We Love These Quiet Restaurants

It’s the number one complaint audiologists get from patients: “I have difficulty hearing in restaurants.” The noise management technology in today’s hearing aids can be helpful in many settings, but some restaurants are so noisy that not much can be done to overcome the clamor. 

So, we recommend you combine your hearing aids’ advanced noise management technology with good old common sense – “Avoid noisy restaurants!” This is easier said than done since the restaurant industry has embraced highly reflective surfaces and other strategies to make the restaurant sound “lively.”  

Here are the top twelve quiet(ish) restaurants you told us you love (listed in alphabetical order): 

Bistro Vida (Menlo Park)

Café Pro Bono (Palo Alto)

Flea Street Café (Menlo Park)

Green Elephant (Palo Alto)

Iron Gate (Belmont)

Parkside Grille (Portola Valley)

Petit Bistro (Mountain View)

Pompeii (Los Altos)

Sundance Steakhouse (Palo Alto)

Tai Pan (Palo Alto)

Trellis (Menlo Park)

Urfa Bistro (Los Altos)

Here are our other top tips for reducing the impact of noise when you go out to eat:  

• When possible, sit outside.  

• Choose a corner table away from the kitchen.  

• Choose booth seating if it’s an option.  

• Go a little early before the crowds hit.   

• When making reservations, tell them you have a member in your party with a hearing loss, and you need a quiet table.  

• If you find a table you like in your favorite restaurant, ask for the table number so you can request it in the future.  

• Use wireless microphones to help improve speech understanding in noisy places. (Ask your audiologist about wireless microphones that are compatible with your particular hearing aids.)  

Let us know if you visit any of the above restaurants we've suggested!