The concept of social dining originated in the Middle Ages where dining was more of a bustling, boisterous celebration of food; meals were shared and eaten at a leisurely pace and considered a form of entertainment.

Today sharing a meal is still considered a celebration 0f nature, hard work and valued bonds with others; but contemporary long-table dining points to equality and egalitarianism in the partaking of food and food choices, removing the elitism, class and status that is often associated with more recent fine dining and cultural eating practices.