Table of Contents

Essential Tips for Selecting Restaurant Tables: A Practical Guide

In the restaurant industry, a dining table is more than just a place to eat—it's a crucial element in creating ambiance, shaping your brand, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Choosing the right table involves considering the venue's characteristics, customer needs, dish types, and your business philosophy. CDG Furniture explores how to tailor your dining setup to fit your venue, ensuring that your tables are both practical and visually appealing, making your restaurant stand out.

1. Clarify Venue Requirements and Planning

1. Venue Size and Seating Capacity

Start by measuring your restaurant's space to determine how many customers you want to accommodate. This affects not only the number of tables but also their arrangement—whether in a straight line, U-shape, or a free combination. Aim to maximize space without sacrificing comfort.

2. Table Size and Shape

Choose table sizes and shapes based on your customers and dish placement. Square tables work well for small groups like couples or families of four. Circular tables are ideal for larger gatherings, encouraging conversation. Consider tables that can be rearranged or combined for events such as business banquets or large family meals.

3. Height and Comfort

Standard dining table height ranges from 28 to 30 inches, while bar counter tables are typically 42 inches high. Ensure the height matches the seating to offer the best dining experience. For varied customer heights, consider adjustable seats or chairs with adjustable heights.

2. Material Selection and Durability

1. Solid Wood Dining Tables

Solid wood is a popular choice for high-end restaurants due to its natural look, elegance, and durability. Hardwoods like oak and walnut not only look great but also stand up to frequent use. However, they are expensive and require regular maintenance to keep their finish.

2. Laminated Dining Tables

Laminated tables are known for their affordability and ease of maintenance. They can mimic various materials and patterns through advanced printing techniques. Laminated tables are resistant to scratches and heat, making them ideal for fast-paced environments like fast food restaurants.

3. HPL Dining Tables

High-pressure laminate (HPL) tables are perfect for outdoor settings and terraces. They are lightweight, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain. HPL tables are cost-effective and suitable for both indoor and outdoor commercial spaces.

4. Plastic Wood Dining Tables

Plastic wood tables are durable, scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant, suitable for various settings. They come in a range of textures and colors, making them versatile for different restaurant decor styles. They are also easy to clean and maintain.

3. Style and Atmosphere Creation

1. High-End Style

Luxury restaurants aim for a blend of elegance and comfort. Opt for solid wood tables paired with sophisticated chairs and utensils to create a refined dining environment. Enhance the experience with thoughtful lighting and music.

2. Industrial Style

The industrial style features a mix of raw textures and modern design. Use exposed brick, metal pipes, and other rugged elements alongside wooden and metal tables to achieve a distinctive look. This style appeals to younger customers who appreciate a trendy and personalized atmosphere.

3. Public Dining Style

For restaurants focused on social interaction, design with open kitchens and long tables that encourage communication. This approach suits community eateries or specialty snack shops, providing a warm, homey feel.

4. Bar Style

Bar-height tables offer a casual, relaxed space for drinking and socializing. They add a dynamic element to the restaurant with unique seating like bar stools. Ensure these tables are stable and comfortable to enhance the customer experience.

Every table tells a part of your restaurant's story, influencing both the dining experience and the overall atmosphere. Choosing the right table involves thoughtful consideration. Each dining table serves as a bridge between you and your customers, reflecting your brand and enhancing their dining experience. Select and decorate your tables carefully to create memorable moments for every guest.

Elevate Your Space: The Complete Guide to Table Base Options

In traditional beliefs, restaurant operators tend to prefer purchasing a complete set of dining tables, believing it to be more convenient and efficient. However, with the increasing demand for personalization, more and more restaurant operators are inclined to order table tops and table bases separately. The benefits of doing so are:

1. Higher flexibility

Ordering separately allows you to freely match different styles, materials, and sizes of table tops and bases according to your decoration preferences and actual needs, creating a unique dining table combination.

2. Better cost control

If you have a preference for a particular brand or style of table top, but the accompanying base does not meet budget or style requirements, purchasing separately can allow you to more flexibly control costs without sacrificing quality.

3. Stronger customization

For restaurants with special size or functional requirements, ordering separate table tops and bases means that they can be customized according to actual needs, ensuring that every inch of space is used in the most reasonable way. When choosing a table base, its shape and style will directly affect the stability of the dining table and the comfort of guests. Here are some common types of bases and their characteristics:

Round base: Round base is one of the most popular basic styles in restaurants, especially suitable for round tables. They provide a flat foot placement area, increasing stability while also enhancing customer dining comfort.

Square base: For large table tops, a square base is a great solution as it provides greater foot space and stability, especially suitable for long or wide tables that require additional support.

X-fork base: This practical base design provides more storage space for the chair while reducing the footprint of the base, allowing the chair to be pushed further under the table, making it a common base choice in restaurants.

Bolt fixed base: designed specifically for situations where tables need to be fixed in specific positions, such as bar tables and food courts. This type of base ensures the stability and safety of the table by fixing the columns to the floor.

Double support base: suitable for pairing with rectangular table tops of any shape. For long rectangular table tops, it is recommended to install two double support bases at opposite ends to ensure overall stability.

The material of the table base is directly related to its durability and maintenance costs. Here are several common materials and their characteristics:

Cast iron: Cast iron bases are favored for their weight, rough texture, and durability. Usually coated with powder coating to prevent cracking and rusting, ensuring a longer service life.

Aluminum alloy: For restaurants seeking lightweight but sturdy bases, aluminum alloy is a good choice. It is easy to clean, maintains good smoothness, and also has rust prevention properties.

Stainless steel: As the preferred material for outdoor dining table bases, stainless steel bases are known for their durability and ease of maintenance. They can withstand various weather conditions and maintain good appearance and performance.

When choosing a table base, height is an important factor that cannot be ignored. The ideal table height should allow diners to sit with their arms naturally hanging on the table and their feet flat on the ground. Generally speaking, the height of a standard dining table is between 70-76 centimeters, but the specific height may need to be adjusted according to your restaurant design and specific venue requirements.

Meanwhile, do not overlook the comfort design of the table base. For example, some high-end restaurants use foot pads with soft cushions or anti slip designs to reduce noise, protect the floor, and enhance the dining experience for customers. An excellent table base can not only firmly support the tabletop, but also become a part of restaurant decoration, enhancing the overall beauty.

The base of the dining table, although inconspicuous, is the key to its stability and aesthetics. By carefully selecting the appropriate table base, you can add a unique charm to the restaurant, allowing every customer to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant dining experience.

What Table Top Size Do You Need ?

Selecting the right table top size is essential for creating a comfortable and functional dining space. It impacts how well the space is utilized and affects users' comfort and the flow of activities. The ideal table top size depends on several factors, including the size of the space, the number of users, and the type of activities. Here’s a guide from CDG Furniture on recommended table top sizes for various group sizes to help you plan your space effectively.

For 2 People Dining:

24-inch Round Table Top: Perfect for intimate settings like a dinner for two. It ensures enough space for conversation without feeling cramped.

24-inch x 24-inch Square Table Top: A square design suitable for two diners, providing adequate space for utensils and food while maintaining a balanced look.

24-inch x 30-inch Rectangular Table Top: Slightly longer, this design is ideal for couples who prefer a bit more distance while dining, allowing more room for dishes and utensils.

For 4 People Dining:

30-inch x 30-inch Square Table Top: The minimum size for a compact dining setup for four. If space allows, opting for a larger size can enhance comfort.

36-inch Round Table Top: Offers a more spacious dining area for four, making it ideal for family meals or small gatherings with friends.

24-inch x 48-inch Rectangular Table Top: Suitable for long, narrow spaces, this table top provides a good balance of space and privacy for four diners.

For 6-8 People Dining:

42-inch x 42-inch Square Table Top: The basic size for accommodating 6-8 people, ensuring enough personal space for everyone.

48-inch Round Table Top: Ideal for larger gatherings, such as family events or small parties, fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

36-inch x 65-inch Rectangular Table Top: Great for long layouts, such as banquet-style setups or multiple family gatherings. It provides ample space for dining while facilitating conversation and interaction.

For Special Occasions (10 or More People):

For large groups of 10 or more, consider using a flexible table arrangement by combining several tables. This approach allows for a larger dining area and can be adjusted to suit the specific layout and space needs. It ensures ample space for everyone and promotes interaction and communication.

When planning your table top size, remember to consider not only the number of users but also the overall space, furniture layout, and specific needs of the activities. Choosing the right size improves space utilization and ensures comfort, enhancing the dining or working experience.