What is your policy for food at the table?

[Martini]

Just curious how everyone handles players wanting to eat at the table.

[pathand]

Absolutely no food. Bad idea.

[pauld22]

I allow dry snacks like pretzels but they must be in a bowl.  I put 4 small tables around the poker table (octagon) for other foods (one of the guys always makes a buffalo chicken dip and another makes a bean dip, these must stay on the side tables.)

So I voted #2

[Jambine]

I use side tables.   Chips & cards only on the table

[Martini]

I use side tables.   Chips & cards only on the table

Do you allow any kind of food on the side tables? If someone is eating something greasy on a side table with his hands doesn't that still cause the same problem with getting the equipment dirty?

[RyGuy]

Side tables only, and copious amounts of napkins and paper towels available for players.

I've even got a guy who often brings sushi to the game, and eats with chopsticks, who will wipe his hands from chopstick use out of respect for my wishes to keep everything clean!!

[stooks99]

My rule?  "Don't spill your beer on my G** D*** table."

[holdemholmes]

My rule?  "Don't spill your beer on my G** D*** table."

This is also a rule at mi casa. At my house, considering I use good cards I wont allow anything that is going to make a mess and destroy the cards. Nobody really has an issue with keeping drinks/food on a side table so that's the procedure they follow.

[Jambine]

I use side tables.   Chips & cards only on the table

Do you allow any kind of food on the side tables? If someone is eating something greasy on a side table with his hands doesn't that still cause the same problem with getting the equipment dirty?

There isn't anything like that available.  We usually take a dinner break and get pizza or something.  Some people might have chips or pretzels on the side tables.

[Detroitdad]

I use side tables.   Chips & cards only on the table

Do you allow any kind of food on the side tables? If someone is eating something greasy on a side table with his hands doesn't that still cause the same problem with getting the equipment dirty?

There isn't anything like that available.  We usually take a dinner break and get pizza or something.  Some people might have chips or pretzels on the side tables.

Wouldn't that be the best way to oil your brand new chips? 

[Nerre]

I use side tables.   Chips & cards only on the table

I'd extend that to: Only cards and chips inside the edge of the table. (And I think RR says no cards outside the edge of the table... )

That way you don't risk any spilling on the table (ok, if someone really try hard they can probably splash all over the table, but if the food and drinks are kept outside the edge spillage on the table is very unlikely).

[johnbaker3]

I went to a lot of trouble to build a nice table for our game.

The first day it was set up, my wife spilled a glass of red wine on the cloth; it almost cost us a divorce....luckily it cleaned up nicely.

We have breaks every hour with snacks in the kitchen.

Poker tables are for poker, not to feed your face....

My 2 cents worth....

John B

[abuck730]

My friends and I play a monthly game....sometimes one of us will bring along a "fish" to the table ...last one was 200 pounds and wore sunglasses and a leather jacket.....lost all his money....other than that type of "fish" no food is allowed at the table......  EVER!!!!!!.....

[Muley05]

I prefer that no food is on the table, but late in the game sometimes guys will bring pretzels, peanuts, or M&Ms to the table and I don't mind.  The food has to be "clean", so that it doesn't get on the poker equipment.  Items such as Doritos, Cheetos, or other foods that stay on your fingers are not allowed while playing poker, even on breaks.