You’ve decided that what you want is to run a café, rather
than any other type of restaurant. A café has a certain type of panache. It
isn’t just a coffee house, goodness knows there are enough of those; no, a café
is more stylish, and it generally serves some wonderful food. Start out by
thinking about what your café tables will look like, and what you will be
placing on them.

Finding the Right Look

Café tables are traditionally smaller than standard
four-tops. They can be round or square, and they come with coordinated chairs.
Many of these tables are designed from metal scrollwork, which makes them ideal
for inside or out. The final common feature is a central foot underneath. This
gives people plenty of leg room, even with a small table.

Decorating Your Design

A metal table is great, until you want to put china or
stoneware on it. Then you run the risk of chips, dings and breakage. Sorry to
say, but staff isn’t always as careful as they should be when putting down
plates. If you do go with a metal table, consider adding placemats or even
tablecloths. These may very well save your dishes and your wallet.

A small vase of flowers is always a nice touch on a café
table. You want to create an elegant but functional ambiance. Just don’t let
the flowers take over the space; guests want to talk face to face, not to a
bouquet. Additionally, minimize what you put on the table in general. Remember,
the surface is probably fairly small to begin with, and you want to have plenty
of room for dishes when they come out.

Keep It Clean

The ideal feel of a café is clean and tidy. Quaint is often
a word used to describe the setting. If you don’t know how to turn your current
space into something appropriate, you might consider murals on the wall, neat
linens and a simple menu. Simple lines and a minimum of clutter is the goal.

You don’t just want your table to be clean and neat, you
want your dishes to be, too. New lines of washers are offering actionable
intelligence for restaurateurs who want to be on top of sanitation in their
kitchens. Few things will put off customers as fast as dishes or silverware
that is still dirty after a “wash.” If your dishwasher isn’t up to par, then it
might be time to look at some of the more modern options; they save water, do a
spectacular job cleaning, and reduce your impact on the environment too. Your
restaurant supplier will be able to help you find the best bang for your buck.

With your café tables picked, a nice motif that ties the
restaurant together, and the perfect layout inside and out, you are ready to
welcome your guests. All you need to do now is get the menu ready for opening
day.