I've never been forced to sit at the bar as a single. I've been told I could get served faster by taking a seat at the bar. If "at the bar" means a two top in the "bar" area, I'll take it. I don't like sitting at the actual bar because I find it doesn't have enough room for my Ipad or Chromebook and I'm usually planning on reading while I eat.
I don't have a problem with the restaurant seating groups at the next appropriate sized table - but I do have a problem with situations described up thread where a smaller group was made to wait longer because tables appropriate to them were rearranged for a larger group.
I wish more restaurants took reservations for any sized group. Even if there was a small charge for the service I would prefer it.
Another gripe my family has run into is the "all members of the group must be present" to get on the wait list. They really want 6 kids (9,8,7,5,4,1) to be standing around the waiting area? That blows my mind. Even well behaved they are a pain (coming from someone who adores them) - and people tend to trip over them. But we have been told they won't put us on the list till they can see all of us - and that if any "leave" we will be struck off the list.
It is much better idea for a couple of the parents to take them for a walk or even geocaching if there is one near by until we are called. It isn't going to be a delay. The part of the party there calls us, sits down, orders our drinks and appetizers. We get back go straight to the table, and after the appetizers are served - then we order our entrees. (We never order our main course until the appetizers are served because we hate being rushed) We generally look at the menu before hand and know what we are going to order unless there are daily specials or something.
We have walked out of restaurants because of this policy and gone somewhere else. The servers missed out on a huge tip.
Every adult except me in our group has been a server at one point or another. We tip extremely well. It isn't strange for us to tip 40% or 50% for good service. This is especially true when we have a large group, large number of kids, or are by ourselves. I've actually had 2 different severs chase me into the parking lot with their tip - thinking I left my change. (In one case I screwed up my order because of my dyslexia and they fixed it an insisted on comping the mistake part. I tipped more than 50% that time - and filled out a card saying again it was all my mistake. I didn't want the poor waiter getting into trouble.) Also when I go by myself - I tend to go at off times just because it is more convient for me. That is probably a factor.