When diners want a meal with a side of conversation
The snugs at Bog and Barley in East Memphis separates its patrons from the rest of the dining room Sept. 8, 2026. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
A delicious meal can still leave a bad taste in your mouth if you can’t converse with your dining companions.
Restaurant design trends such as open kitchens, hard-surface flooring like concrete or tile, open ceilings and metal furniture can all contribute to restaurant dining rooms being especially noisy.
“Operating a restaurant is really hard,” said Tawanda Pirtle, who owns the restaurant chain Jack Pirtle’s Chicken with her husband, Cordell, who is hearing impaired. “Everyone is trying to fit as many tables in a space as they can to make money. Unfortunately, it makes a restaurant noisier.”
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Jennifer Chandler
A cookbook author and former restaurateur, Jennifer Chandler has been writing about food and dining for more than 25 years.
She is the author of four cookbooks: “The Southern Pantry Cookbook,” “Simply Salads,” “Simply Suppers,” and “Simply Grilling.” While she boasts a degree from Le Cordon Bleu, this Memphis native is about making real food accessible for real families.
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