Booth!

booth!

Table.

Hubby uses a wheelchair, so we always ask for a table.

Seldom a choice round here. Tables are the norm.

A booth if its two people.

Whichever one has a cushioned seat is best, but prefer a booth.

Bar. Such camaraderie! Oh, you mean with others? Booth. But even when I do go out with kiddo, she sits next to me, on the same side of the booth. Seems weird, but she always has, and still wants to. Probably would be different now that her boyfriend also lives with us.

I don’t really have a preference in general. But sometimes there is a reason for one or the other. Sometimes a booth is my preference if we are a chatty party. Some of my occasional dining companions have mobility issues that make a table preferable. If I am going to have a private conversation, a booth, even though the person behind me is closer than they would be at a table, it feels more private. And if I’m dining alone, I think I prefer a booth if possible. Not if the restaurant is crowded, though. And if we are in a bit of a rush, table.

It depends on the meal and who I’m eating with and the occasion and number of people.

Fancy romantic dinner, I like a table with a full setting.

Relaxed, let’s share some nachos, a booth.

eta It also depends on the type of booth. Rounded shellshaped, can be great for a private, I only have eyes for you, dinner.

With my husband, we love sitting next to each other in a booth, being all cozy and clingy. Otherwise, give me a table. I feel trapped in booths.

A table. Always. I've never liked booths.

It depends on the restaurant, the group suze and what we can get in some cases. Usually we prefer a booth if it’s just us in a small space.

Booth here. They seem to be more comfy, and I like having my purse and coat next to me. What I really dislike, and will politely refuse is the long line of booth seats, with small tables and chairs facing them. Sort of a combo affair. That arrangement is too close to people I don't know. Shudder. Sorry.

Never a table. Always a booth that are way more comfortable.

I cannot get close enough to the table to be comfortable in a booth, since I am short.

Sherry, you just beat me to it. 😄 I am short too and know exactly what you mean. My SO is not short though and the tables usually move easier. He is more than happy to move the table in my direction.

I am more about location in the restaurant than table or booth. The chairs at tables are more comfortable for me, but I agree a booth is cozy.

I will admit, booth tables often hit me in the wrong spot, height-wise. Or maybe it's fortuitous and keeps things from spilling to the floor. I don't really like a table that hits just under my chin. Guess I too am in the short camp. I still prefer a booth. Feels less cozy, more exposed to be at a table.

Booth, I dont like being out in the middle of the room.

Our favorite restaurant, Rosie’s, has tables we like straight back from the entrance. We also like the patio. My least favorite is in the center and is very noisy. We have been seated at a booth for six, there were only two of us, and I felt like a child since the table hit me just under my chin.

For all practical purposes booth sitting will not fit some large bodies so thankfully there are tables and chairs. IMO booth sitting is more comfortable and tends to be quieter when we all can make it in there.

Booth because it's quieter. Restaurants are so noisy these days I do everything possible to reduce the noise. It's also the reason I will try to have my back to a wall. I always ask if I can be seated in a quiet corner whenever possible. Sitting at a table in the middle of a room with hyperacusis is like having a swarm of angry bees in your head at the highest volume . It can actually be perceived as physically painful. I try to eat out at slow times of the day or evening.

“I don't really like a table that hits just under my chin.”

So much easier to shovel food in your mouth when it’s all at one level!

Booth because they are on the parameter and feel more private. I don’t mind a table that is off to the side.

I do not like nor willm I sit at a high top.

I usually prefer booths when available but location in room & number in dining party determines that. I’m not a tall or wide person so if booth is too roomy I might have to perch on booth seat edge to be close enough to table. What I don’t like is a table in the middle of a restaurant unless it’s a large room with lots of space between tables.

Here's a factor for me that I didn't mention.

I have a sometimes wonky lower back. Move the wrong way, have the wrong posture, and I can have mobility difficulties and be in distress for days or longer. I've learned, the hard way, there's nothing more comfortable or better for me than a hard, straight backed wooden chair. It doesn't need to be clunky looking as in the photo below but it can be. Just a flat hard bottom and the same in the back. If there's an easily removable pillow on the seat, I take it off.

And it doesn't need to be at a square or rectangular table with just chairs. Some restaurants have a booth like seat (is that called a banquette?) running along a wall and tables up against it, so that one or more people have booth-like seating on one side of the table and those on the other side sit on chairs. Fine with me, so long as my bottom is on a chair.

For me, everything eld said.

I prefer a booth but a table will do. My only seating I refuse is those high top tables.

We had a new restaurant open in town a few years ago. I decided to give it a try so went on down to it. I was coming alone. I walked in the door and said "1" please and the young girl directed me to a high top table. All other tables both for 4 people and 2 were available. I looked at her and said "I'm in my 70's, I am not comfortable trying to get up on those high chairs and then sliding back down off of them". She looked at me like I had two heads. It's ridiculous to put someone at a table that clearly isn't suited. She could at least ask if that table was acceptable. I hope I taught her something that day. I was very nice about it but made it clear.

Colleen, I find sometimes the high tops are smaller in size.

Murray, hate when you walk into an almost empty restaurant and are given an awful location or as you described the high top.

Part could be the staff not caring or they are trying to fill the work stations evenly.

Side story: DH and I had reservations had a restaurant we patronized quite a few times.

I asked for a side table in the reservation. We were given a middle table with a side table empty and in next to us. Hotess claimed it was reserved. DH was fuming. It stayed empty for quite a while. We asked our waitress why we couldn’t have had that table. She told us it was up to the hostess! The whole experience was odd.

DH refuses to go back. There are so many restaurants so no need to be aggravated.

I prefer a booth, but not terribly picky...a table will do. But, like Murray's mom, I wouldn't want to sit at one of those high tables.

With so many restaurants to choose from, you would think the staff would be only to happy to accommodate people. Around here most restaurants do a booming business almost every day of the week. I am not shy about asking for a different table or booth when being led to something less desirable. I generally try to eat at a time when they are not busy.

One of my favorite places, First Watch, is always courteous and give great service. I meet with a friend every few months and we know we can sit there and talk for 3 hours without any problem. We constantly ask if they need out table and they have never said yes. I keep an eye on the people coming in and if it starts looking busy, we will leave. And we always tip really big knowing we could be keeping our server from making tips for our table and we are happy to compensate for their kindness. That kind of service keeps us coming back and I often go there alone. They have great breakfasts and that's one thing I don't do for myself at home - at least not what I can order when out.

I prefer a table because I am short and booths are very uncomfortable for me. I usually sink down into the padding and feel like I am an 8 year old sitting at the table but without the phone book to sit on!

I like booths because I don’t like feeling exposed and open to be seen/converse with strangers. (Introverted? Yeah.)

But DH usually can’t sit in a booth. He’s a big guy with some mobility restrictions so we sit at tables. But never hightops for the same reason.

Murray, you reminded me of a running joke DH and I have. We made reservations for four at a restaurant we frequented. We were led to the first table right by the door. Many tables along the wall were empty!

We of course asked for one of those. The hostess said ” I don’t see the logic.” as she reluctantly gave us a different table. Don’t see the logic? Why sit at a table along the side when you can sit right by the door where everyone entering has to brush by you?!

Whenever something doesn’t make sense we say yo each other, ” I don’t see the logic!”

Eld, that is hysterical. 😄

Just this weekend, we were seated at a tiny table for 2 in the middle of a restaurant. All the tables around us were open, but all the tables along the walls were occupied.

We walked in without a reservation. This is a popular place and I was just glad they could seat us. It also filled up quickly around us, thankfully. However until it did I kept thinking of this thread. 😄 It was an awkward feeling. I felt a smidge like I was on stage until the place filled up around us. I felt like I should start singing show tunes or something.