Communal dining is making a big impact on America’s great food cities. Plates have become more shareable and are often served family style, so why not have the dining experience be a group activity, too? Learn about 11 favorite communal tables at Los Angeles restaurants, listed in alphabetical order.
A-Frame [CLOSED]
Canelé [CLOSED]
The communal table at this charming Atwater Village cafe can seat 10-12 (or more if the party is willing to squeeze in). The table is made of walnut and was sourced and assembled by Bonhoff lumber. Canelé chef/owner Corina Weibel and general manager/owner Jane Choi designed and stained this table, along with all the other tables, floors, and the entire space.
Some of Canelé’s most popular dishes include the brandade, paté, and salt-roasted branzino.
Drago Centro, one of the great Downtown establishments, comes from Executive Chef Celestino Drago and serves contemporary Italian dishes. The communal table at Drago Centro is made of marble and designed by AM Cabinets. While the restaurant is undeniably on the fancier side of dining, they have an all-day happy hour that is available at the communal table. So if you don’t want to splurge on dinner, take a seat at the marble table and order up a calzone; we hear they’re quite good.
Fundamental LA [CLOSED]
The team behind Fundamental LA designed the restaurant themselves. They had a carpenter mill the tables and benches and had a welder create the frames so Fundamental LA could assemble everything. There are four tables, made of solid white oak, which each seat 8 people.
All of the dishes here are meant to be shared, but a fan favorite is the carrot risotto with mint and Manchego. The owners have tried to create a restaurant which connects their background in fine dining and their affection for a neighborhood restaurant. By creating a place at which they want to eat, they’ve also created a place that we love.
Blog Comments
A103 – Overview/Homework/Quiz/Extra Credit – 4/28/16 | bunnieland.com
April 29, 2016 at 2:39 PM
[…] and see where it goes from there. If no one continues the conversation then reflect on that. (List of top communal seating restaurants in LA) also see links at the bottom of […]
Christin
March 28, 2013 at 9:00 PM
Great coverage and curation of some very cool looking communal table restaurants. I’ll be on the lookout for a number of these spots!