Love it or hate it, the trend of communal seating in restaurants that has emerged over the past few years looks like it’s here to stay. These large tables that can sit more than one party at once have grown in popularity and can be found in many chain and independent dining establishments. We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of communal dining to help you decide if it’s right for your restaurant.
The benefits of communal tables
The clearest upside for any restaurant owner is the increased number of seats and high turnaround – especially useful in a smaller space. Not only does it mean a higher number of seats, it also saves the additional space that would normally be found between tables. Add to this the logistical reason that you no longer need to pull tables together and move around the furniture to accommodate big groups and the communal table truly sounds like a winner!
There is also a social element to communal dining that can be more enjoyable for some diners. Restaurant Development and Design Magazine said that communal tables are “particularly appealing to millennials, who look for restaurant destinations that can accommodate their desire to socialise, graze and linger.” They can also provide a more pleasant dining experience for solo diners, who can either relax at a table which is clearly not designed for two or engage with other solo diners and parties around them.
The downsides of communal dining
Communal tables are not suitable for every type of dining establishment, and they are not always the best choice on a personal or practical level.
If your restaurant caters for families with smaller children, then communal dining can certainly work but the height of the table and safety of the seating should be considered. Other diners may also prefer not to be seated with families so it’s important to offer alternative seating options if you do opt to go communal. Other groups of customers such as couples on a date, those having work meetings or anyone who just isn’t a fan of eating in close quarters with strangers may also not appreciate a communal space.
If you do decide to try out the communal table trend, it’s definitely a good idea to continue to provide more private traditional seating alongside it for diners who feel more comfortable dining in privacy.