Commercial tabletop accessories are an important part of your front of house setup. These items not only make it easier for your guests to access items like salt and pepper, they can set you apart from the competition. The way you set up your table can make or break the guests' experience.

When designing your tabletop layout, think carefully about looks but also utility. Everything must be easy to clean, accessible for the guest and improve the look of your dining room. To get started picking out restaurant tabletop accessories, consider the following:

1. Choose food service tabletop covers that express the atmosphere you're trying to create. Although easily overlooked, they have a major impact on the general look and feel of your dining room.

2. Provide commercial tabletop holders for napkins. Some guests are more fastidious than others and may want these items to be available at a moment's notice.

3. Think about other accessories for restaurant tabletops. Anything useful to the guest should be put on the table, short of creating clutter. Also, consider advertising right at the table. Things like printed coasters and miniature restaurant tabletop displays can have a big impact on your bottom line.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Set the mood with commercial table covers

The tablecloth you put on your restaurant tables is the first sign of class (or lack thereof) your guests will see when they walk into your establishment. Table covers set the mood and give the guests a clue as to what their experiences will be like. Colorful vinyl tablecloths express a more lively atmosphere while high-end linen table covers give an air of luxury.

I recommend: Make cleanup a cinch with vinyl table covers from Marko by Carlisle. Buy linen tablecloths in bulk at the Linen Company, which offers rectangular, square and circular table covers in many sizes and colors.

Put your customers at ease with commercial tabletop napkin holders

If someone should spill on the table, or worse, on himself, he's going to want quick access to a napkin. Servers can't always be hovering around to keep the guests' napkins stocked to the brim, and besides, that would be wasteful. The best solution is to set out a napkin holder right there at the table so guests can easily access extra napkins if they need to use them.

I recommend: Choose from almost 100 different napkin holders at Instawares. A nice wood colored tabletop napkin dispenser is available at ReStockIt.com.

Jazz up your tables with restaurant table accessories

These commercial tabletop accessories not only provide a better experience and ambiance for the customer, but can provide a practical element for your staff. Unless you want your servers running back and forth every time a customer needs a sugar packet or a salt shaker, it's wise to set out caddies to hold these items at each table. Other items to include on the tables are ashtrays (in accordance with state law), displayettes advertising specialty items and pepper mills for grinding fresh pepper.

I recommend: Avoid condensation drips from cold drinks; get custom-printed coasters made up with your restaurant's logo from American Coaster Co. Light up your tables with oil-burning candles from CandleLand.com, which offers wholesale pricing on numerous candle items. Check out the complete menu of tabletop accessories at BigTray.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Tabletop commercial grills are used widely in Japanese steakhouses, where exceptional chefs perform for guests, all while cooking a delicious meal.