The Communal Table

You see them popping up all over the state, from Kirkland to Seattle, from Walla Walla to high atop the peaks above Winthrop. It’s the communal table.

They’re a great way to dine as a large group. Simply book the table and invite 20 or so of your closest friends. They make a great setting for a small office party, business lunch/presentation or a gathering of friends.

Photo: A festive time at Barolo's communal table

The history of the communal table is centuries old, but they were most common in America during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Today they’re becoming popular again and you'll find them popping up in restaurants all over Puget Sound (see a listing of some at the bottom of this story).

Etiquette at the Communal Table

Our resident "King of Etiquette" has a few tips about how to conduct yourself at the communal table.

When sitting at the communal table it is inappropriate to blurt out "Please pass the monkey brains" …unless it's a customary dish.
It is also inappropriate to blurt out "Where’s the meat" …except after the fifth course where nothing but pasta and vegetables has been served.
Staring at a stranger at the communal table is inappropriate…if you do so for longer than 25 minutes. By that point you should have introduced yourself.
When toasting, glass clinking should be restricted to the furthest reach before you spill your beverage.
Whispering is not allowed at the communal table.
Smoking is not allowed at the communal table. Neither is placing your coaster over the top of your glass and sneaking outside for a puff.
Carving one’s initials into the communal table is considered tacky.
Photography is not allowed… particularly after the fifth course!
Pets are not allowed at the communal table – PERIOD!
Children must leave the communal table by 7 p.m.
No heavy petting.
Blackberries and other PDA’s are restricted from the communal table – except in America and certain parts of Europe of course.

Patrick Thomas

There may not be menu choices at the communal table. Food might be predetermined and brought out in courses as the meal progresses. There are exceptions to this such as Hector’s of Kirkland who will seat a large party without prior reservations and serve them from their standard menu.

Another exception is where the table is designated for small parties and those who are solo dining and want to meet others, like the communal table at the new FareStart restaurant on Stewart downtown.

Some restaurants go with the flow--maybe a large group wants to use the table one night and solo diners and couples occupy it the next. Whatever the market demands!

Communal tables make for an exceptional setting during a wine dinner. They may be wider than standard restaurant tables so there is plenty of space on the surface for the various plates and glassware that will be utilized during the evening. The communal table inside Sun Mountain Lodge’s wine storage room is large and hidden away from the rest of the hotel guests' view creating a true private dining experience - it's hidden in the world class wine cellar at the resort.

Then there are communal tables, such as the one you’ll find inside Seattle’s Barolo, that are off to the side. The curtaining along the side of the table makes it feel more secluded; the dropped ceiling and protruded wall mirror give it its own identity within the larger restaurant space.

Table tops of communal tables can be lavish works of art in and of themselves. Some may be created from thick pieces of wood, while others can be large slabs of marble or acid stained concrete. They become their own conversation piece. The table at Qube is a "double decker" where personal belongings and menus can be stored beneath the eating surface. The table has a soft neon glow. The table top at Fare Start was made from beams that were removed from the structure the during the building renovation.

There's another attribute to the communal table. It has to do with the affair itself. For many, dining experiences at a communal table result in nights you'll never forget filled with great food, good laughter and a chance to enjoy old as well as new friendships.

Below: The communal table for 12 hidden away inside the wine cellar at Sun Mountain Lodge perched high atop Winthrop near Washington's Methow Valley.

--Where to find them—

In Seattle

Asteroid Cafe, 3601 Fremont Ave, #207, 206-547-9000
Barolo, 1940 Westlake Avenue, 206-770-9000
Boat Street Cafe, 3131 Western Ave, 206-632-4602
Brasa, 2107 Third Ave, 206-728-4220
FareStart, 7th & Virginia, 206-443-1233
La Carta de Oaxaca, 5431 Ballard Ave NW, 206-782-8722
O'asian, 800 5th Ave, 206-264-1789
Qube, 1901 Second Ave, 206-770-5888
Salumi, 309 Third Ave S, 206-770-5888
Sitka & Spruce, 2238 Eastlake Ave E, 206-324-0662
Tavolata, 2323 Second Ave, 206-838-8008
Veil, 555 Aloha St, #100, 206-216-0600
Vios Cafe & Marketplace, 903 19th Ave E, 206-329-3236

Bellevue & The Eastside

Hector’s Bar & Grill, 112 Lake St S, Kirkland, 425-827-4811
The Herbfarm, 14590 NE 145h St, 425-485-5300
Pomegranate Bistro, 18005 NE 68th St, Redmond, 425-556-5972

Washington Wine Country and Beyond

Sun Mountain Lodge, 605 Patterson Lake Rd, Winthrop, 509-826-9036

January 2007

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