To wonder why some restaurants think customers like having to shout over music

[Daisymasie]

Why do restaurants do this. If I go out for a meal with someone it's so that we can sit and chat and relax; not to have our ear drums blasted with loud raucous music that we can't hear over.

AIBU to find this annoying?

YANBU. I would (and have) politely request that they turn the music down a notch. What kind of restaurant? If it's a bar type place then that would be a little more understanding- if not still slightly irritating. But if it's your local Vietnamese i would be really put off.

Yanbu I have teens so we go to frankie and bennnys its a waste of time trying to talk

Last time it happened it was a nice restaurant with lots of middle aged couples etc. However, the staff on duty were all young, I think a lot were students just working part time and they were obviously playing their own choice of music with no interest in the customer's view.. Requests to turn it down were met with the reply that it was actually turned down to the lowest level. This, despite the fact that we couldn't hear each other talking.

How rude. I would have said "SORRY WHAT WAS THAT? I can't hear you!!!" (And made them repeat themselves 50 times until they got the message) hehehehe... But I'm a bit mean like that

I think that you are right about it being down to the staff.

I was in Ask a few weeks ago and they were playing Nina Simone's "Strange Fruit". I couldn't guess which one of the staff chose it though.

Have to agree with you. What it will probably take though, is people actually writing / e-mailing the manager/owner / chain management to say they won't be going back as their experience was ruined by the loud music and the staff seemed incapable of turning it down to a reasonable level.

YABU - If you don't want to eat somewhere that plays music above what you find tolerable then go somewhere else. This creates a variety of places with different atmospheres to eat in rather than them all being the same.

Yanbu - I've asked several times if they'd turn the music down. They look a bit blank at first, but when I repeat myself politely (and louder ) they're happy to do so.

I hate loud music in public places when you have to text each other to have a conversation.

YANBU. I avoid loud 'burger, beer and cocktails' type restaurants, aimed at an age group who seem to like loud, heavy music.

But whenrestaurant staff in a place aimed at a different market just decide to play jarring music at a loud level it seriously annoys me and I always ask for it to be turned down.

I was in the Trafford centre last week and one of the smoothie shops had the music blaring in both there shops! I wanted a smoothie but I didn't want the headache so I moved on

I hate this. I always talk deliberately quietly to be annoying and do the "Sorry, I can't hear you...".