A little peace at restaurants, please?

Why is it that the dining rooms at so many of today's restaurants, including the finer ones, are acoustically designed to sound like Grand Central Station? To have a conversation with your fellow diners you almost have to shout.

Perhaps this is a minority opinion, but I don't find a noisy environment, brimming with commotion, to be a pleasant dining atmosphere. It wouldn't seem that difficult to create a relaxed, intimate setting, even in a large dining room. All that is needed are the right acoustics, lower volume on the background music (a softer style of music would help, too), and a reasonable amount of space between tables. Is that too much to ask for a $40- to $60-per-person average bill?

Oh, and by the way, while I'm venting about restaurants, how about trimming the portions just a little? The establishment could improve its margins, there'd be less waste, less obesity, and I might even have room for dessert, which would further enhance the restaurant's bottom line. Am I nuts or what?

Bob Dohn

Schaumburg