Its a veneer like most dining sets are these days. That makes it extremely fragile to heat and scratches. In order to make it more kid/friendly, I wrapped the chair cushions in 12/gauge vinyl, and placed a felt/lined tablecloth over the tabletop. I can always remove the vinyl when the kids get older, and I can take off the tablecloth when entertaining. No regrets in buying this set after making adjustments those modifications. I was actually pretty disappointed.
You Get What You Pay For
Its a veneer like most dining sets are these days. That makes it extremely fragile to heat and scratches. In order to make it more kid/friendly, I wrapped the chair cushions in 12/gauge vinyl, and placed a felt/lined tablecloth over the tabletop. I can always remove the vinyl when the kids get older, and I can take off the tablecloth when entertaining. No regrets in buying this set after making adjustments those modifications. I was actually pretty disappointed.