Is it impolite/rude to ask to change tables at a restaurant?

There is usually no problem if a restaurant has empty seats available. They want their diners to have a pleasant experience, and if you are not happy, you may feel negatively about the restaurant. Usually, I will ask my server if I can move to another table soon after they seat us, if the sun is in my eyes from the window, if I am too hot or too cold in that area, or if there are disruptive people at the table next to me.

Unfortunately, it;s not always easy to accomplish if you've been seated there a while, you are already finishing your service, and such.

But quite frankly in my opinion, the adults at the other table are supposed to be in charge and managing their children. They are the ones that are rude. You go to the washroom and on the way back you discretely ask if you could switch to another table because of the noise. I would also have mentioned to the staff about the salt shaker... They will want to clean that out afterwards for their other clientele.

Your issues had nothing to do with race as far as I can tell. I don't know from your description what race or visible minority they or you are. In my eyes, it has to do with kids that are out of control and parents that don't control them properly. You take kids like that to McDonald's. You don't go to a fancy sit down restaurant with them until they are old enough to behave better.

It may depend on the exact situation and country/culture your in. In general I would say no. You may want t change table for all sorts of reasons (too close to the toilet door!, smoke coming from somewhere, etc.). However if your with a table of twenty and it's busy in the restaurant it may be more difficult to re-allocate you.

My husband and I went to dinner at a fairly nice restaurant. The family at the table next to us had a child about two that screamed and talked loudly about 'poo-poo' and 'pee-pee'. He was up walking around messing with the window blinds and even licking the salt shaker. His mom would yell at him and then feed him dessert foods. I really wanted to move but did not want to make a racial issue of the situation. Is it wrong to ask to move. Because of their yelling we could barely have a conversation.

No, provided there are other tables free. You don't have to even give a reason: "Would it be possible to move to a table by the wall?"

If they are very loud at a close table or if kids are running around and/or screaming, I don't want my meal ruined. It should be no problem and if it is, I'll show you a problem.

I have done it a number of times, but, use common sense my friend, if there are tables and seats available and not reserved then yes.

Not in the least. It would be beneficial if you asked to change tables before your food arrived, but if you are dissatisfied with where they placed you then you have every right to ask to be re-seated.

It depends. Why are you changing? Maybe somebody doesn't want to sit at your table where you used your silverware.

nope, i do it all the time if i do not like the location, esp when table is near the bar

You can ask nicely but they might have the table reserved for someone else.