:mmmm:They purposely designed restaurants that way in order to absorb the Whine

That is correct. There are not enough soft surfaces. In our church up north there were very high ceilings and brick walls. They had some sound absorbing panels built and installed them on the walls and it made a big difference.

Noise!
 

We had dinner at City Fire in Brownwood last Friday and the noise was deafening. The band was just setting up so it can't be blamed on them. The servers had a hard time taking orders without being right next to your face. Won't be going there again.

I am prone to migraines, crowd noises are the worse for me. Plus I one have one ear. I can't hear anything and usually put earplug in. I don't think it is few people just over all crowd noise level.

I have always believed that most restaurants want to be loud. That moves people thru faster. The manager will usually say that corporate wants it loud.

We avoid the country clubs for that reason - very loud. We have good luck at Carrabas and Bonefish - if sitting in a booth, even though there are many people, we can still talk. Our favorite from a noise point of view is Thai Ruby in Sumter Landing. Lots of soft, sound absorbing surfaces. A tranquil dining experience.

Try Turners’s in Leesburg. Quiet and pleasant.

I think Texas Roadhouse is the worse. And it's not really the customers fault, who are only trying to be heard above all the lousy piped in music and the servers screaming happy birthday.