How to choose the right commercial table for your venue
The layout and interior design of your restaurant or café has the ability to create (or break) the perfect dining experience for your guests. And not only do you need to consider the look and feel for hospitality furniture, but you also need to focus on durability thanks to the high turnover of elbows on tables (unless Nan is there) and bums on chairs. No pressure, but you need to nail it. Thankfully, Chairforce has plenty of commercial dining tables to fit any setting, from café tables at tiny bistros to 12-seater restaurant tables for warehouse breweries. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing commercial restaurant tables for your venue.
What sets apart commercial tables?
Unlike a family dinner table, commercial restaurant and café tables could see 20 groups of customers eating or drinking from them (and is it just us, or do you worry slightly less if you spill spaghetti sauce on someone else’s table?). Therefore, it’s key for commercial dining tables to be durable, comfortable and built sturdy enough ‘to take a hammering’ according to Chairforce founder Harry Bray. They should be produced with high quality construction, using durable materials like metal, solid wood or polypropylene, that age well and require minimal maintenance. Commercial dining tables should also be relatively lightweight, which is less important for home tables, so they can be easily moved to accommodate different group sizes frequenting your restaurant.
What sizes do commercial restaurant table come in?
The logistics of table numbers and sizes requires careful consideration to ensure you can create the optimal layout for your dining space, and the option to make it less optimal because inevitably, people like to mess with perfect plans! Our square commercial dining tables come in either 60cm, like our Replica Tolix Café Dining Table or 70 x 70cm, such as our Square Millot Outdoor Dining Table, which seat two to four people. Our rectangular dining tables options range from 120 x 60cm (seats 4) 140 x 70cm, 140 x 80cm and 150 x 70cm (seat 6) and up to 180 x 80cm (seats 8).
What styles can I expect to see for commercial restaurant table?
For intimate dining and smaller spaces, we recommend a selection of two-to-four seater tables such as our 70cm replica Xavier Pauchard Tolix Café Tables, which comes in elm-timber table top with black, silver or white bases. Bar tables are great for a higher option, that also provide more legroom and work well in tight spaces with bar stools tucking neatly underneath them. For dining halls and banquet-style dining where more space is available, a mix of family-sized dining tables and booths.
What materials work best for commercial dining tables?
Materials that handle plenty of knocks, splatters of food and drink (we would hope for truly immaculate diners, but we’re realists, people be messy) and inclement outdoor weather are ideal choices unless you love switching up your look frequently.
Solid wood, such as walnut which features on our Hairpin Dining Table or elm, featuring on the Replica Tolix Bar Tables, adds a warm aesthetic to a dining space and can fit in with modern, rustic or industrial themes beautifully. Wood tabletops are best suited to indoors and require more gentle cleaning than other materials, so make sure you read our care guides to prolong their lives.
Stainless steel makes fantastic dining table material for both outdoors and in, being weather-resistant, easy-to-clean and lightweight. Our Square Miguel Folding Dining and Bar Tables feature a stainless steel top and aluminium base, and looks stylish in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
For another indoor/outdoor option, we love polypropylene. Our Michel Millot Outdoor Table is made of UV stabilised polypropylene, making it both lightweight and sturdy, and an epic battler of the outdoor elements.
Laminate is another great commercial table material for high traffic venues, as it’s non-porous and resistant to hot foods, making it durable and easy to clean. Our Diego Folding Dining Table features a high-pressed, compact laminate tabletop with a flip top for easy storage.
For a lower-cost material option, consider veneer for your indoor dining tabletop, which also doesn’t stain or scratch as easily as real wood and for extra bonus points, it’s more sustainable.
But I’m all about that base… what about the ideal table base?
Sorry, sidetracked by the Meghan Trainor earworm, but the base also plays an important role in the comfort and functionality of a commercial dining table. Your diners will notice the look as they walk into your restaurant, and then they’ll notice the stability once they’re seated. So, both are key to a positive customer experience.
The materials we use are commercial-grade cast iron, stainless steel or aluminium. Cast iron and stainless steel are more heavy-duty options and come with a bigger price tag to match, while aluminium is more lightweight and cost effective (despite a similar look and feel).
For style, we’re big fans of the cross-style base with adjustable feet for minimal wobble (because nobody wants a spilt cappuccino #savethefroth), best suited to square or round tables.
Hairpin legs create an impressive modern look for cafe tables, with Chairforce’s version made in a black or white powder-coated steel. These are better suited to rectangular-shaped dining tables, providing them with more stability similar to the standard four leg options.
Final word
If you’re totally overwhelmed by the plethora of brilliant options available to you (we’re a bit dazzling, we know), or you want to discuss your commercial dining table options in a little more detail, contact our experienced and friendly team who love table chat. We can’t wait to hear from you.