Would you mind offering up a few of your favorites? I'm always looking for quiet places to eat in the city, particularly around the village.
I agree there are many loud restaurants in Manhattan, but that is mostly a factor of the bar and/or a large space (e.g., Buddakan). Look for places not trying to attract attention (a full curtain on the window, rather than trying to advertise their popularity / bar scene).
My main point was probably that Manhattan != NYC. :)