Once you notice them, they can’t be ignored. Those giant “community” tables are inserting themselves into respectable dining rooms all over town. Restaurateurs and cafe owners alike are cutting down on diner seating in favor of the gargantuan tables meant to be shared by the majority of their patrons.
Okay, I admit that I may sound a bit snarky, so take my attitude with a grain of salt (would you mind passing it my way? Thanks). Nonetheless, my questions are valid.
Do they “work”? Do strangers really share courteous conversation over their croissants?
In my experience, not so much. And I eat out. Alone. A lot. I was at The Grand Central Bakery (on North Fremont) sitting at the corner of the community table when a pod of young ladies sat down next to and across from me. They were talking about some pretty heavy family stuff and there I was–sitting directly across from them. They kept looking up, as if to give me body language recognition that they could tell I was eavesdropping… well naturally I was, but naturally I couldn’t close off my ears to their dish.
Other noticeable community tables live at Saint Honore Bakery, Le Bistro Montage, Yakuza, The Clyde Common and Toro Bravo.
I’m all for the idea in principal and do applaud the effort. I still can’t help but wonder and question the cause of this obvious trend… is it a total Portland thing? Probably. Are we not spending enough time getting to know our neighbors? Well, probably.
-Catherine
Comments 4
I hate community tables. H-A-T-E them. I have actually chosen NOT to frequent a restaurant because I know there’s a chance that I’m going to have to eat my meal next to a total stranger. If I wanted to eat with a total stranger, I’d find someone and invite them to dinner. But I want to choose my stranger. And if I wanted to eavesdrop on a conversation, I’d just do it, I wouldn’t seek out some stupid community table to do it.
Posted 23 May 2007 at 11:04 am ¶On the rare occasion that I actually get to go out and have an enjoyable meal, sans 3-year-old, I want to enjoy the company of the person I chose to eat with, and shut out the rest of the world. Am I anti-social? Maybe. Do I care? No.
I love that you brought up the subject of community tables considering that they are popping up all over Portland. It’s the new cool thing to do, like eating cafeteria style is something of a new anomaly. All throughout early childhood I would sit in the lunch room eating homemade nibbles or nudging around some barely edible meal prepared by frowning lunch ladies. I’ve graduated from that though. I’m no longer ten and no longer in the school cafeteria.
Posted 13 Jun 2007 at 12:16 am ¶“Is that Seat Taken?” Ummm . . . no. Go right ahead. I wanna be your best friend.
Posted 13 Jun 2007 at 12:18 am ¶Hi…I Googled for toro bravo, but found your page about Those Big Tables Are Everywhere…and have to say thanks. nice read.
Posted 29 Jan 2008 at 4:53 pm ¶Post a Comment