We prefer a booth in most cases however in some places they are shoved so close together to fit more in it feels constraining and claustrophobic. My back can usually handle sitting in a booth better than some extremely uncomfortable chairs that are in many places. My feet touch the floor either way lol.

Always ask for a booth.

Booth.

Booth--but why? I prefer not to be in the traffic lane. I agree with your experience of booths not being very comfortable for spacing, room. When we are in a booth I don't have to duck when the waiter is carrying a huge tray of plates by or lean forward every time another customer needs to go to the bathroom....

I'm short, too, and my problem with booths is that the seat is usually too low (or too well broken-down) and my chin in on the table. I always prefer a table.

I like a booth, it's a little less drafty and I always freeze in restaurants. A booth feels more private, too.

I like a booth, many times the table to the booth can be moved closer or whatever is needed. I am also short and am more comfortable in a booth. Sometimes do have to sit at a table if there are several of us.

Sue

Booth.

1. I used to be a booth prefered person. Now always ask for a table. The booths tend to be lower. Getting up is difficult and not a graceful activity.

Booth. I hate being hit on the back of my chair as someone goes past. I find it irritating. I should be more accepting, but alas, I am not. Further, if I am with the boy, we always sit on the same side of the booth so we can talk. We're fairly quiet and it's easier to hear. And get hugs!

We usually go for the booth, but I don't know why. It's more constraining and not necessarily more comfortable..

Booth. Seems more cozy and private.

Booth- to keep our toddler captive ;)

Depends on the restaurant. Ii do like the privacy of a booth, but some seats are lumpy, or I can[t adjust the table far enough away from me. Other places, tables are too close together to other tables, which is bad if the venue is crowded. So, it really depends.

And when I go for sushi, if it's 3 of us or less, I like sitting at the sushi bar... ;)

I avoid booths and will always request a table. The one-off, non-chain restaurants that we prefer tend to have just chairs and tables anyway, or the occasional bench seat along a wall with a chair on the other side of the table. I find spongy, bouncy seats uncomfortable, we have only firm chairs and seating in our house.

Those of you who prefer booths don't want to see or know how much dirt and yuck there is lurking underneath and behind where you put your rump.

I'm pretty sure (my ex was in the food industry for 15 years) the chairs and booths are equally clean/dirty. I've seen them scrub down an entire restaurant at night and quarterly. They get it clean and keep it clean.

booth always

Some years ago when our kids were little, one of them pushed a toy into the crack at the back. When leaving, we asked if we could get it. You don't want to know what we found under the seat when the bottom was lifted up, but let me just say there were several things that were no longer living. The toy was left where it landed.

Using my walker, I prefer a table and usually sit in my walker as it is easier to get up from.

...and therefore everything single booth is like that? HA! I don't think so!

I prefer a cozy booth for 2. Tables are fine, as long as they're not in the middle of traffic.

For >2, booths have to be very generous to allow elbow room.

Booth. They are quieter and out of traffic. There is one restaurant that DH and I like where we do prefer the tables since the booths are extremely tight. but the restaurant is "old school' and the noise level is lower than others even when it's busy.

One thing about booths- great only if there isn't a kid kicking on the other side.

Booths are also great if there isn't an adult behind you who has to shift around and/or get up and down a million times. Or talk too loudly.

Read more carefully, Rob. I think I was clear it's a preference for comfort reasons.

Table and chairs. I'm very short, and sink into a booth. It makes eating very difficult. If I don't sink in, my feet can't touch the floor.

I don't like to eat at the kind of places where they don't clean the booths. You can usually tell whether it's clean or not, including the crack. Same for the underside of the table. And don't get me started on the menus! It's just a ewww factor. It's unlikely to be damaging, diseased dirt, but if they can't keep the dining room clean, what does that say about the kitchen?

I like booths, however. A lot of the chairs in restaurants are chosen for price rather than comfort, and a lot of them don't sit well. This also helps them turn tables, of course, but I hate having a ridge pressing into my thigh, or a back that leans forward to "hug" me, or any of that kind of thing. If it's a comfortable chair, I prefer it. Otherwise, I'm glad of a booth if it's well designed, clean and in good repair. (I should mention that I had a table in my dining room for three years before I found chairs. I'm very picky about chairs in general.)

I prefer booths. Since they are usually on the parameters, they are more private and quieter.

Hubby prefers booths, but my gimpy leg does not slide sideways very well. Also, I am short and the booth benches are usually too tall - tables too close to benches too! I prefer a chair where my back is facing a wall.

booth, I find with tables and chairs, they jam them so close together that you can't move or you have someone behind you shove their chair way out and its like help I can't move. Also with a booth I like to put my coat/jacket down beside me and I have lots of space to move around.

I personally prefer booths, but lately I have been going out with my daughter and her boyfriend and he is too fat (really huge) to fit in a booth. I find it so annoying!

The restaurants I go to seem to be mostly booths with tables in the center. I prefer booths because there is a noise barrier that doesn't exist between tables - feels more private. In a booth one is out of the traffic pattern more so than at a table. Booths are often next to a window and have lighting above - making it easier to read the menu in dim restaurants.

I don't understand the current popularity of putting booths/banquettes in home kitchens though. I would find having to slide in and out of booth every time I wanted to sit down for a bite or a cup of coffee very annoying. Having to pull out a table into the kitchen to clean the floor and the seats seems arduous also.