A CD for BLT!
It was a full maritime evening on Manhattan island. After seeing Der Fliegende Hollander -the story of a ghost that roams near the shores of Norway and encounters a fisherman- at the Metropolitan Opera, we had dinner at BLT Fish.
Of course, we were late -we’re French- and we sat down at 11. The upper room was not that full. Patrons looked a bit bored and the speakers were blasting horrible post-disco Eurotrash music, a kind of muzak 2.0 for epileptics. One of my eternal NY restaurant questions came back immediately: “Why? What did we do to deserve such crappy music? Or music at all?” After two uninterrupted hours and a half with Richard Wagner, silence, or even background noise, would have been enjoyable. Is it because we were late? But other customers arrived before us as most of them were eating desserts.
No, it’s just a bad New York habit. In the 2009 edition of the Zagat‘s New York City Restaurants, noise/crowds are customers’ second concern after service and before price. But apparently, no one cares and no owner reads the guide’s foreword.
There is so much loud music in restaurants in the United States that it is very easy to spot Americans in a restaurant when I’m back in France. They speak very loudly, not because they’re rude (even if…), but just because they’ve become deaf. There is another hint to recognize them: American males wear a T-shirt under their shirts. French boys stop when they turn 12.
As it is written in the Ecclesiastes, there is an appointed time for everything. A time to give birth, and a time time to die… And I could add: A time to listen, a time to eat. Were people eating during Wagner’s opera? Fortunately, no one was chewing next to me when Senta, Daland, and the Dutchman were singing.
If the owners really insist on playing music, here are some ideas:
- St Germain, Boulevard: a 2002 lounge classic. So much heard but still efficient;
- Hotel Costes or Café Del Mar (whichever volume): of course, it would be strange to play other restaurants’ music but it would be anyway better than what we had to endure that night;
- Air, Moon Safari: I can’t resist Beth Hirsch’s voice;
- Bill Evans: if you’re a little bit more ambitious. You will have excellent music that won’t bother you if you’re not listening and please you if you pay attention;
- Restaurant managers can be daring -it’s their business, after all- and play whale sounds or the ones of a bubbly aquarium.
- I don’t recommend fisherman’s songs as the ones you can listen (or sing when you’re drunk) at Ty Bedeuf, Brittany’s best bar, on the Groix island. But I could suggest Fisherman’s blues, definitely The Waterboys’ best album. I wish I was a fisherman, Tumblin’ on the seas...
Trust me, the best choice is no music!
