DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood

What’s with all the “too loud” comments? How old are you? This is a city – downtown in a city in fact – some of us under 80 set would call it “energy” – having eaten at both places many times (along with many other people judging from the crowds that are usually at both – hence the engergy (or as you say, loudness) and I’ve never found it overwhelming noise wise (not exactly a Rock n Roll Hotel rock concerte or anything). Anyway – there’s always the Quill, Grandma’s house, and a Church – or the suburbs – if you like it low energy – I mean, quiet.

I have eaten at America Eats Tavern, always on the second floor, and never found it too loud for normal dinner conversation — and I have somewhat of a hearing problem. I will add that the last two dinners were fabulous so I am returning later this week before seeing The Liar at Shakespeare’s Lansburgh Theatre.

at America Eats, we didn’t find the sound level overwhelming but it was louder than quieter – no shouting was required. at Graffiato, we did find that having to shout at each other got tiring towards the end of the meal. this matches the reported 99 dB at Graffiato by Sietsema. no, we don’t need hearing aids or take Social Security. the food is good at both places.

there are plenty of loud places in DC. there are plenty of quiet places in DC. Sietsema’s introduction of the decibel meter in his reviews warns people ahead of time so that they can find the right level of sound for them.

@Mike: I like to be able to hear what my dining companions are saying. At some of the “energetic” restaurants, that’s a real challenge. I guess your dining companions must be less interesting than mine.

Oh, good, a “move to the suburbs” comment. It had been a while. Mike, you must be new around here and missed the discussions over the installation of the noisy, bright Times-Square-esque electronic billboards at 7th and H and the bucket drummers. Each time someone would complain about being unable to sleep b/c of the light streaming in to their apartments 24-7 or various deafening noises, someone would inevitably say, “Move to the suburbs if you don’t like noise and light” to the point where moderators had to tell people to stop making such comments b/c they weren’t adding anything useful. So thanks, Mike, for that blast from the past. Nostalgia!