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Friday’s pop quiz question: what do the four-star chefs walk on?

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Answer: Carpet.

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Why is that of interest? Let me explain.

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During my dinner at Le Cirque 3.0, I was contemplating the décor, specifically the deep red carpet patterned with golden leaves. It’s hard to miss. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw a new restaurant that had carpeting. Concrete, hardwood, and tiles seem to be á la mode as the floor covering of choice.  Perhaps because they’re aesthetically pleasing and more practical. Carpeting after all must be replaced regularly.

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Many Gotham eateries are criticized for the noise levels in the dining rooms. Acoustics 101 says those designer floors are hard surfaces, and thus reflect sound. Carpeting is soft, and so absorbs sound. Which is probably why all the four-star restaurants have carpeting in the dining rooms. (Except for Masa, which has a wooden floor, but it’s so small, as to never be noisy.) Think about all the luxurious dining experiences you’ve had, in the quiet temples of gastronomy, and I’d bet they all have carpeting.