Best dining room sets

Top pick: the Wildenauer dining room set — a solid, well-rated 60"×36" table with chairs from a real furniture store, the kind of everyday set that holds up to family dinners without a designer price. It's the best balance of build and value here.

Who the others suit:

• Bennox (seats 6) — the pick if you regularly feed a crowd; a full six-seater for less than most five-piece sets.
• Gesthaven — similar six-seat footprint, well rated, if you want a slightly different look.
• COLAMY or EOP extendable sets — best for small rooms that need to grow for holidays.
• Segmart 5-piece — the budget starter set for a first apartment.
• Maylee — step up if you want a heavier, more formal piece.

Skip the tiny 3-piece sets unless it's a breakfast nook.