[Allegrippus]

I'm single and 63, and that often happens to me, too. You just have to watch they don't try to stick you into an undesirable small table next to the kitchen door, etc. I find this occurs most often with younger, less experienced hosts, and I simply won't put up with it. The instant I realize I'm being guided to a poor table or a noisy area, I quickly look around and request another one of my own choosing.

[greggyb]

I would highly recommend bar seating. So long as you're not at an hour where the drinking crowd starts to overtake the dining crowd, it's usually quick to find a space.