A small dining table can earn its keep with a drawer or shelf for placemats,...

https://wiki-coast.win/index.php/How_to_Avoid_Buying_a_Table_That_Blocks_the_Kitchen_Path

A small dining table can earn its keep with a drawer or shelf for placemats, mail, and chargers, then open up when guests arrive. Leave 24 inches per person so holiday meals feel comfortable, not crowded