Table Shapes and Sizes

Consider who your restaurant will be serving when choosing tables for your restaurant. Will you be serving large families? Or will most of your guests be couples on a night out? Perhaps your restaurant caters to a business lunch crowd. Think about how these different groups will utilize your space.

Large groups of people, such as families, are going to need large spaces for dining. There are two ways you can accommodate them. 1) Purchase a large table that will seat at least 6 people. Round tables are ideal if you go this route because you can always squeeze another chair in. Or, you can keep a few banquet tables on hand, and simply pull them out when you know a large party is coming. This will work for restaurants that only take reservations, but can be a lot more work than necessary. 2) Purchase several smaller tables that you can pull together to create a large dining space. For this to work, square or rectangular tables are required. If your restaurant is extremely fancy, tables pulled together may not look as nice as you would like. Cover them in a large linen tablecloth to mask the bases and uneven edges.

If your restaurant caters mostly to couple looking for an intimate dining experience, you will want to primarily invest in small tables that seat 2 to 4 guests. This allows for the intimacy that some couples desire, while still providing space for larger parties. Again, small tables can always be pulled together making them extremely versatile.

Think about how you would use the space in different situations. What would you do if you walked into a deli and saw several friends or co-workers? Hopefully there would be an extra chair to pull up to the table so you could easily join them. Try to maximize the versatility of your space with small, movable tables and and a couple extra chairs. Ultimately, design your seating layout in a manner that will best suit your guests.