Yup Don. Restaurants are the hardest to play for all the reasons you stated. I did 6 nights a week at one in the 90s for 11 months straight. People coming and going all evening, wanting quiet dining music when they come in, and louder more uptempo dance music after eating...but at the same time new diners come in expecting it to be more relaxed. When the music is in a lounge seperate from the dining room, no problem. But, playing in the dining room, unless it is a private banquet, is not for me.
Eddie