Noisy restaurants: Everyone having a good time or just being very loud?

People talking, music playing, kitchen humming... Should restaurants put a cap on volume levels for diners who want to eat in peace, or just let people enjoy their food?  

It's so common now that we've grown to accept the noise levels at restaurants and the kopitiam as part of our dining experience. Chinese restaurants, in particular, seem to be getting louder and louder. Can we have a conversation without having to talk at the top of our voices? Can we chat quietly? Not while eating out in Malaysia.