How do you respond when a restaurant host seats you in a crowded area when the restaurant is virtually empty?

I would usually ask politely if I could sit at another table. They will usually comply unless they are trying to be fair to servers or an area is closed for some reason.

Waitresses always work a certain area. There may have been no one else on shift to work those other tables.

Yeah, I would politely ask to be seated at another table or I would just get up and sit at another table. I have done both in the past without any negative repercussions.

Sitting in a more populated area of a restaurant improves your access to servers.
There is nothing like being forgotten in an empty area of a restaurant.

I ask if I can be seated elsewhere.
Unless it is a place that you want to be crazy and cozy with the other guests like Dicks Last Resort

I would, and have asked to be seated at another table. Especially if they have seated me next to a boisterous table of little league baseball players.

@chyna what’s wrong with little league baseball players?

Well, they are pretty cute, but they do get loud.

We immediately request a different area and usually suggest the area that would suit us better. No one has ever refused or hesitated.

Last year we went to a restaurant, asked at the door to be away from the other tables, server / hostess. She said sure placed in a booth between the bar and the other groups. She was tending bar too. She got a 20% tip in cash. I guess they were shorthanded due to COVID-19!

I would go sit where I want to.

Doesn’t matter to me, a table is a table. I’d be more interested in the grub. Unless my wife and I want some privacy but those days are long over for us with all of the grands.