So far in this eight part series on revamping the décor of your restaurant we’ve covered everything that goes on the table like linens, glassware, china, and flatware. So the next logical topic to cover is… you guessed it; the dining table.

Before we can talk specifics about table selection it is important to know what type of seating requirements are going to be needed for the dining area. There are several factors that have an influence on dining requirements, some that are controllable and some that are not.

One of the areas outside of management’s control is the influence of the economy and the changes in behavior it causes within patrons. Ask any restaurant owner how the economy has affected their business and I’m sure they’ll say the same basic thing; people are not dining out as much as they used to and are entertaining guests at home rather than going out for dinner. However, in recent months there as been a growing trend toward dining out in large parties for special occasions like a birthday or anniversary. This trend requires restaurants to be able to accommodate larger parties more frequently than they may have in the past and part of that accommodation is having the ability to arrange for a large enough table.

An example of an influence that is completely within the control of the restaurant is the menu selection. What does the menu have to do with seating you ask? Different types of menus require different types of table space. Take for example an ethnic menu that requires the use of several large platters along with a plate for each diner, a regular table for two might not be big enough and make the diner feel crowded and uncomfortable while dining. To ensure that the diner has a pleasant experience a larger table than normal is in order.

Now that we’ve covered some of the influences that need to be considered let’s look at some of the solutions. For restaurants that frequently have large parties it is somewhat impractical to rearrange the dining area by pushing together several table tops. Enter the drop leaf table, with the ability to be reconfigured for additional dinners. This table makes perfect sense for restaurants with the space and need for them. Throw a linen table cloth over the top and you’ve got a beautiful dining area that is a combination of form and function.

However, maybe pushing tables together for larger parties works for the dinning area in question; then perhaps a laminated tabletop with a wood edge should be considered. This type of table offers many benefits to the restaurant owner because it is easy to clean and durable to wear.

Finally, one simply can not talk about table tops without talking about the solid wood table top. With a natural finish and availability in many different sizes, this beauty works great in a range of applications from a contemporary setting to a steak house. Featuring an inch and a half thick ash wood construction, these tables are finished in a catalyzed commercial grade medium gloss sealant for a final product that can hold up to the wear and tear of a busy restaurant.

If you have questions regarding the different table options available here at Serv-U, feel free to contact us via phone at 800-797-3788 or click the picture of the customer service representative at the top left corner of each page of the site to launch a live chat and one of our customer support staff will be happy to answer all of your questions.

Next time we’re going to move on and start talking about chairs, so be sure to check back for the seventh installment of our series on revamping the décor of your restaurant.

Welcome back to the Serv-U eight part series on refreshing the décor of your restaurant. In part five, we’ll be covering linens. If you were to do an exit survey on your patrons, what do you think they would say was the most memorable aspect of their dining experience? It is a safe bet that not one single customer is going to say that it was the napkin. Linens are one of those items that nobody really pays attention to, but helps establish the ambience of the restaurant and can turn an ordinary dining experience into an extraordinary one.

At the high-end scale of restaurants, linen is a staple and almost demanded. However, at the mid-level where patrons don’t expect to find linen it helps to move the patron’s opinion of the establishment up a peg. It’s one of those finer touches that they’ll remember, but doesn’t take center stage.

Normally, when one thinks of restaurant linens they immediately see crisp white napkins and tablecloths. However, many interior decorators are shifting to an unobtrusive color palette that matches and enhances the décor of the entire restaurant. Now it should be noted that the crisp white linens could be just the thing to enhance the overall décor but if it is not, there is a wide range of color choices to choose from.

With all the color choices available the desire to mix several different colors of table linen can start to creep into the mind. While it may sound like a good idea to jazz up the look of a dinning area, it is generally not as the space becomes too busy. A better approach to establishing contrast would be to use one color of table linen and a different color napkin or use the color in your china to establish contrast.

An alternate option to linen table clothes would be a vinyl table cloth. While a vinyl table cloth doesn’t have quite the same level of refinement as a linen one, it can still be a quick way to refresh your restaurant. The same rules for color and style that apply to linen also apply for the vinyl counterpart.

Look around the linens and vinyl tablecloth sections of Serv-U and you’ll be sure to find the perfect thing to refresh your restaurant’s décor. If you have addition questions, feel free to contact us via phone at 800-797-3788 or click the picture of the customer service representative at the top left corner of each page of the site to launch a live chat.

Now that we’ve touched on the linens, next time we’ll cover tables.