Everything You Need to Know About Restaurant Table and Chair Set
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: March 2, 2022
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The restaurant industry is competitive. And as if things were not bad enough, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted business like never before. Therefore, as an owner, you have to marvel at every aspect of your restaurant, from services to food, from ambiance to furniture.
When it comes to your restaurant’s dining room, tables and chairs form its heart and soul. After all, before your guests can taste the food or experience service in your restaurant, tables and chairs make the crucial first impression.
With the perfect restaurant furniture, you can offer an unbeatable theme and dining experience. On the other hand, improper selection of your furniture might make your restaurant unappealing or cold for your guests.
How To Choose The Best Dining Sets for Your Restaurant?
When it comes to finding the perfect restaurant tables and chair sets, you are spoilt for options as they are available in various shapes, sizes, designs, materials, and budgets. Here are some of the design parameters you must consider while choosing the perfect restaurant dining set:
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Size Matters
As a restaurant owner, you want to put in as many tables and chairs in your dining room as you can to maximize the seating capacity. However, make sure you consider the comfort of your guests while selecting the size and number of your restaurant dining sets.
As an industry standard, leave a gap of at least 30 degrees between the edge of tables with the wall for the movement of your guests.
Typically, restaurants use dining sets in different sizes to accommodate various groups of their guests. Since groups of 4 to 6 guests are most common in family restaurants, it’s a smart choice to have a mix of 4-seat and 6-seat dining sets.
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Distinct Shapes for Different Spaces
Apart from the size of the dining set, you must pay attention to its shape as well. Restaurant dining sets are available in different shapes like round, rectangular, oval, square, etc., and your selection must depend on the space available and the type of your restaurant.
For example, if yours is a fine dining, upscale restaurant, go for round dining sets for an intimate setup. Similarly, rectangular or square dining sets are more sensible for buffet or family restaurants.
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Check The Height Perspective
Although the industry standard and most popular choice of table height is 29-30” which goes with the 18” seating height of chairs, you can create a casual setup with stools and tables of different heights.
For example, counter-height dining sets are perfect for small rooms or for adding to the seating capacity of your restaurant temporarily. Such counter height tables are usually 36” high and you can pair them with 24-27” tall chairs or barstools.
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Endless Design and Style Options
From vintage to modern, from traditional to contemporary, from spacious to minimalistic, you can implement any design option in your restaurant. Here are some ways to set up a trendy and stylish restaurant table and chair set:
- Modern Setting: A rectangular table with thick edges, especially square edges, highlights minimalism and symmetry.
- Traditional Theme: Vintage, boat-shaped tables having decorative or carved legs.
- Small Restaurants: Round dining sets help create a warm, cozy ambiance in small dining rooms.
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Color and Seating
While selecting the color for your restaurant dining set, there are endless options – from bold metallic colors to vintage wooden hues, from sleek grey paint to cherry stains. Also, you can experiment with wooden textures to take your furniture design to a whole new level.
Similarly, for your guests’ seating, you can try different styles like chairs, barstools, and benches to jazz up the dining area. If yours is a family restaurant that sees elderly guests or children, chairs with arm support are a sensible choice. Space-efficient armless chairs, on the contrary, are perfect for holding banquets or flexible seating in your restaurant.
What is the Right Material for Restaurant Dining Set?
Selecting the right material for your restaurant dining set is crucial as it affects its appearance, properties, as well as cost. If your dining set appears out of place, it might hamper the entire ambiance and dining experience for your guests. Here are some common materials for restaurant dining sets:
- Metal: Metal dining sets are trendy, sleek, and stain-resistant. Since they have high tensile strength, they are durable and sturdy. From an industrial look to a minimalistic theme, you can create any concept in your restaurant with metal dining sets.
Pros:
- Strong welded joints last long.
- Metal dining sets are difficult to scratch or chip.
Cons:
- Metal dining sets can corrode by moisture absorption and are not advisable for outdoor use.
- Bulky and heavy, difficult to shift.
- Laminate: Laminate dining sets are synthetic and mimic the appearance of natural wood. Formed by multiple layers of PVC and melamine, laminate is a cost-effective alternative for wood. Laminate dining sets have wood grain finishing and are available in countless design and style options.
Pros:
- Affordable and easy to install
- Can be used outdoors
Cons:
- Susceptible to scratches and chipping
- Reduced lifespan
- Wood: Wooden dining sets have an unparalleled old-world charm and warm look. Most commercial wooden dining sets are available from hardwoods like Cherry, Walnut, Oak, Maple, etc. From extra shining laminated dining sets to rustic tables, you have plenty of design options to choose from.
Pros:
- Durable
- Helps in creating a welcoming ambiance
Cons:
- Prone to moisture absorption, not suitable for outdoor use.
- Require proper maintenance and regular care
- Plastic: Plastic dining sets are budget-friendly, durable, and offer sufficient resistance to moisture. As manufacturing technology has evolved, plastic restaurant dining sets are available in various trendy and vibrant colors, shapes, and sizes to complement the theme of any modern restaurant.
Pros:
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Versatile, light-weight, and perfect for outdoor use
Cons:
- Lacks premium appeal.
What Are the Care and Maintenance Tips for Restaurant Table and Chair Sets?
Investing time and effort in caring for and maintaining your restaurant dining sets helps in retaining their classy appearance, year after year. Outdoor restaurant tables and chair sets remain exposed to extreme weather elements like UV rays, winds, temperature variations, rain, etc., and require more care than their indoor counterparts.
Although the caring and maintenance regime for dining sets depends on the material type, here are some basic steps to clean any restaurant table and chair set:
- Remove dirt by dusting it with a dry cloth.
- Use a soft, damp cloth to take out any stain or dirt build-up.
- For stubborn marks, apply material-specific commercial products.
- Allow the surface to dry completely.
Further, follow these material-specific tips to maintain your restaurant dining sets:
- For wooden furniture, use oil-based soaps or cleansers. If your wooden restaurant table and chair set have intricate designs or carvings, use a toothbrush to clean corners.
- For metal dining sets, watch out for moisture absorption that can lead to rusting. If you notice any rust formation, clean the area with sandpaper and use a vinegar solution.
- Although plastic is a comparatively low-maintenance material, you can use any commercial non-abrasive mild cleaner. Top it off with a layer of car wax for a shiny glow.
Summing it up
Any guest longs for a comfortable restaurant ambiance and a memorable dining experience. Finding an appealing yet functional, affordable yet durable, commercial dining set is the first step in giving your restaurant an edge over your competitors.
This article highlights the significance of restaurant dining sets, their design considerations, materials, and maintenance tips.
Hopefully, by taking note of these points, you will be able to find the perfect table and chair set that complements your restaurant’s concept and enhances the appeal for a profitable business and satisfied customers.
Thank you for reading!
