There are thousands of choices when it comes to choosing tables for your restaurant. Not only do you need to choose tables but you also need to decide on the different elements that make up a table – the table top and the table base. Restaurant tables need to match the overall décor and atmosphere of a restaurant and they also need to be functional, easy to clean and fit the restaurant space. So, choosing restaurant tables is very important!
Table Tops
Shape – Depending on the style of the restaurant, and the size of your space, you can get rectangular, square, or round tables.
Materials – The tabletop material is one of the most important parts of a restaurant table. It is where the food sits, and it is what customers stare at when they are eating or waiting for their food. You don’t have to have the same tabletop materials throughout your restaurant, although most establishments opt to use the same tabletop for every table in the restaurant.
Wood table tops Best for indoors, they are durable but need regular maintenance.
Laminated table tops: Sturdy, long-lasting, and usable indoors and out.
Granite table tops: Heavy, luxurious, extremely durable, heat and scratch resistant, but difficult to move around. Suitable for indoor and outdoor seating.
Resin table tops: Wood-covered resin table tops are longer-lasting than regular wooden table tops. They can resist stains, heat, scratches, and hard knocks. Suitable for indoor and outdoor seating.
Plastic table tops: Light and easy to move, durable, but unless they are top quality, they tend to look cheap, and casual. Faux wood plastic table tops are more attractive than regular plastic. They are strong, durable, and can be used indoors and out.
Metal table tops: Stainless steel table tops are durable, cost-effective, and can be attractive. They can survive even the roughest customers and can be used indoors and out. However, unless they are of excellent quality, they can look cheap, and unattractive.
Table Bases and Legs
A good table base will keep the table stable and not wobbling or moving around. The table base needs to be proportionate to the tabletop, and solid enough to hold the table top, depending on its size.
When choosing the table base consider:
- How easy will it be to move the tables
- Will the bases mark the floor when moved
- Can customers fit their legs under the table or will the base be in their way
- Can the chairs be easily tucked under the table or is the base in the way
- What height is the base, and will it suit your chairs? Don’t forget to factor in the thickness of the tabletop.
Shape – Whatever material you choose for your table bases, you will have a choice of styles and shapes. With one table “leg” in the middle of the table, you can choose from different shaped bases.
- Column: One leg in the middle of the table. It is the body of the base and gives the table its height.
- Base Plate: At the foot of the column, is a base plate that can be of several shapes. It is essential for stability and support. The base plate can be shaped as an X-prong, round, square, or 2-prong base.
- Glides: Beneath the base, you can have glides that prevent the base from scratching the floor. Not all table bases have glides.
Materials – The weight, durability, and appearance of the table base material will affect your choice. You need to consider how the material used for the table base looks next to the material used for the tabletop. They don’t have to be made from the same material.
Metal table bases: can be too heavy for moving around. So only choose metal if the base is light enough to move and if your restaurant doesn’t shuffle the furniture around regularly.
Wood table bases: You can often find wooden table legs that give the table a solid, stable base. It is less common to find a wooden one-leg column base for restaurant tables.
Common Successful Table Top-Table Base Combos
Granite table top with metal table base – Stone or granite table tops need a very strong, solid, heavy table base.
Metal table top with metal table base – Pair metal with metal for consistency. You can upgrade the table by choosing an elegant metal base.
Wooden table top with wooden table legs – One of the most classic and attractive restaurant table looks is a wooden table from top to bottom. Get wooden table legs that match the color, and style of the wooden table top.
Wooden table top with metal table base – When a wooden table top is heavy and needs a strong base you could consider metal. This is the base of choice when you have wooden table tops but you want a one-leg base rather than four table legs.
Plastic table top with plastic table base/legs – A plastic table is usually lightweight, and doesn’t need anything heavier to keep it stable. Not only that, but one of the reasons people choose plastic tables is to keep the cost down. If a plastic table is given any other kind of base/legs it would drastically increase the price.
Resin table top with metal table base – Resin table tops can look classy and they are pretty solid. They need an attractive strong metal base to complete the look.
