Wood restaurant table tops

A wood top is the part of the table that gets handled: a hand, a forearm, a glass set down at the end of the night. The 15 tops here are solid wood, wood and veneer, in four shapes. Settle the size by the party, then read the thickness and the finish on each page.

Solid wood, wood and veneer

Solid wood and plain wood tops number 7 each, with 1 veneer top. The difference matters in two ways. A solid wood top shifts a little between seasons, and the warranty leaves that natural movement out. The warranty lists solid wood tops at six months, and its page explains how components bought alone are treated.

Two tops show how the range varies. A solid wood plank tabletop is 1 1/2" thick, listed for indoor use, and offered in 7 wood finishes and 22 sizes. A natural edge wood table surface is 1 3/4" thick, with 11 wood finishes and 19 sizes. Read the thickness before you read the finish, because it sets how the edge looks from a seat.

Shapes and sizes

Rectangular and square tops are offered on 12 each and round tops on 7, while 4 tops are drop leaf. A drop leaf top adds width when a party grows and gives the floor back when it leaves. Count the parties your room sees on a busy night before you choose between squares and rounds.

For two guests, 24 by 24 inches is the least, 24 by 30 the standard and 30 by 30 generous. Four guests are fine at 36 by 36 or at a 30 by 48 rectangle. A round of 42 to 48 inches serves four to six. Each diner needs about 24 inches of rim.

Indoors first

Indoor use is named on every one of the 15 tops. Two also name patio use; the rest stay inside, and even the two want rinsing and a cover or storage when the season ends. Prices run from $84 to $223.

Pairing and samples

A top needs a base chosen with it. Open the table bases page and match the footprint to the top before you order, and note that the warranty lists components bought alone among its exclusions. The butcher block table tops are a short list of solid wood, and the configurable table tops take options. To feel a grain, ask for a wood stain or finish sample through the samples page; they ship by UPS Ground.