Bandpass Design’s Dresden vs Rathskellers The Councilor, The Phalanx, and The Garrison

If you're deciding between Bandpass Design's Dresden vs Rathskellers dining game tables (The Councilor, The Phalanx, and The Garrison HQ), you'll want to know which of these premium tables will best work for both family dinners and board game nights.

At first, all four promise a similar package: premium solid construction, clever gaming features, and dual dining-gaming functionality. But the real differences lie in the finer details, and, of course, in what you value most in a multi-purpose dining table.

The Dresden delivers modern American craftsmanship built for real life. It fits naturally into your home's main living spaces, with sleek aesthetics that don't scream "game room".

Rathskellers' tables, on the other hand, are handcrafted in Greece using top-class White European Oak, with each model tailored to specific gaming styles and preferences.

In this article, we'll compare how these four dining-board game tables stack up in terms of construction, versatility, gaming customization, pricing, and more.

Ready? Let's go!

 

The Comparison: The Dresden vs Rathskellers' Dining Game Tables (Councilor, Phalanx, Garrison)

Here's a detailed comparison of the Dresden vs Rathskellers' tables:

Construction

1. The Dresden: Premium solid wood construction in Cherry, Maple, White Oak, and Walnut for the cup holders, legs, external aprons, and dice bins. The gaming surface uses durable bamboo that resists scratches and maintains its appearance even after years of heavy use.

2. The Councilor: Combines White European Oak with 0.01" (0.3mm) veneer sheets (in Antique Oak, Rustic Oak, or Knotty Oak) that give the dining table its rustic character. Features an aluminum rail system for modular attachments for wine glasses and players' trays.

3. The Phalanx: Made from a unique blend of White European Oak and a "Special Patina Technique" that infuses metal particles into the wood graining for that ultimate "Aggressive" look. The Work & Eat Widthwise Leaves are made from "Aircraft Plywood" birch, layered with oak for extra strength, durability, and water resistance. It does not include the aluminum railing system.

4. The Garrison HQ: A compact coffee-table-sized gaming table crafted from White European Oak with an aluminum railing system. Its signature white finish and optional drawer storage make it an ideal fit for living rooms, kids' rooms, and smaller gaming spaces.

Dresden's four wood variations offer plenty of personalization options, while Rathskellers' White European Oak limits your choices. Bandpass Design's bamboo gaming surface adds unmatched durability for frequent gameplay without compromising the modern dining table design.

While all four tables are handcrafted from top-quality wood, the Dresden adds lasting value that your family and friends will love and use long after you bring it home.

Size

Dresden

Table	Table dimensions	Table height	Leg gap	Game vault dimensions	Number of players
Standard	78" L x 52" W (3 panels)	30 3/8"	25"	54" x 36" W 3 1/4" deep	6
XL	90" L x 52" W (4 panels)	30 3/8"	25"	66" L x 36" W 3 1/4" deep	8
Battleground	96" L x 64" W (4 panels)	30 3/8"	25"	72" L x 48" W 3 1/4" deep	8

Rathskellers

Table	Dimensions	Table height	Game cellar depth	Number of players
Councilor	Customized sizing to fit your space	Varies between 29.5" and 32.6" (75-83 cm)	2.6" (6.5 cm)	Made to size
Phalanx	43.3" x 47.2" (110 x 120 cm)	Varies between 29.5" and 33.4" (75-85 cm)	2.6" (6.5 cm)	4
	66.9" x 47.2" (170 x 120 cm)	Varies between 29.5" and 33.4" (75-85 cm)	2.6" (6.5 cm)	6
	82.6" x 47.2" (210 x 120 cm)	Varies between 29.5" and 33.4" (75-85 cm)	2.6" (6.5 cm)	8
Garrison HQ	Customized sizing to fit your space	Varies between 29.5" and 32.6" (75-83 cm)	2.36" (6 cm)	Made to size

Bandpass Design offers three table sizes that cover the most common player counts and dining room dimensions, so you don't have to stress about customization measurements. Contrastingly, Rathskellers allows you to custom-build your dining table (except The Phalanx), which is super helpful for those with space constraints.

Read more: How To Divide A Small Living Room And Dining Room Combo

Wood finishes and styles

Dresden: Wood options

• Walnut

• Maple

• Cherry

• White Oak

Choose from seven unique styles:

1. Mid Century Modern Nº1: Sleek, curved dining top (15º underside bevel) on sharply tapered legs.

2. Craftsman Nº1: Substantial, flared 2-sided legs with simple legs and minor decorative accents.

3. Shaker Nº2: Sharp lines, legs tapered on the two inner faces, featuring an aggressive bevel cut on the straight ends.

4. Danish Modern Nº1: Minimalist design with legs that taper in thickness.

5. Danish Modern Nº2: Minimalist design with distinct rounded curves.

6. Basic Nº1: Standard table with a rounded corner dining top and 2.25" x 2.25" square legs.

7. Basic Nº2: Basic table with a rounded top and thicker square legs (2.75" x 2.75").

Rathskellers

All three of Rathskellers' dining-gaming tables are crafted from high-quality White European Oak.

The following finishes/styles apply to:

• The Councilor: Solid oak combined with 0.01" (0.3mm) veneer sheets in Antique Oak, Rustic Oak, or Knotty Oak gives the table its rustic vibe.

• The Phalanx: Work & Eat Widthwise Leaves made from a "Aircraft Plywood" birch-oak combo for added durability. Exclusive to The Phalanx, a "Special Patina Technique" is also available, where metal particles are infused in the wood grain for that military edge.

• The Garrison HQ: Additional white sliding storage drawers feature an angled front-end design, allowing for quick and easy access to all your gaming supplies. The Game Cellar features a sturdy hardwood leaf cover, a choice of floor fabric, and a transparent acrylic layer that you can use for dry-erase drawing. Complete the look with various upgrades like LED lighting in nearly every color.

Bandpass Design's Dresden offers seven sophisticated styles and four distinct wood options, making it easy to match the dining-gaming table with most home aesthetics. Rathskellers' commitment to European Oak stands out for its consistent quality, but limits options for those looking for darker woods like dark walnut or warmer tones like cherry.

Gaming features

Dresden

The Dresden is a convertible dining table that allows you to switch from casual dinners to family game nights in minutes. Player Stations are integrated along the table's edge with each featuring a card slot, two counter/chit holders, cup holders, and dice bins around the perimeter.

The Game Vault insert is double-sided with casino-grade speed cloth (in nine color choices) on one side and stretch velveteen (in seven color variations) on the other. The vault is finished with hardwood trim that matches your table design, with added leather straps for convenience. This gaming setup has plenty of room and lets you play all your favorite board games, puzzles, and cards with ease.

Rathskellers

• The Councilor: With the Game Cellar as the focus, this dining-games table features an aluminum railing system, felt cap (great for larger board games!), a Bluetooth sound system, wireless charging ports, and separate player zones. Plus, the cellar floor insert can either be single or double-sided in your choice of Simonis™ Speed Cloth, velveteen, felt, or velvet. You can also add extra storage and as many electrical accessories as you'd like!

• The Phalanx: Each Player Station has everything you need for long gaming nights: ledge lines, cup holders, counter holders, storage bins, pencil and card holders. You also have the option to add USB charging ports and upgrade one of the bins to Rathskellers' Bartisan Dice Tower, but the latter is only available for 6 and 8-player tables.

• The Garrison HQ: The Garrison is meant to be your gaming HQ. It boasts mega storage with four drawers for board games, four small drawers for cards and TV remotes, two magazine/book storage slots, and one enormous space for your Carcassonne and Alhambra Big Boxes.

  The aluminum rail systems let you bolt on extra accessories such as cup holders and player work tables, with the option to add wireless charging ports, so you have everything within close range when the first dice rolls. Built-in LED lighting lets you set the mood, from lava reds to cyberpunk blue, and pump the tunes through high-quality Bluetooth speakers

Dresden's integrated Player Stations provide everything you need from the get-go, so you won't have to spend extra on optional add-ons. The durable bamboo gaming surface resists wear and tear much better than traditional game cellar floors of other tables.

Rathskellers' aluminum railing system, USB charging ports, Bluetooth connectivity, additional storage solutions, and LED lighting give you endless customization options, but their value ultimately depends on your personal preference and budget.

Read more:

• Reasons to Own A Multi-Purpose Dining Table

• Choosing Game Table Fabric: A Guide

Pricing and ordering

Brand	Table model	Starting price
Bandpass Design	Standard	$3,695
	XL	$4,795
	Battleground	$5,895
Rathskellers	Councilor	~$2,604 (€2,250)
	Phalanx	~$2,257 (€1,950)
	Garrison HQ	~$2,870.50 (€2,480)

Dresden: Order process

Placing your Dresden table order online is easy. Payments are processed securely via Shopify, with FREE shipping within the US! Once payment is received, you'll get it within roughly 24 weeks.

Insider tip: Get one free Dresden accessory with every Dresden table purchase!

Rathskellers: Order process

To order the Councilor, Phalanx, or Garrison HQ, you'll follow a seven-step ordering process. First, you'll pay a deposit to secure your spot in the queue, and within a day or two, a sales rep will contact you to walk you through your customization options. After this, you'll pay the remaining balance of your order, with pre-crafting and construction starting soon after. You can expect your Rathskeller table within 3-4 months.

 

FAQs

Do Bandpass Design and Rathskellers' tables come with matching chairs?

Unfortunately, neither brand offers matching chairs. However, for an additional fee, you can order benches to complement the Rathskellers' Phalanx table, with fabric choices including velveteen, PU leather, or real leather.

What's the main difference between the Dresden and Rathskellers' dining game tables?

The Dresden table is designed as a dining table that effortlessly converts into a gaming setup, unlike Rathskellers' tables, which lean heavily into gaming-specialized tables with a wider range of tech and customization options.

 

The Final Verdict

So there you have it: a complete rundown of how Bandpass Design compares to Rathskellers' dining game tables.

All four options are beautiful, solid wood tables capable of handling everything from weeknight dinners and remote work to marathon game nights.

The Dresden stands out for its modern aesthetics, exceptional craftsmanship, and free US shipping, typically delivered within 24 weeks. Rathskellers' tables make a fine choice for those who want more personalization and tech-driven features, with most orders arriving in about 3-4 months.

But your final choice ultimately comes down to your personal preferences, dining-gaming needs, and budget. If you're keen to transform your living areas, explore Bandpass Design's Dresden and other table design lineups online today.