Restaurant etiquette for toddler/preschoolers.

Hi. My son made some friends at daycare which in turn i made some mom friends and we would regularly do outings. My son no longer goes to the same center as the other 2 families do but we still hang out. The friendship with the kids has taken a turn as the 3 kids gang up on mine and it hurts. They are girls and hes the only boy and same center ao I can understand the dynamic change. All that to say when we go to restaurant the other kids love to run around and scream and play in the restaurant. It irks me so much they have always done this and ive always tried holding my child back from this sort of play explaining to him that its inappropriate to other people trying to enjoy their meal. It baffles my mind thst the other families allow it. I have a new baby at home so it makes outings hard. Last time I begged him not to run around with the other kids but he in turn begged me to just let him play with his friends. I was heart broken and let him. Now were panning another meet and they want to plan a lunch first and then a indoor play place. I want to skip the lunch and meet at the play place because I hate how the kids act its embarrassing my kid doesnt act like that when were not with them. But if I skip out on the lunch I know my kid will get ignored at the play place I just have such a strong feeling. What should I do? My kid loves these kids my husband says I need to cut them off because we live in separate cities now the kids will have their own friends in kindergarten.. but I feel wrong keeping him from friends he enjoys when theyre nice to him.