So that is why they do that! Jon had said maybe it was to keep people from over hearing your conversations and I said that makes no sense because you talk louder to try and be heard over the music.
I hope the little restaurant makes it but the music and the seating will keep us from going back. A friend of Jon's took us to Texas Roadhouse a few weeks back and they to were blasting a local coutry music station super loud. Since Jon does everything by sound restaurants like that drive him up the wall.

If a restaurant has loud music - I don't eat there - I walk right out. I can't stand walking into a place to eat and the music is blaring. If they are doing it for table turnover - they should think twice - it drives customers away as well.

Just an "oven-less casserole" -

OldFashionedHomeCooking: How to cheat and still make a good meal -

Do ya'll ever listen to "The Splendid Table" on Sunday NPR? It's a fantastic food/cooking radio show carried coast-to-coast on NPR stations. I just love this program- always learn lots! From recipes and food science, to careers of famous chefs and down-home cooks' wisdom.

A couple weeks back they were interviewing a cultural anthropologist who offered many interesting food/restaurant observations.

Among them were these: Showing split-second subliminal messages of "Golden Arches" and fast-food sandwich cartons to people caused them to walk faster, speak faster and spend money more freely without thinking.

On the flip-side, showing them subliminal messages of a casual or fancy, sit-down restaurant w/ menus resulted in people slowing down, blood-pressure lowering, and (this is interesting!) making them behave more politely!

(Also- showing subliminal messages of a library- and of a baby sleeping made folks lower their voices to a WHISPER. Kinda interesting, huh?)

I'd love to hear these - I've got to seee if we have sucha station here......