Do you keep a list of the quieter restaurants in St. Louis? —Susan A., St. Louis
The most common complaint I hear about restaurants is not about the food or service (though price has recently crept into the discussion) but the decibel level. “The place is too loud” has soured many an otherwise glowing restaurant review. I get it, and I agree.
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The place I recommend to most people most often, Louie, is often “too loud,” some might say. (So go early, I tell them.) Even action-seeking diners sometimes admit wanting their evening meal served with a double order of quiet.
Ambient noise has become a hot button with restaurant customers both young and old. You’d think that restaurant designers and architects would take that into consideration, but few do because restaurant owners either want to create an especially vibrant space or the budget doesn’t allow for expensive sound-dampening. (Alas, it’s often the first line item to get the ax.)
That said, here are a few general suggestions:
- Dine early
- Dine early in the week, when crowds are smaller
- Seek out perimeter tables and/or round tables
- Consider smaller side rooms
- Seek out rooms with abundant between tables
- Dine outdoors
With that, I can recommend the following somewhat quiet restaurants in St. Louis (and one could add coffee shops and many of the city’s international restaurants). The list is by no means exhaustive—and I’m happy to add to it, so feel free to share your favorite low-decibel hangout via email—because there aren’t enough quiet restaurants, and all of us will benefit. I said, BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ENOUGH QUIET RESTAURANTS, AND ALL OF US WILL BENEFIT.
Expensive
- The high-end steakhouses (801 Chophouse, The Tenderloin Room, The Capital Grille, certain areas of Ruth’s Chris, Fleming’s, J. Gilbert’s)
- The Kings of the Hill (Dominic’s, Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill)
- The downtown Claytonites (801 Fish, The Crossing, Il Palato, Oceano Bistro)
- The SSC’s (Sidney Street Café and Stone Soup Cottage)
- akar
- Annie Gunn’s (the private “snugs”)
- August The Mansion
- BC’s Kitchen
- Bistro La Floraison
- Edera
- Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar
- Herbie’s
- Il Bel Lago
- iNDO
- Lombardo’s
- Madrina (back room)
- Napoli Sea
- Nobu’s
- Pan D’Olive (in one of the booths)
- Paul Manno’s
- Peppe’s Apt. 2 (small private rooms upstairs)
- The Bellwether
- The Preston
- Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay
- Sidney Street Cafe
- Tenderloin Room
- Tony’s
- Truffles
- Vicia
Moderately Priced
- Aperi
- Bacaro
- Baileys’ Chocolate Bar
- Bar Moro
- Big Sky Café
- Black Mountain Wine House
- Bowood by Niche
- Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
- Cafe la Vie
- Café Provencal
- Dominic’s Trattoria
- Dressel’s Pub
- El Milagro Azteca (third room)
- Eleven Eleven Mississippi (upper level)
- Little Fox
- Neon Greens
- O’Connell’s Pub
- One 19 North (upper level, in back)
- Robust (side room)
- Sanctuaria
- Sapore Italian Café
- Sunset 44
- The Key Bistro
- Winslow’s Table
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