I feel the same way, OP, I like the food, but it is not worth the noise to me. I rarely go to those restaurants.

Chipotle stresses me out. I always feel rushed when ordering and feel as if I have to shout to be heard. Does anyone else feel this way?

Lots of sake OP.

OP... I am the same way. I hate going to restaurants where I have to yell in order for my dh to hear me. I guess I am just getting old.

I hate Vapiano. Too much work, running around , getting your own drinks, etc. I agree about wanting to relax and be served when I go out and pay for a meal!

I'm not a fan of this kind of performance dining but we go occasionally for the in-laws or kids. What bothers me more are restaurants that are super loud, like college bar loud, just from the talking, music or what have you. I can totally see how a Japanese steakhouse could be unnerving for some.

Anonymous wrote:OP are you on the spectrum? Serious question.

You don't have to be "on the spectrum" to think that the purpose of dining is not entertainment, but relaxation and enjoyment of fine food and good company. Which is not Benihana or Japanese Steak House.

I don't think you are weird. Everybody has a dominant sense and sounds like you are an auditorially sensitive person. Some people can't stand to see a cluttered room, etc. Me, certain smells drive me bonkers and I can always smell harsh chemicals when others don't.

OP are you on the spectrum? Serious question.

Well, I've been going to Japanese Steak Houses since I was a kid, when I did love the show. Yes, I understand the "show" is not for everyone. It's great for those who do, but not for those who don't. A suggestion, when the "show" starts, excuse yourself to go to the restroom. Take a little while for yourself and relax and then come back. The beginning is louder than the end with most of the cutting and the flaming oil, etc. Once the food is cut up and cooking, there is slightly less of the banging and clanging.

I hear you, OP. What you're describing in particular has never bothered me, though I have a kid who gets migraines in noisy places so I think about volume levels in public places a lot these days. A lot of restaurants are quite noisy, and I don't find this relaxing, either.

I only go to performance type restaurants with kids. The food isn't good enough to give up things I like about eating out: a nice atmosphere where I can talk to my companions. My five-year-old, though, LOVES Benihana. So we go occasionally as a special treat.

Anonymous wrote:You'd love Thanksgiving at my MILs. No open cooking but she does wield knives

Ok, OP here, and that made me laugh. Ok, so when I am in my own private misery tonight, I will thank my lucky stars that at least it is not my MIL who is doing the banging and clanking and knife-wielding.

You'd love Thanksgiving at my MILs. No open cooking but she does wield knives

My DH, DD, and I are going to this restaurant tonight the likes of which I find totally stressful and unpleasant. I love the food, which is why I am not highlighting the type of food, but I am sure you will guess at the ethnicity of it. But they cook all the food in front of you on a big cooking table and there is lots of clanging and clattering and very loud noises. Most people (I know) seem to love this and think it's a fun and convivial atmosphere. But, I don't know, I just find it soooo loud, it's prohibitive to good conversation, and even beyond that, so loud that it even crosss the line into being stressful, frenetic, and unpleasant, as if I were at a place where they were banging pots and pans in next to my ear (which, if you think about it, is kind of what they are doing). I swear I love going out to all types of places to eat and am generally to a partypooper (but I know this post makes me sound like one) but these types of restaurants are just anathema to me. But, I am sucking it up and going because we have to meet some of DH's family who are in town and they selected the restaurant. I am being the good wife. But, it got me wondering: does no one else feel this way about this type of restaurant??? And again, it's not the food, or the ethnicity itself, it's the volume (and the pitch) of the noise in the restaurants themselves! Don't we normally try to reduce the pitch and volume of sound in restaurants?!? It's so weird to me. Ok, well, thanks for listening. I guess I do sound like a big grump. But I cannot stand the noise volume at these restaurants!!!!!