My husband and I really enjoy the Biergarten. It's one place we don't get tired of. Yeah, the communal seating can be daunting but I can tell that in all the times we've been there, we've only had 1/2 of a bad experience with the other people at our table. We try and sit across from each other and never had a problem talking that way or, of course, next to each other is fine too but then we're staring into someone else's face for the dinner!
The 1/2 bad experience is really a great story. We were seated with two older ladies (older than us) who were seated across from each other. A couple who were walkups and decided to eat there after being shown the inside were seated across from each other next to the ladies. We took the next two across from each other seats.
The other couple said absolutely NOTHING. Not to each other, not to any of us. I can't even remember if they ordered drinks. They got up for the food, ate one plate and without a word to each other or to anyone, got up and left. We thought they were going for another plate but they never came back!!!!
Meanwhile, a single diner was seated next to me. Once we all determined that the other couple were totally gone (you could cut the tension in the air between them with a knife), my husband and I slid down to where the two ladies were and we all opened up and started talking. Turns out the single guy was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany so he and my husband gabbed all during dinner. The two ladies were from Philadelphia (I grew up near there) so I talked with them the entire time. We had so much fun, we all forgot Illuminations was coming up!
As far as loudness goes, yeah, the band is loud but, well, they are a band. ESPN Club is about at the same level.
Give it a try. How are YOU going to know if YOU like it if YOU don't go?