We had a very similar situation! I don't think either of those layouts will look right. It's hard to see the space, but I would either put in two matching pendants, one at each end of the table, or do one pendant and wall lights to make sure there's enough light.

It's very tricky to visualise isn't it.  We've been laying out our cardboard cut outs of the table and island this evening to see where a pendants would need to be.  I can see how wall lights might have worked but we are having a wall mounted TV and gallery wall there so I don't think wall lights will work for us this time.

Insist on the spotlights being on a dimmer and it resolved the problem…… however spotlights are good for task
Lighting- if that area is for a sofa you light never use the spotlights and enjoy the more comfortable light from table lights instead.

You are quite right, stick to your guns, ideally the spots and pendant should be switched independently so you don’t have to have an all or nothing lighting set up. Insist on dimmers for the spots. Don’t listen to sparky he probably just wants to get it done so get hubby inside make a firm decision and tell the electrician to implement it, he should listen as ultimately you are paying him! As it is first fix you can have exactly what you want! Good luck

Thank you.  All our lights are already planned on spots and actually the rest of that space is just a sideboard and the walkway through double doors to the room next door (which is why I didn't even think the spots were needed at all).  Anyway, we have settled on the 3 in and L and the pendant over the table, on separate switches.  I'll take that as a win.  I lost a different argument and we are having 2 extra spots put in, I'm not thrilled but gotta give husband something...... I'm pretty much getting what I desire in terms of styling lol