Our's was Beaches and Cream last year. We had taken our whole family (for potentially the last time we could all be together) and we wanted to do a late lunch at Beaches and Cream. We have 2 grands that have sensory issues and I knew they would be hyper by the afternoon so I specifically made ressies for 2 parties, 5 and 7. I actually called to make the ressies to confirm I could get that configuration. One group wanted the Kitchen Sink and I also separated the kids with adult supervision to avoid meltdowns and issues. Plus, I made them during a non-busy time to increase our chances of having a great time. The ressies were 5 minutes apart.
When we checked in early, they told me we could only have 4 and 8. I looked in and it was half empty. I asked if we could put 2 adults and 3 small kids in a booth and they said no. I told them we were willing to wait for our requested ressies. (If I had not booked them separately, I would not have pushed the issue.) Nope.... couldn't be done. I asked about the 2 empty booths and multiple tables. Nope.... couldn't be done. I would have even accepted 5 seats in a row at the counter. Nope..... couldn't be done.
OK..... decided to roll with the tide and not make waves. The waiter that seated us put 4 kids (including the 2 that we needed to keep apart) in a booth at the back and the rest of us around 2 small tables as far away as you can get in the front. There were 3 tables, side by side, near the booth. I told him that we needed to be closer to the kids and he told me they would be fine. I told him that we needed to put adults with them and separate them but the kids took his side and he insisted the kids would be fine. We all knew better but the kids were insistent they would be on their best behavior, so we didn't push the issues.
Of course, things fell apart and we had to move kids and adults after the food was delivered. Kids were unhappy and the waiter was rude to us for moving around. (It was all on one check and we moved everything ourselves.... he didn't have to do anything.) By the time we would have ordered the kitchen sink, we decided it just wasn't worth it. The waiter was unhappy.
2 tables near the booth were never filled while we were there. I honestly don't know why they didn't seat us close to the kids. They were not busy and there were open tables and booths the entire time.
I am usually very mild mannered but I very pointedly told the waiter that things would have been much better if my original configuration would have been granted. We knew our kids and he didn't. If the meal would have been pleasant, we would have enjoyed the kitchen sink but the kids were close to becoming disruptive and we weren't going to let that happen.
This is not as bad as many of your reports but it was something that could have been avoided.