Steve White () on January 17, 2011, at 05:10PM – #1

Haven't been to Mas Malo yet, but the high volume is the ONLY thing I don't like about Bottega Louie. It is often hard to have a conversation in ther restaurant without raising your own voice and contributing to the noise even more.

Honestly, I don't know what they could do to soften it without changing the design and feel of the place, though.

In the end, the EXCEPTIONAL and personal service wins and I'll be a return customer again and again. While it's definitely too loud, it proves that great service and great food can outweigh most negatives in dining.

Dixon on January 17, 2011, at 06:23PM – #2

90 decibles at Mas Malo? 80 decibles is beginning of hearing damage range; earplugs should be worn. 100dB is normal average car or house stereo at maximum volume. Yikes!

Oscar on January 17, 2011, at 07:09PM – #3

I agree, I will never again set foot on Bottega Louie, the cacofony of sound is horrible, all they need is some nice white thick drapes over thir white walls (the drapes could be white) to kill off all that horrible earsore!

on January 17, 2011, at 08:18PM – #4

Yeah, I can't take my dad to either of those places. Is there somewhere I can I take my dad where he can actually hear me talk?

downtown vibe on January 17, 2011, at 10:23PM – #5

Ditto about the noise in Bottega Louie.

We just go for baked goods and keep moving. I think they could definitely use some upholstered panels on the walls. Or.... better yet, maybe they could build a lounge on the same block for the overflow crowd that wants to carry on a conversation.

We do appreciate the owner's investment on 7th street...

Matt Baker on January 18, 2011, at 05:38AM – #6

I love Bottega Louie, but the noise level is so bad I won't eat there round the usual hours, its just too noisy. You can't even communicate with the waiters.

I'm finding literally all of Downtown's restaurants are this way, even the small ones like D-Town Burgers. They either blare music or there is a severe lack of acoustics in every business.

I'm glad to see people out, but it does put a damper when you can't have a conversation.

bill on January 18, 2011, at 06:45AM – #7

I LOVE Botegga Louie but seldom go because of the uncomfortable noise level. If it didn't hurt my ears every time I went in I would be there multiple times a week. Mas Malo is equally guilty. The main difference is that I like the food at Bottega Louie and don't like the food at Mas Malo.

Megan Blaine () on January 18, 2011, at 09:26AM – #8

THANK YOU for pointing this out! Five of my friends and I were at 7Grand a few nights ago, and we walked all the way to Pitfire for a pizza instead of walking across the street to Bottega Louie because it's too loud to have a conversation there. Obviously, the pizza at BL is better than Pitfire, but the fact that we'd all be walking out of there with sore throats from trying to shout kept us away.

Same thing with Mas Malo. My husband and I walked in the first night, and it was so loud he just wanted to leave. So we did. We ate at the Bonaventure instead.

Tracy Fung on January 18, 2011, at 11:27AM – #9

90db!!! That is crazy!! Heavy traffic in Manhattan is around 80-90db. That means you actually suffer less noise pollution by sitting out in the street, than inside these well established restaurants!!

I too love Bottega, but will never go there at peak hours. The last visit we had, was on a monday late night. We stayed till they closed. The day and night difference when there are less people. It goes much better with their smoothing white walls.

on January 18, 2011, at 11:55AM – #10

For me (and I think most), dining = conversation. I understand that "energy and bustle" create a thriving environment. However, when you are sitting next to a person and cannot hear them, and forget about talking to the person across the table - it's not going to be a long lasting favorite place to dine. Most restaurant operators don't want to pay to have their places analyzed for proper acoustics. There is a happy medium, and restauranteers should try to get it right. (btw - there are lots of simple solutions for BL that wouldn't destroy it's fantastic aesthetics).

Downtown Cowboy on January 18, 2011, at 01:41PM – #11

Bottega Louie is only a couple of blocks from where I live and I love it. But I only go when I'm exposing newbies to the downtown scene. It's so unpleasantly noisy there I can't endure it any more. I love everything about them except their insensitivity to the noise problem. I had dinner 3 times at Mas Malo. They've got the same problem.

El Dabe Sherif on January 18, 2011, at 02:47PM – #12

Bottega Louie is great food, but it is too loud to enjoy. For me, I find it to be the loudest restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. I can't even hear the bus as it passes by, or the traffic outside every time the front door opens. I still go because the food is good, the drinks are swell, but I would like it more if they could mute the place a little bit. Note though that my son, from age 2 months to 5 months loved it because it the sound was so relenting and constant, it was like white noise. And if he happened to cry, it would not disturb any of the other patrons because they could not hear him.

• El Dabe -

() on January 18, 2011, at 02:47PM – #13

Come on... America's restaurants in the 60s were boring for not having windows and having people who eat in chicken pot pie in silence. I still see some of this types of restaurants around and I'm so glad that restaurants like Bottega are changing this. The reason of being loud is that these restaurants are big and therefore sit more people but the sound is not just the people but a mixture of kitchen/people/dishes and everything that makes noise in a place with many people. Those who want a quiet dinner can maybe go to quiet restaurants. The world is so structured and it would be a shame to go back to a structured dining experience.

Thomas K Nagano on January 18, 2011, at 04:31PM – #14

Almost every restaurant and lounge is too loud. Bottega Louie and MAS malo add music. Some places seem to think music makes the place seem busy.

I just want to have a conversation and a drink with a friend. No music, no TV, just a quiet place to talk. Any suggestions? - TK

Xavier Grobet on January 18, 2011, at 05:17PM – #15

I love Bottega Louie but I can't stand the noise, they should really do something about it. I would go more often.

Ace Goodman on January 18, 2011, at 11:24PM – #16

Agreed, BL is too loud. Would go more if it wasn't.

Scott M on January 19, 2011, at 11:29AM – #17

This post inspired me to install a sound volume app on my android!

I've always been sensitive to volume levels. Maybe this app will help make my case with facility managers (ie, the Whole Foods in Glendale).

DawnC on January 21, 2011, at 09:03AM – #18

A few months ago we had some friends from the West Side meet us for dinner at Bottega Louie. They couldn't believe how loud it was and said there was no way they could eat there. We ended up going next door to Soy 7 and they were very with that option.

I love Bottega Louie and I don't mind some noise, but it gets to the point of being uncomfortable there. They really need to do something about it. There must be some way to dampen the sound without ruining the design (which I also love).

Oscar on January 24, 2011, at 09:50AM – #19

Wouldn't be fun if the owners/managers actually read these posts? LOL!!!

G G on January 24, 2011, at 05:16PM – #20

Wow, guess I'm in the minority here since the noise doesn't bother me at all. I've only been there twice since it's not that close for me but have loved the place and the food both times. I think the music and "loudness" contributes to the atmosphere.