Granite restaurant tables for hospitality settings are used indoors as well as out; and for casual as well as formal settings. Granite tabletops offer a look and feel that wood, laminate, and other materials- just cannot provide to the dining customer. For example, granite offers the impression to customers that the establishment not only provides quality food but also a well-trained staff, completing the penultimate dining experience. Of course, it is up to the business to deliver on this unwritten promise, as the granite restaurant tables simply set the stage. It is common to see granite restaurant tables in casual dining, fine dining, included in outdoor commercial patio furniture, and even in grocery store eating areas.
Are granite table tops up to your restaurants’ durability requirements? If treated with reasonable care, granite tabletops are very durable. If two granite tables are hit against each other very hard, they will be damaged just like any other table; otherwise, they are more durable than most other materials. Granite tables do not split like wooden tables, nor can their finish scratch or peel like finished tables. The sun will never bleach the color of these tables, and cleaning chemicals don’t affect granite as they may other materials. Water, alcohol and food will not affect them at all. After all, mountain ranges round the world are composed of granite!
Some buyers ask if granite is too heavy to be moved around for cleaning. While yes, granite can be very heavy, planning how and where the tabletops will be placed can be the solution. As an example, a large solid granite table can be extremely heavy, and need several bases to support it, but if this table does not need to be moved often for cleaning, or to make room for a larger party, it’s weight will have no bearing. We do understand, however, that frequently putting these heavier granite tables together can be a strain on wait staff and can possibly damage the tables. Luckily, now there are lighter weight granite tables which you can consider the solution to frequent moving. This newer design can give you all the benefit and appearance of a solid granite table, as well as the versatility of easy moving, and application of table bases.
This lighter design consists of a layer of one-quarter inch of solid granite under laid with a layer of 1” plywood. The outer edges are covered with a thinner piece of granite with evened edges. The customer’s impression, is that the table is solid granite, which is very pleasing to the touch, and the granite joints are nearly invisible. The advantage to the restaurant being, that the tables are now less than half the weight, for the same volume as a solid granite tabletop. Now, there are several additional advantages to consider for the hospitality manager and staff, in addition to the added ease of moving the tables around. Table bases can now be assembled or disassembled quickly using one-inch screws to attach the base to the tabletop. When using only granite, epoxy glue is used to attach the base to the table top. The process of gluing the top to the base can be cumbersome and time consuming, not to mention that these tables will not be easy to be disassemble. Another advantage to lightweight tables is that a smaller base can be used because of the lighter weight. A heavier table on the same base is likely to make the table wobble. Lighter weight granite tabletops can use a lighter weight base and still achieve good support.
Granite comes in a range of colors, and can be customized to fit the décor of any hospitality setting. Natural granite stone also has unique characteristics that can be uniform or may occur in more dramatic variation. An appealing design feature is to mix the granite restaurant tables with other materials. For instance, wood butcher-block tabletops look excellent when contrasted against a granite table, completing a nice visual contrast inside the restaurant. Outdoor granite tabletops go well with resin or stainless steel tables. With granite tables outside on a patio, it is best to have some shade as they can get extremely hot to the touch when directly exposed to the sun.
Sometimes the words marble and granite are used interchangeably because they look similar and appear to have the same hardness. While marble may have colorful swirls and patterns, it is more susceptible to stains such as mustard, which are very difficult to remove. In addition, with some patterns, marble can crack along the existing fissures to the point that tables may become unusable. Generally, granite is a better choice than marble when it comes to tabletops.
Finally, restaurant chairs and restaurant barstools of many types go well any granite table. Commercial outdoor furniture such as metal patio chairs have a hard surface that matches the granite. Inside, using a chair with some fabric can give a softer look for a very pleasing combination with the granite. Granite tabletops can achieve many décor variations and can be explored further by contacting an online restaurant dealer that supplies, and has experience with lightweight granite tabletops.
