I’m the sort of person who feels less awkward by being sociable, so I’ll rarely ignore a stranger when I sit next to them. The same applies on long bus, train or plane journeys as it would in a restaurant with communal tables. Make eye contact, say hello, crack a friendly grin and get on with it. It’s only polite, I think. Most of the time, the person will reply with a friendly hello, then you may or may not breath another word to each other. The odd time they will go all shy and look the other direction. That’s totally cool with me, as I assure myself that I’m not the one who’s socially inept.
The Asian restaurant chain Wagamama is kitted out with communal tables. I like it. There’s a nice atmosphere and it’s even more enjoyable with a group of four people or more. In saying that, if I’m looking for some “us” time, my fiancee (it still gives me the shakes) and I will look for somewhere with the regular set-up. If it really isn’t your scene, just don’t go there, but I think the fact that Wagamama has been such a success in Ireland shows that most of us are very happy to be sat at communal tables most of the time. The fact that the chain has been so successful in transferring its model internationally might show we have something in common with the rest of the world, and as a whole we are a friendly people.
Zagat recently counted the communal table among the 10 most annoying restaurant trends. Other things that made the top 10 list were bread baskets you have to pay for, ice-less table water and mustachioed bartenders. Any restaurateurs want to throw in their tuppence worth? Is Ireland ready for widespread table sharing? Personally, as long as they don’t go for my food or wine (I growl and bite when feeding, especially over chocolate desserts), I love the idea. For further reading, see The Etiquette of Communal Tables and The 10 Most Annoying Restaurant Trends.
Credit and thanks to @enormous for tweeting the articles in the first place!
6 Comments
I don’t mind communal tables but I really hate if the tables are supposed to be separate but are actually just inches from each other. Brutally awkward if you’re there in a couple, the people next to you are a couple, and there are just a small handful of people in the gaff.
Cop on, restaurants! Stop being (a) greedy and trying to pack in too many people, and (b) being lazy and shunting all diners into the same section to make serving easier.
Probably a bigger issue during the ‘boom’ times than now, admittedly.
I personally love communal setups for anything bar ‘date’ type meals. Although a lot of Irish seem really awkward about smiling and saying hello to your seated neighbour – I don’t get it……it’s good to meet new people.
Had a meal in Paulies Pizza(Grand Canal St) tonight and the communal seating really setup a party atmosphere with plenty of cross group conversation.
Communal tables work well for casual or informal dining. You’ve already metioned Wagamama, and I would also add JoBurger (Rathmines) and Crackbird (City centre) to that list.
Ultimately though, you generally don’t want people listening in on your conversations, so privacy is desirable. As Paul says above, tables shouldn’t be packed so close together – Butcher Grill in Ranelagh, I’m looking at you.
Just to say that, in the Pall Mall gentlemen’s clubs, there is always a table for those who are dining alone. It is considered bad form to sit at a table on your own, so if you do not have a guest, you are expected to sit at the communal table and dine with the other solo members.
Of course, as it is a club, it is anticipated that you have something in common with the other members, and are all happy to converse with each other. And it’s rather a nice idea, that you never have to dine alone.
Not quite the same as Wagamama, though…
Thanks for the comments, guys.
Agreed. Tables that are not ‘communal’ should not be sat too close together if it can be helped.
I do admire restaurants who employ the communal theme. It’s a bit of a risk on their part, but a smart move if it pays off. And it is a hellishly difficult business to make money in.
Again, there’s a time for that, and a time for the more intimate venues. It’s great to have the choice of both.
(I like the idea of a communal table for solo diners – that’s kinda cool. Put out todays newspapers for them, so they can keep their heads down if they don’t want to chat!)
I really like that Pall Mall way of doing things.