Restaurant Noise a Nuisance, Hotel Charges

A resort hotel that charges up to $2,000 for a suite has had to shuffle guests to other rooms in the middle of the night because of live jazz and partying at the open-air restaurant next door, according to a complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court.

Four Seasons Hotel on Newport Center Drive alleges in its complaint that the noise has become intolerable from the Twin Palms, a restaurant under a circus-like canvas tent, which is owned by Cindy Costner, actor Kevin Costner’s former wife. The restaurant is open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and has a live band and dancing.

The complaint asks the court to issue an injunction prohibiting excessive noise, especially late at night, and asks for repayment for the times the hotel has had to give unhappy guests complimentary rooms or discounts.

Twin Palms opened in Newport Beach in November 1995, a little more than a year after its successful prototype in Pasadena opened. At capacity, the restaurant fits more than 500 under its beige- and rust-colored tent.

In the complaint, the hotel maintains that more than 175 guests have complained about the noise, particularly on nights when Twin Palms is open until 2 a.m.

Because of the noise, “many of the complaining guests had to be moved in the middle of the night to other rooms on the opposite side of the hotel,” according to the complaint.

Part of the problem, according to the document, is that the restaurant walls are canvas.

But Dennis Constanzo, president of Twin Palms, said the restaurant bought a lead curtain to place over the tent canopy for noise insulation, and that he hopes to have it installed by April 26.

He also said the restaurant is in compliance with noise ordinances and their lease requirements.

“Frankly we are a little disappointed,” Constanzo said. “It is very important to me that we continue to be good corporate citizens with our neighbors and the community at large. It would be ridiculous for us to behave in any other way.”

Officials of Four Seasons could not be reached for comment.