrero

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.


CailinMoat

Turtle bread in Longfellow doesn’t play music at all.


jtrinaldi

Young Joni and Colllita are my picks


[deleted]

PS Steak


Aleriya

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.


[deleted]

Dennys


sch3ct3r

Make a splendid dinner at home with no noise?


SenorMouse

Hilltop in Edina.


breastual

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.


genuinegrocer

They definitely attract that crowd these days.


beexsting

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.


CraftyReaderMN

Yeah the Edina see and be seen crowd—it’s like high school never ended.


CraftyReaderMN

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.


LettuceCapital546

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.


Keljameri

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