It sounds like you seated yourself. In a place like that, if you do that no one is assigned to the seat. All of these servers think someone else has the table. That is why you were sitting there.
The days of a server working a “section” ended years ago. That’s why they all have “hostesses” now.
I love going to my local Italian place. They know us. We tip well. The crew sees us and moves us to their table. You don’t get that kind of service at a chain.
“ It sounds like you seated yourself.”
Can’t remember. A saturday morning breakfast with the kids.