Tablebases.com Blog

  When someone calls us asking for a table base for a stone table top, we usually default to the same response: we recommend something made from cast iron. Many of you ask us why, and we are left trying to explain the somewhat complicated properties of cast iron versus steel. Thus, we thought it would be both fun and useful to give you a brief history of cast iron, highlighting the important bits that have brought us to that beautiful base under your table. Continue reading →

The Organic Coup A new restaurant, The Organic Coup, has opened in Pleasanton, California. As reported by Eater.com, the restaurant, owned by former Costco food buyer Erica Welton, claims to be the USA's first USDA-certified organic fast food restaurant. The certification means that 95 percent of more of the ingredients used come from certified organic growers. Continue reading →

  Doing business in 2015 means having a polished website, it is no longer optional. When potential customers are looking for a place to eat, a poorly designed website can mean a lost sale. The first thing visitors to your site will see is your home page, and as they say, first impressions are everything. So what are the most important things to put on your website? We looked at Quora to see what consumers and restaurant owners think should be front and center. Continue reading →

  It appears that Yelp, one of many controversial consumer review sites, will be looking to expand it's appeal by alerting users when a restaurant has a poor food safety score. As reported by the Washington Post, Yelp is currently testing the new alerts in San Francisco. Restaurants who received food safety scores in the bottom 5% locally will now show an alert that states "Following a recent inspection, this facility received a food safety rating that is in the bottom %5 locally, and is categorized by inspectors as "poor".  Continue reading →

Our vintage style table bases from the J, K & Tango series are now available with your choice of either a matte black or semi-gloss black powder coat finish! These table bases are constructed from sturdy cast iron, and are perfect for heavy table tops such as those made from natural stone or cement. These bases have a timeless charm that is sure to add some character to your space, whether it be an entire restaurant or single kitchen table. The J, K and Tango series are available in a variety of sizes and heights, to support tables from as small as 15" to as large as 48" in diameter, or up to 42" x 42" square.  Continue reading →

  It's a tired cliché, but we'll say it again, technology is dramatically changing the hospitality industry. Recently, we've noticed new text message-based delivery services that aim to fit into our smartphone-obsessed lives. Rather than downloading a dedicated application, or - heaven forbid - visiting a physical location, SMS based delivery apps aim to turn our words and emojis into real life, at your doorstep service. The latest service making waves in the blogosphere, called "Drinkeasy", uses text messages to deliver craft spirits that you may otherwise never see or purchase. Continue reading →

Starting in November, diners at some of New York's most popular restaurants may notice an increase in prices across the board. Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern, has decided to eliminate tipping at the group's 13 restaurants across the city, NPR reports. Meyer says the long-time tradition of tipping is actually "a big problem for his industry", and will be axed in favor of higher fixed prices. Continue reading →

It's a good practice for hospitality business owners to consider the range of different guests they serve, and to try to think of the best ways to make everyone comfortable. Do your guests have allergies? Children? Perhaps they have limited vision and travel with a service animal. There are a range of different circumstances your business should be prepared to handle. One of the questions we get quite often is, "How do I make wheelchair accessible tables?" With that in mind, this post is an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides guidelines (actually, hard and fast rules) for how restauranteurs should accommodate guest's using wheelchairs, to make sure they can enjoy your hospitality in comfort. Continue reading →

Photo Credit Michele Lee Wilson Photography   We always love when customers send us photos of their completed table projects, it's a treat to see the beautiful ways people apply their creativity to our products! The photo above comes from the "St. Francis Wood Residence" project, by Melanie Stewart Designs. Using our Bistro 4 cast iron table base underneath a small marble table top, Stewart has created a perfect, cozy little seating area, perfect for morning coffee or a quick bite. Continue reading →

Awhile ago, we wrote about the benefits of having a guest wifi network available for your customers, and shortly before that, we asked whether or not hospitality businesses should provide means for customers to charge their phones (short answer: you probably should). Another piece of technology that is rapidly changing is personal transport. While electric cars are still uncommon in most parts of the U.S. (the exception being the west coast, especially metropolitan areas, where they are a fairly common sight), it's pretty clear that electric cars, in one form or another, are the future of personal transportation. So, should your business offer an electric vehicle charging station? Let's take a look at the pros and cons, and see how hospitality businesses specifically can benefit by staying ahead of the tech curve. Continue reading →