How to Control Noise in a Restaurant

Making a customer happy is the key to restaurant success, where customers choose to return to your establishment. Statistically, noise is the second most common complaint that a restaurant will receive.

Noise is a serious consideration among patrons and food critics as some restaurants are so loud that you won’t be able to hear the person sitting right next to you.

You can and should be working on ways to reduce restaurant noises. How?

1. Place machinery and equipment as far away from guests as possible. Also consider searching for equipment or accessories that have sound enclosures.
2. Place carpets in a high traffic areas especially near the kitchen, restrooms, bar, waiting area. You can also install carpeting under seats to help dampen some of the noise. Noise reduction pads may be placed under the carpeting as a way to stop creaks in hardwood flooring.
3. Add curtains or valances to windows. Glass will reflect sound, and this can make it noisiest where your guests are sitting to enjoy their meals.
4. Put tablecloths on each table. Tablecloths will also reduce noise from dishes and glassware clanking on the table. Ambient noise is also reduced thanks to tablecloths.
5. Install wall panels. Acoustic solutions for restaurants may include compressed mineral wood or foam. In enclosed areas, these wall panels are able to limit reverberation and also help with clarifying speech in the area.
6. Soft ceiling will help reduce noise drastically, and while this may be a more expensive option than some of the other options on our list, soft ceilings are a great overall noise reducer in a restaurant.
7. Install a sound system. Properly placed speakers with the right volume levels will help customers relax while also canceling out some of the other noise in a restaurant.
8. Place rubber caps on chair legs.
9. Adjust the kitchen:

• Add ceiling tiles to help absorb noise
• Place sound-absorbing foam under tables
• Install soundproof doors that separate the sounds of the kitchen with the rest of the restaurant

You can consult acoustic engineers to learn how to properly reduce noise in a restaurant. These professionals will have access to restaurant materials and soundproofing options that owners often don’t know exist.

Additional options may be possible, such as curved booths, that may help break up the sound waves. Varying the heights of these booths may also help dampen the noise along with acoustic fiber, which can be sprayed on to walls to act as impact noise reducers.

Source: https://mcdonaldpaper.com/blog/how-to-reduce-noise-in-your-restaurant