Steve IS class ...

I recall it as Frank's Chicken House...thought it was in plainfield?

I don't know about that, things changed from the 1970s.....
there was also the same kind of place in Linden
called the "Lindeneer" Rt1 near the GM plant

Thank you brother Tony!!
‘
Thank you John C!!

What's worse is having to look across the round bar and see a bunch of other guys looking toward you licking their fingers .... [/quote]

Last night, two couples came in. They had choice of table either in the middle of the room, the back of the room or the closest one to me, about six feet. They chose the close one.
I was in the middle of a song when they sat down, and one of the ladies immediately asked the waiter to tell me to turn down.
My normal procedure is to smile, reduce the volume a little, and gradually ease it back up. I know for certain it wasn't too loud because I'm sitting directly in front of the two speakers, with them angled toward my old grey head.
So that's what I did. I finished the song at the reduced volume, then started the next one and turned it back to exactly where it was when they came in. They never said another word and were enthusiastic in their response to the music. Left me a very nice tip about two hours later.
Go figure...you just have to play the game sometimes.

Kenny Rogers said it best "If you're gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right." You played it right, great job.

Don its pretty much the same scenario as when you are listening to music in your car.....get home shut off the car at tonight ....next morning get in the car start it up and the music is blasting......BUT last night it was fine......it's all how your ears adjust to the volume....just like the couple in from of you at the table ... after a few songs your ears adjust and mentally they think you lowered it for them as when they first walk in it seemed loud .....same thing with air condition when you come in from a hot outside environment into a colder room....very annoying but a professional knows how to handle the situation.