Music in restaurants - good or bad?

There's an interesting piece in the Evening Standard (http://tinyurl.com/837zqwm) about how playing music in a restaurant is a bad idea, because it's either too loud or a poor choice. What does everyone else think?

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I agree that loud music in a restaurant is awful, but some inoffensive background music makes a place feel a bit more comfortable and less formal so I'm all for it. Our local restaurant did have their IPod stuck on Adele's 21 for 6 weeks though which (much as I love the album) was a bit much!

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Easy listening jazz, or "muzak" tends to make me feel as if I'm in a very corporate environment, or the waiting room at the dentist. There's something very discomforting about it. Adele on the other hand I could live with, but no more than two plays...

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Good topic. I agree, I don't like restaurants to be too formal and sterile. I really hate sitting in a place where you can hear a pin drop. You just don't want to start conversation for the risk of someone at the next table over-hearing you. I think that a bit of music helps break things up a bit. Not thinking Megadeath, but something inoffensive and not too loud is OK.

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It's a difficult balance I think. You don't want chart music, anything remotely upbeat, corporate jazz, classical, rock, metal - I'd imagine you're not left with much choice when you filter out that lot, maybe prog rock? :laugh:

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On a serious note though I agree that a restaurant needs music, otherwise it feels like you're sat in someone else's living room eating food with several other people who are just as uncomfortable.

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East Coast gangster rap? At low volume obviously.

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:laugh: :laugh:


"...the P, the I, the D, the DIDDY, the Y..."
Would really sit well with a crab bisque and fennel foam! :tongue2:

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Music has the power to stimulate the mind ,enrich the heart with joy and happiness . Music in restaurant is a good move to get rid of the boring life and have some fun from daily routine as Very few people want to socialize in the silent room .

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Interesting. I had imagined most people would find the idea of music intrusive or distracting during a meal, but I was wrong! I definitely think it's a good idea to play background music on quiet nights, so that you don't feel you have to whisper.

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I went out for dinner last night. Was sat next to a speaker pumping out 80s chart hits. Now I like 80s chart hits as much as the next man but having it playing in your ear whilst you're trying to enjoy a fusion burger just doesn't work.


This tune seemed to be louder than the rest. probably because I was singing along :smug:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKWbMJOIkUk

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