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August 22, 2007

Noisy restaurants, we can hear you

Sound_meter

This morning, I'm picking up my new restaurant companion: A digital-display sound-level meter. It measures decibels, or noise levels. And, as Ms. Virbilia pointed out in the LA Times' Daily Dish last week, restaurants have a lot of them.

But just how much? As much as a vacuum cleaner (about 70 dBs)? A chainsaw (110 dBs)? Does anyone approach the threshold of pain (140 dBs and up)?

Don't know. Can't wait to find out.

Noise2

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Comments

If you walk down Main Street in SM on a Friday or Saturday night, you'll find at least three places that will make that little device run screaming, and as an added bonus they all start with the same letter: Lula, Library Alehouse, and La Vecchia.

Finally! Someone in LA has stumbled upon this measurement to go along with a restaurant review. SF Chron has had their bells (to note the noise level) for years, and its really helpful in deciding whether a location is appropriate for a calm dinner with your parents or a rowdier night out with friends.

Looking forward to getting this integrated into every review!!!

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ABOUT DANA HARRIS
I'm the editor of Variety.com. I think soggy Caesars are a restaurant’s death rattle.

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