I always wore 2.5 inch or 3 inch heels when dancing in restaurants. It looks more classy and I think people eating don't want to see bare feet, even very well pedicured ones. Those hermes dance sandals would be a good alternative I think, if you don't like high heels. It's not just the asthetics, though. Often the middle-eastern or greek places fire the Saganaki at the tables and the oil from that makes the carpet quite grimey. I've seen dancers at a hafla who did dance barefoot at a greek place come off the floor with completely black soles of their feet. (This place had dark green carpet and I guess years of oil from the cheese spattering on it!!! ) Another year at the same restaurant - different hafla, the owner of the restaurant got in the spirit and started breaking plates on the floor - which meant if you didn't have shoes, you didn't dance after that!
Now Saidi or Egyptian folkloric dances can have bare feet on stage, but I think I'd still wear shoes in a restaurant because of the above.
I am considering now getting a pair of ballroom dance shoes. I think the platforms don't work well with dance - way too stiff and way too high, so it makes it impossible to rise further up on your toes. Shoes with a more flexible bottom in the toe-arch area are better for me.