May I have a different table, please?

[Bijou]

There is a restaurant near us that has great food, but has a bunch of two seater tables with only about a foot in between them, which is awkard because the people next to you can hear everything, and vice versa.  I hate sitting at those little tables, so we try not to go on Fridays or Saturdays when the restaurant is most crowded.  I also don't like when the tables are so close that the waiters or waitresses have to squeeze through and I feel like I'm constantly ducking or moving out of the way.

I agree!  I like some privacy and I don't like being grazed by someone's tail end as they squeeze by. 

[Bijou]

I remember an Encyclopedia Brown mystery where it was solved by his side-kick Sally because of a similar question. 
A man was disguised as a woman and they had to find which one in a restaurant.  Turns out, a woman in supposed to see and be seen, and thus be facing the front.  The man is "the protector" and will be closer to doors.  The "woman" was seated in a man's position. 
I know, it never made sense to me either, because I could think of so many arrangements!  But Sally solved it because she knew manners and Encyclopedia Brown did not. 
I like to sit with my back to the wall if possible, and not be "trapped." But I will sit just about anywhere if the food is good and the price right! 

Ah ha.  Maybe there is an ancient reason for my preferences, after all!

[Scritzy]

My favorite restaurant seating: As far away from the smoking section or screaming kids as is humanly possible.

(The smoking section thing has become a moot point within the city limits as of January 1, since the city went smoke-free in public places.)

That said, I don't care for booths with the seats so low that I feel the need to ask for a booster seat …

[madmusician]

We went to a very upsale restaurant once for our anniversary, and they put us in this tiny alcove with a two-seater table with a little railing separating us from a table that was about six inches below us but definitely RIGHT next to us. Plus the seats had arms, so there was only about 4 inches between the arms of the chairs (when scooted ALL THE WAY BACK) and the tabel so it was nearly impossible to get in/out. I hate being squeezed like that. I definitely prefer booths

[dawbs]

My favorite restaurant seating: As far away from the smoking section or screaming kids as is humanly possible.

I have gotten very hostile with that one recently.  Seating me 2 feet from someone smoking isn't the non-smoking section.  (I only ate at the restaurant because visiting SIL loves it...I won't go there normally because they always want to seat me 2 feet from the bar and call it non smoking)

"no, this table won't do, I actually don't want there to be smoke in the non-smoking table I requested"

(only once did I probably get rude about it...and I was recovering from illnesses that made me overly susceptible to athsma attacks and the waitress gave me attitude...I don't condone my small fit, but I don't wholly condemn it recently)

[Venus193]

How about lighting?  The other night we were in a place too dark to be able to read the menu, which wasn't printed on white, either.

[Scritzy]

At Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach, there are "non-smoking" tables right next to the bar, so close that they look as if they are part of the bar itself. The last time Chip and I were there, the hostess tried to seat us at one of those tables, and I said, "We asked to be seated in the non-smoking section." She said, "This is non-smoking." I answered, "But there are people smoking at the bar six feet away, and there is too much smoke here. I need to be farther away from the bar, please." She was really hissed off, I could tell from the way she went stomping off to the guy at the front desk. I don't know if he was the manager, assistant manager, or what, but he must have had some clout because she came back very apologetically and seated us at a table on the opposite side of the restaurant.

[Scritzy]

How about lighting?  The other night we were in a place too dark to be able to read the menu, which wasn't printed on white, either.

Chip and I went to a new restaurant in town that was really bizarre. The lights were so low that even with my reading glasses I couldn't read the menu. I had to hold it so close to the candle I thought it was going to catch fire. The only part of the restaurant that was well lit was the sushi bar. Even though the food was good, Chip and I decided we would not go back. The entire atmosphere was strange, really — kind of like a cross between a disco and a set for Blade Runner.

[Barghest1031]

I personally prefer booths since I don’t like being surrounded by others like most tables are. I like having my back to something and being able to watch everybody else. Makes me feel more comfortable. A couple times I’ve felt rather awkward because, well, I’m not a child person. At all. I’m really not even comfortable around well behaved ones, and once I was in the uncomfortable situation of being barely a body’s width away from one (who was remarkably well behaved, I have to admit) in the booth/table combo seating area at a nearby restaurant. (I’m not sure if anybody else knows what kind of seating I’m talking about, but I mean like the ones where it’s one long booth seating, tables set along it, and chairs on the other side of the tables.) Thankfully my mom realized my discomfort and politely went over to the hostess and explained. They moved us to another table, but I’m sure they thought I was crazy just for that.

[MissBrit]

I think the worst seating is when the tables are so close that you practically have a table of eight on top of you. I once had this situation with a friend of mine and we had to literally yell at eachother to have a conversation. It is especially bad when you are with people who don't hear that well like my father, uncle, and granfather.

[Gigi]

We recently went to a new place with some friends.  We made a reservation in advance.  This place serves a varied menu including some seafood.  I am violently allergic to seafood and even the smell of it cooking will make my throat start to swell up.

Naturally, they showed us to a booth right near the kitchen doors.  I could smell the seafood from there so I quietly and politely explained to the hostess that I would not be able to sit there and requested a table as far away from the kitchen as possible.

We got the eye roll but she did turn around and lead us to a table on the patio.  I think she thought she was putting us in Siberia, but we loved being outdoors where we could enjoy our meal and avoid a trip to the ER.

[MrsP81]

We usually wait so long for a table that I will sit wherever they have one available!

[fklwmn]

I don't LIKE to be in the middle of the room, but I'll tolerate it. I DO have to sit facing the room, though. The Marine has the same preference so we often wind up sitting beside each other on the same side of the table, even though we aren't dining with anyone else.

[fklwmn]

We recently went to a new place with some friends.  We made a reservation in advance.  This place serves a varied menu including some seafood.  I am violently allergic to seafood and even the smell of it cooking will make my throat start to swell up.

Naturally, they showed us to a booth right near the kitchen doors.  I could smell the seafood from there so I quietly and politely explained to the hostess that I would not be able to sit there and requested a table as far away from the kitchen as possible.

We got the eye roll but she did turn around and lead us to a table on the patio.  I think she thought she was putting us in Siberia, but we loved being outdoors where we could enjoy our meal and avoid a trip to the ER.

Oh, I would ALWAYS prefer to eat on the patio if there is one available!! I actually request it, and often dine at particular restaurants just BECAUSE they have a patio.

[Emmy]

My husband is a healthy looking guy, but has an old sports injury to his back.  He strongly prefers sitting in chairs rather than booths because it offers more support for his back.  We try to request this upfront when we are first being seated.