We’ve all had the unfortunate experience of having to shout over a blaring club track during an otherwise intimate dinner. Conversely, a too-mellow soundtrack can bring down the energy of a supposedly festive group meal. In short: when it comes to music choices in a restaurant, context is key. Skip the Muzak and check out these eateries where you can usually count on the tunes to pair well with the food and scene. And be sure to let us know your pet peeves about restaurant soundtracks in the comments.

M.Y. China

Martin Yan recruited the sensory branding firm Prescriptive Music to curate a playlist especially for his grand restaurant at Westfield San Francisco Centre. Patrons now devour dim sum, hand-pulled noodles and giant crustaceans to a wide range of music from Asian artists like the Shanghai Restoration Project, Yantra Mantra and Blue Asia. At any given time, the soundtrack might be traditional Chinese lounge music or the latest electronic music from the continent.

845 Market St., San Francisco; 415-580-3001

ZAGAT Article Excerpt by Tamara Palmer