You'd Like What With That? Here Are Denver's Noisiest Eateries

DENVER, CO — America's restaurants are looking trendier than ever, with exposed brick, granite countertops, high ceilings and expansive, open dining rooms. But with all of those sound-bouncing features, restaurants are also noisier than ever – and they're getting louder. Denver has its share of noisy restaurants — including one so loud it's nearly the same as standing next to a gas powered lawn mower — according to a new report.

High-decibel dining is especially discouraging for diners with hearing loss. To determine just how noisy and difficult dining out might be, hearing aid manufacturer Oticon sent mystery diners out to five restaurants in Denver to take sound level readings during the Saturday dinner rush.

According to the study, noise levels have become so intractable, that there’s now a term for it. It’s called the "restaurant dilemma" and it refers to the tricky balance restaurants perform in managing noise levels.

Researchers tested decibel levels at 50 restaurants total, across 10 cities nationwide.

Eateries in Denver came in fourth, with an average noise level of 80.32 dB.

Of the five Denver restaurants measured, Acorn, 3350 Brighton Blvd., was found to peak at the noisiest level. Even though the average sound level of decibels was 83.14 dBs, researchers found that at times, noise levels at the popular eatery spiked as high as 1117.5 dBs. That's almost the equivalent of standing next to a blaring ambulance siren that registers at 120 dBs.

Conversely, Root Down, 1600 W 33rd Ave., ranked the average quietest in Denver with an average sound level of 72.48 dBs.

The other restaurants tested for decibel levels were Work and Class, 2500 Larimer St.; Vesta, 1822 Blake St.; and Guard and Grace, 1801 California St. The infographic below shows how each restaurant fared:

THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE ONE'S INSIDE VOICE WHEN DINING. Sorry, it's important to use one's inside voice when dining, just in case a person with sensitive hearing is in our midst. So bon appétit, and shhhhhh!

By Tony Cantu, Patch Staff. Jean Lotus contributed to this article

>>> Top image via Shutterstock, graphics courtesy of Oticon