Communal Tables - Experiences?

[scorpioscuba]

I've been reading about communal tables and have seen a couple of articles on the topic. In fact I think there was also an article in The Grinder here on Chow. I've never done it mainly because I haven't yet had the opportunity. I think it would be something I'd like to try and am thinking of seeking out a restaurant that offers this the next time I'm on business travel (sure beats sitting alone with a book!). I have a lot of questions though and would love to hear others' experiences with it.

Was there a lot of conversation among various guests? I've read that some people keep to themselves and others get engaged in really lively conversations.

Did you share food? If so, how is the tab calculated?

TIA!

[hungry_pangolin]

Generally, I've had good experiences with communal dining, but it is a crap shoot. It relies on everyone at the table having the appropriate attitude. The worst addition to a table is a couple either wanting an intimate experience or on the brink of a domestic. I remember once I was on the P&O ferry from Aberdeen to Stromness (ca. 8 hr passage at that time), and at dinner was seated at a four-top occupied by a couple in their late 20s and woman about 70 (I was 23). I introduced myself, and made small talk, and thought that the woman was the mother of one of the couple. I ordered a bottle of wine, and invited everyone in on it. The couple seemed reluctant, but the older woman seemed pleased. Dinner wore on (a very nice roast beef), convo with the older woman was quite charming, the couple finished and excused themselves, barely touching their wine. The woman and I continued chatting, at which point she clarified that the couple were complete strangers. She and I finished the wine, and had dessert, and a brandy. Great fun.

The bill was assigned individually be seat number.

[ekammin]

I recall once eating at the Rathskeller in Munich with a friend. There were communal tables, and I had learned enough German manners to wish a loud "Mahlzeit!" to the people already sitting there.

The server assumed everyone wanted beer, and just asked "Helles oder Dunkles?" (Light or dark?) I just said "Helles", but my friend (a bit of a prig, I must admit) said, in a loud voice "Mineralwasser!" (Mineral water). The universal expressions of surprise were something to see.

[taco_belle]

I despise communal dining.

[Chew on That]

Sometimes Noodles and Company has communal tables. You usually sit a chair or two apart and mind your own business from the party next to you. Or, I see them a lot in Japanese restaurants at the cooking tables. I like meeting new people - I think they're fun when you interact!

Hillary
http://chewonthatblog.com

[manraysky]

I've had a couple of experience with communal tables. In all of the experiences, the food wasn't shared, and each diner or group of received their own check.
When I've sat at communal tables with groups, the people in the groups didn't interact much, except to say hi. When I've sat at a communal table made up of single diners, there was more conversation and interaction. It was fun.

[sixelagogo]

I'm a real fan of communal dining for several reasons:
1. when I'm on vacation with my SO, I'm really happy to have a conversation with other people... .It's kinda a relief
2. I've always met really interesting people and gotten great dining tips

I've never eaten a communal meal as a solo diner, though have had excellent meals and experiences at the bars of fine restaurants (Blue Hill, Babbo). Sitting next to people during a meal really opens up conversation and even sharing of food with strangers.

I only wish there were more communal dining places in NJ/NY, as its my preferred means of dining

[Phaedrus]

My experience came in the Smith House in Dahlonega Georgia. www.smithhouse.com.

Dahlonega's claim to fame is twofold: its close to Dawsonville, home of Bill Elliot of Nascar fame, and the surrounding north Georgia mountains have a a number of streams where people go for fold panning. The Smith House is the best restaurant around there. You pay one price and they seat you with a bunch of strangers and then they start piling on the food. It was awesome, great food, great civility and lots of communing with people from mostly Georgia but quite a few from all over the place. Great times.

[Sra. Swanky]

The best communal table experience I've ever had was last summer in Lynchburg, Tennessee at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (Next to the Jack Daniel's Distillery). Señor Swanky & I are from the NYC area, and we were bumping elbows with a wonderful family from Alabama. At Mary Bobo's, you pay for your meal ahead of time (it's a set price per person, so there's no tab at the end of the meal) and when you sit down, the food is served family style and dishes are passed around. This was where we were first introduced to fried okra and other delicious Southern fare. Our Alabama friends were delighted to show us which foods were not to be missed. "You've never tried fried catfish??? Oh honey, give me your plate - you HAVE to try this!" We had a wonderful time exchanging trips of our journeys with our tablemates and the great food we had encountered along the way. The time really flew!!! (Always does when you're having fun!)

[brekkie_fan]

i've done it at Town Hall in SF, and it was out of convenience more than anything else. we kept to ourselves, but at least we had some elbow room!

[Sam Fujisaka]

Basque restaurants in California had (have?) communal tables. Great food, great conversations: why worry? What's not to like?

[Kitchen Queen]

Yes, Sam is right. We have a small Basque community in Bakersfield where several restaurants offer communial eating. Dinner is set for a partcular time and one MUST arrival on time. The meal is the same food items for all, with the same price for all. One must like the menu items to be part of the party. Generally, there's no substituting.

[jlawrence01]

I have done the various Basque restaurants in Elko, NV and Reno. You do not have to show up "on time". They will sit you down with recent arrivees. Some of the restaurants bring out all of the food "family style" and you eat whatever comes out. Others - like the Star Hotel - bring out all of the sides family style and bring out the entree that you decide to order.

The conversation is a crap shoot. We been seated with basque families and had great conversations. In Elko, we were seated with the headline country act that was appearing in the local casino hotel ... which led to a couple of free tickets. Other times, everyone was quiet and just ate whick makes it somewhat uncomfortable.

The Samoan Cookhouse near Eureka, California was another place offering communal dining.

[nathanac]

The communal table is very common in Europe where a lot of cafes don't have a lot of space. When I was in Germany I had mixed experiences with this concept. Once we shared a table with two other families and learned so much about the surrounding area. That was great. Another time we were eating when a couple sat down at our table. Let me just say their hygene was not up to par. This affected the meal. Good and bad. I'd say mostly good, though.

[Rick]

There was a place in San Francisco where there was a set dinner time at the communal table, you paid your set price, and food was passed around the table.

[OCAnn]

The communal table was how I was introduced to Chowhound! =)

It was @ Salumi's in Seattle. There, you order & pay for the food, then sit down. So if you share, you share your already-purchased item (which we did). We shared some conversation, but not a whole lot. It's an enjoyable experience when you're in the mood to interact (I'm an introvert; Mr OCAnn is an extrovert).

[jpschust]

I've done it a few times. I really love it- I've actually made a few friends that way. It's really person by person as to how the conversations went, but it has been interesting when it worked to see how people interact and view food whose tastes I don't know whatsoever. The bill has always been individually or by the group you came with (so for two the bill comes together for the two). Each person orders for themselves as the table hasn't been seated at the same time.

[mark]

i assume a communal table is just a large/long table where multiple, unrelated parties can sit and not some new dining concept involving forcing strangers to dine together? if so, i do it from time-to-time. i've found it most commonly at irish bars up north, but at other places too. while the table is shared, your food and drink are yours, unless you choose to offer them around; no one will make a grab for it. on the occasions i've offered to share, it was only after i had ordered and then struck up a conversation, so i paid the tab. i think if you start conversing first, then order jointly you should expect to split the bill somehow unless someone states upfront that they're treating. you can keep to yourself or participate with your neighbors to the degree you wish, although in the irish bars i've been to sing-alongs and toasts generally pull in the whole crowd. don't expect it to be quiet or to be able to carry on a private conversation, but people are generally respectful if you choose to keep to yourself. it's a great way to meet locals, who will give you more dining tips. it's also occasionally fun to go to one of the places in my town and sit at the communal table to meet the tourists that come here. grab a pint, park it at the table, and enjoy.