Thanks, all. I love a juicy disagreement - keep talking! I'm still in the research phase, and have compiled a list of DC area restuarants with communal tables (seats a minimum of eight guests from two or more unrelated parties). I am most interested in how people react to being seated with strangers - do they make friends, stay longer and buy another round, or do they leave faster and spend less? I am looking only at table-service restaurants, no take-out or cafeteria-style/seat-yourself places.
This is my attempt to list all the communal tables at full-service restuarants in DC. My definition of "communal table" is one which seats a minimum of eight guests from two or more unrelated parties. Unrelated parties are the key here - if it's just a banquet table and is only used for large parties/bookings, it doesn't count.
Am I missing any?
1905
Black's Bar & Kitchen
Blue Duck Tavern
Bucks Fishing & Camping
Cava
Circa
Circle Bistro
Comet Ping Pong
CommonWealth
Food Matters
Founding Farmers
Good Stuff Eatery
Granville Moore's
Heights, The
Hook
Jaleo
Japan Inn
Kemble Park Tavern
La Strada
Le Pain Quotidien - Bethesda, Georgetown, CapHill, and more
Lebanese Taverna - Bethesda, Tyson's, Baltimore
Liberty Tavern
Logan Tavern
Marriott Renaissance M St
Masa 14
Minibar
Posto
Public
Sette Bello
Sonoma
Sou'Wester
Sova
Taylor Gourmet II
Urbana @ Hotel Palomar
Vapiano - Ballston
Vapiano - Chinatown
Vapiano - Dupont
Zaytinya
Zengo