Any answer will suffice, unfortunately, I fear that no concrete answer exists. Go out for dinner, enjoy your company and your meal, and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Next Post I own a small family restaurant in Stevensville, Montana. When I owned The Iron Horse Restaurant on San Francisco's famed Maiden Lane Al Davis who owns The Oakland Raiders used to have a phone on his table. Of course he dialed anywhere in the world on my tab, but it made him feel important.
Cell phones are OK in their place.
I'd be against banning them. The only difference between a cell phone conversation and a person to person conversation in a restaurant is with the cell phone user you only hear half the conversation. When I dine out I don't pay attention to other diners whether they're having a conversation with their dinner companions or on a cell phone. Of course you have some people who are loud no matter what. Mutter under your breath about some people's rudeness and get on with your life.