A Guide to Finding the Right Restaurant Table Top

Finding the right restaurant table top can be a key factor in creating the mood and ambiance of your business. Which pieces you select will depend on considerations such as:

Are you a family-friendly burger joint or a chic vegan café? 

Are you going after a high-end clientele or trying to attract sports fans to watch the big game?  

The type of table top you choose can make all the difference in creating the right aesthetic for the patrons you’re attempting to attract. 

There are several factors to consider when purchasing restaurant table tops, including the quality and durability of construction, the shape of the table design, and the overall theme of your restaurant. But really, nothing is more crucial, in setting the tone of your space, than the material that  you choose for the table tops.

Below we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to assist you in finding the right material for your restaurant table top:  

The Best Table Top Material for Your Restaurant

There are plenty of options when it comes to finding the best table top material for your bar or restaurant. It all depends on the look you’re going for, the location of the table, and the price you want to spend.

Generally speaking, however, table top material can be broken down into four categories: solid wood, stone and stainless steel, indoor laminate, and advanced synthetics.

Solid Wood

If you’re looking for an all-natural and durable table top for restaurant usage, there’s no better material than solid wood. Solid wood table tops can be found in customizable color stains and are made from a number of different types of wood, with some of the most popular being:

• Bamboo  
• Oak
• Pinewood
• Fir
• Mahogany
• Beechwood

Hardwood trees like the American Oak and Beechwood will be naturally darker and are ideal for more elegant settings, while softwoods like pine, fir, and bamboo have a lighter coloring and contribute to a more rustic ambiance. Whichever style you choose, you can be sure that commercial-grade solid wood table tops will be very durable and resistant to both scratching and moisture damage.

Stone & Stainless Steel

If you need a heavy-duty table that can hold up to all sorts of wear and tear, choosing a stone or stainless steel table top is what you need. Imported real solid granite table tops, for instance, are great for either indoor or outdoor usage and can provide a classic aesthetic to your bar or restaurant. 

Stainless steel table tops, on the other hand, can help create a more chic-industrial vibe, either indoors or outdoors, offering great durability, water resistance, and an easy-to-clean surface.

Laminate

If you’re making a table top material list for strictly indoor use, laminate needs to be strongly considered. There are plenty of advantages to choosing a laminate table top, not the least of which is saving money and having more design flexibility. Laminates are basically a synthetic material that can take on any number of appearances, from wood, to stone, to any color imaginable.

Laminates are very durable and designed to be heat and scratch-resistant, making them ideal in settings with hot plates and high traffic. They’re also easy to clean and much more affordable than the solid wood and stone table tops they’re made to mimic.

Resin & Advanced Synthetics  

In addition to laminate table tops, many bar and restaurant owners look to table tops made of resin and other advanced synthetics like plastic teak and Werzalit.

Resin tops are designed to simulate the look and texture of natural wood, from dark mahogany to deep cherry, and the synthetic material is resistant to both ultraviolet light—so no fading—and corrosion, making it even more durable than a solid wood table!

Plastic teak and Werzalit are both fully waterproof, fade-resistant, and environmentally friendly, making them perfect for outdoor patio use. Unlike most real teak table tops, plastic teak is sustainable and comes in a number of different colors, while Werzalit, like laminate, can be made to look like any number of restaurant table top materials. 

No matter what type of table top you’re looking to incorporate into your bar or restaurant, Bistro Tables and Bases has a huge selection of solid wood, stone, stainless steel, laminate, and synthetic table tops. Check out our extensive stock today!