The Pets Table Review 2024: Do Pets Eat Best?

Overview

The Pets Table is a dog food subscription service launched by HelloFresh. It brings fresh and air-dried meals directly to your door. We tested it with our dog-tester, Baxter, and were impressed by the high-quality, human-grade ingredients. 

Signing up is simple and begins with a quick quiz to help determine the most suitable meal plan for your dog. After signing up, you can easily manage your deliveries through your account, including rescheduling or adjusting delivery days based on your needs.

The Pets Table’s service is designed with user-friendly features. It offers quality ingredients that may suit a range of dietary preferences and pet needs. For an in-depth look at this service and insights from Baxter’s experience, read on to see if The Pets Table could be the right choice for your dog.

The Pets Table's Meals: Fresh & Dried Meals, Plus Treats

The Pets Table sources human-grade ingredients for its dog meals, and it has a decent selection of plans and recipes.

Plans & Recipes: Choose Between Fresh & Air-Dried Options

The Pets Table’s dog food plans include Fresh, Air-Dried, Mixed, and Half of Fresh. There are 3 Fresh options and 2 Air-Dried options. All 5 recipes are suitable for all ages and life stages of dogs. Here are the recipes:

• Fresh: Chicken Casserole with Green Beans, Beef Stew with Carrots, and Turkey Casserole with Broccoli

• Air-Dried: Chicken & Sweet Potato and Beef & Berries

Fresh dishes are more premium and offer better flavor and nutrients. Air-Dried meals are a healthier twist on traditional kibble. Most popular, though, is the Mixed plan. It’s a budget-friendly combo of both Fresh and Air-Dried meals. The Half of Fresh plan covers half your dog’s calorie needs and is meant to combine with your current dog food.

My colleague appreciated the flexible pricing display. Under each plan, a dropdown tab lets you view costs per meal, day, or week. This makes it easier to budget based on your needs.

You can also choose from some add-ons, including soft chews and treats, to complement your dog’s meals. Options range from joint-support chews to air-dried treats. These extras are a convenient way to add supplements or variety to your dog's diet without sourcing them separately.

The service may not be your best bet if your pup suffers from allergies. It produces meals in a facility that processes wheat, eggs, shellfish, mushrooms, and other common allergens. If you’re looking for an alternative, check out our list of the Best Healthy Dog Food Delivery Services. 

The Pets Table asks you to fill out the quiz before you can purchase any meals You can start the questionnaire from the homepage, Our Products, and Our Kitchen pages.

The food personalization questionnaire comprises 8 steps. You can complete the quiz in under 5 minutes. The questions will address your dog’s age in years and months, breed, weight, activity level, and body condition.

You'll find out how many calories your dog needs per day once you complete the test. The system will also introduce the next steps you'll need to take. You can select only 1 plan for your pet. Check how much it would cost you by day, week, or month. 

My colleague felt the questionnaire could be improved by including allergen information. If your dog has specific dietary needs, you’ll need to review each recipe's ingredients yourself, as The Pets Table only provides allergen information on its FAQ page, not in the quiz itself. In contrast, Ollie’s quiz allows you to specify allergies or digestive needs directly.

Ingredients: Human-Grade, Fresh & Natural

I checked the website and FAQ to find out who formulates the service’s meals. I was pleased to find that the recipes were developed with a Board Certified Veterinarian Nutritionist, who helps to ensure all recipes meet or exceed the nutrient profile for all life stages according to AAFCO guidelines. 

The Pets Table service sources human-grade ingredients for its fresh and Mixed meals. The food is prepared in an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) facility.

Besides turkey, the meal above contains superfoods like broccoli, chickpeas, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Turkey is great for your pet's gut health, and broccoli may prevent inflammation and is beneficial for overall immunity. This particular meal is also good for your dog's coat. Note that it contains fish oil, so isn’t suitable for dogs with fish allergies. 

The Pets Table states that its recipes contain only health-beneficial foods. It steers clear of fillers, synthetics, and any artificial ingredients that might be of no benefit or even harmful. With this service, your pup gets a meal packed with only natural ingredients.

Nutrition: Cooking Method Maintains Nutrients

The company gently cooks its ingredients in a casserole. This method helps retain valuable nutrients that often vanish with high-heat cooking. After cooking, it flash-freezes the meal to seal in the nutrients. As their name implies, Air-Dried dishes are air-dried after processing.

The Turkey Casserole With Broccoli features a USDA-certified human-grade turkey. Its calorie count is 1,355 kcal/kg, and it features a minimum of 11% crude protein and 8.5% crude fat. It has no more than 1% of crude fiber.

What Makes The Pets Table Different

One way The Pets Table sets itself apart is its team of expert taste-testers. The service places a lot of value on their practiced palates. Naturally, all of the taste-testers are dogs.

Meal-Testing Dogs

The Pets Table has 3 pups dubbed as chief tasting officers. These furry foodies have quite discerning tongues, ensuring only the yummiest dishes pass their rigorous taste tests.

My Colleague’s Unboxing Experience with The Pets Table

Upon arrival, the box from The Pets Table was in excellent condition. There were no dents or signs of damage. While there was no personalization, the box featured fun images of dogs enjoying meals, adding a playful touch. My colleague was home when it was delivered, so it wasn’t left outside for long.

Inside, everything was neatly organized. On top was an ingredient sheet for each meal, a welcome booklet on transitioning to The Pets Table food, and a refer-a-friend coupon. Underneath those were the bags of air-dried food, along with a branded scooper and storage container. A layer of dry ice kept 5 completely frozen meal packages cold, ensuring everything arrived at the right temperature.

My gripe with The Pets Table's packaging is about the environmental impact. Its boxes are curbside recyclable and the insulated liners are crafted from renewable plant-based materials and paper, making them repulpable. But the downside is that fresh and air-dried packs aren't currently recyclable. 

If you’re eco-conscious, you may find Spot & Tango a better choice. Its packaging is fully recyclable once the ice keeping food cold melts away. You can buy fresh and fresh-dried pet meals from this service. 

Keep The Pets Table's fresh recipes in the refrigerator or the freezer. They'll be safe for serving for up to a week if kept in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer. When transitioning food from the freezer to the fridge, give it 12 hours to thaw. Store air-dried food in a cool, dry spot, seal it up after use, and it should be safe for consumption for the next 6 months. 

Baxter’s Testing Experience: A Paws Up From Baxter!  

Serving The Pets Table food was straightforward and convenient. This was thanks to the clear portioning guides and the included scooper. My colleague used the food as a topper for Baxter’s regular kibble, mixing in both frozen and air-dried food. 

Portioning was easy with dotted lines on the frozen packs and the resealable bags for the baked food. They found no unexpected steps, just simple measuring, and serving, which kept meal prep time quick. 

The food seemed smaller in volume than Baxter’s usual meals. But it’s nutrient-dense, meaning he was getting the same energy with less bulk. When compared to regular kibble, the meals from The Pets Table appeared fresher and more colorful, with visible vegetables. 

Using the container kept the fridge clean and made it easy to store the fresh food. Baxter’s reaction to the food was positive. He ate it eagerly without hesitation. Overall, the process was smooth. With only a little prep, feeding Baxter The Pets Table food was no more complex than usual.

Prices: Reasonable Plans Varying With Discounts

The Pets Table offers prices for a variety of budgets. Check out the following table for the cost breakdown for my colleague’s dog, Baxter. 

The prices above are based on a 62 lb dog eating twice a day, so your cost may vary depending on your dog’s size and appetite. For a 25 lb dog, the Air-Dried meals start at $1.59 per meal, and $2.70 per meal for the Fresh meals.

You can also take advantage of deals to reduce costs significantly. Our latest offer is Get 50% off your 1st box + Free Treats for Life!. This brought my colleague’s per-meal cost down by half. The Pets Table accepts payment via debit or credit card and PayPal, adding flexibility to the checkout process. 

Shipping is free for your first 2-week trial order, with a standard shipping fee of $10.99 on following orders. Taxes were the only additional charge, and optional add-ons like treats or supplements were also available at an extra cost. The Pets Table also offers a 30-day, 100% Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee on trial boxes. This gives you either a refund or account credit if your dog isn’t satisfied.

Shipping & Delivery: Available in US (Except Alaska & Hawaii)

The Pets Table delivers to customers in the contiguous US, excluding Hawaii and Alaska. Delivery days and options vary based on your location and meal plan. If you buy Air-Dried recipes, deliveries roll in from Monday to Friday. But if you're leaning towards Fresh, Half of Fresh, or Mixed options, the delivery window is between Tuesday and Thursday.

My colleague was able to choose from 4 delivery days: Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. For Friday deliveries, there was a choice between the current week or the following week. You can also specify delivery instructions, such as leaving the box at the front or back door, and my colleague’s instructions to leave it at the front door were followed perfectly.

Tracking was relatively straightforward. The shipping carrier for their area was Jitsu (though this may vary by location). My colleague received an email providing a 12-hour delivery window (8 am to 8 pm) but this email didn’t arrive until Thursday. This was the same day as the delivery. While they appreciated the tracking email, they would have preferred it earlier in the week, as is the case with some other services. 

How often you receive deliveries depends on your dog’s size and the plan you choose. Your selected delivery day will also determine when your order is locked in. You can easily check the deadline to make any changes in your account dashboard.

How The Pets Table Works (Step by Step Guide)

You have to subscribe to buy The Pets Table's food. It doesn't offer a guest-shopping option like some other pet food delivery services do. The subscription process comes down to taking the meal personalization quiz, with a couple of extra steps.

How to Sign Up (Only 5 Simple Steps)

1. Select the Get Started button to get to The Pets Table’s quiz.

2. Complete the questionnaire and select the plan.

3. State your personal info, including your name and address.

4. Choose a delivery day, if applicable. Hit Continue under the price breakdown to complete your purchase. 

5. Enter your preferred payment method.

Managing Your Subscription

Managing your subscription with The Pets Table is easy. The organized account page is divided into sections like Plan Settings, Pet Profile, and Order History. From Plan Settings, you can update meals, add treats, or change your address. While there’s no app, the mobile site mirrors the desktop version for easy account management on the go.

Subscription adjustments are flexible. You can change your dog’s plan, skip a week, or delay delivery by 1-2 weeks. Deadlines are clearly listed on your dashboard, with orders locking in based on your delivery day. For example, Tuesday deliveries lock in the previous Thursday at 11:59 pm CT.

Canceling The Pets Table subscription is straightforward. My colleague completed it directly through their account without needing customer support. After logging in, they selected Deactivate My Plan under Plan Settings. There were a few prompts with deals to encourage staying, but the process wasn’t overly persistent. It felt simpler and quicker than with some other pet food services.

Customer Service: Live Chat & Phone Service Is Available, but Not Email

To initiate a live chat, click on the Contact us link in the header. Then find the chat bubble at the bottom right corner of the screen. Pick a reason for a chat out of several options to start chatting. Alternatively, you can call customer support at 929-429-4025. I contacted via live chat to check in about the shipping cost and received a prompt reply. I like that the chat is staffed by real people rather than a chatbot.

I’m surprised there isn't an email option for contact and think is something ThePets Table should add. Every other pet food service I reviewed has it among the available contact options. I think it's often the best choice for pet owners who are busy during daytime work hours when the company's agents are available.

But, you can get in touch with the customer support team 7 days a week. The company's agents operate from 7 am to 9 pm ET between Monday and Friday. On weekends, you can call or chat with them from 7 am to 7 pm ET.

The Pets Table Recalls: None So Far

At the time of writing The Pets Table Review, the company had no recalls.

How The Pets Table Compares to Other Pet Food Services

• The Pets Table vs. The Farmer's Dog: The Pets Table is good if you feed your pup dry food or mix fresh and dry meals. Read our in-depth The Farmer’s Dog review for more on its selection of fresh food. The Farmer's Dog also has a great food personalization quiz, and its high-quality meals are a great value for the money.
• The Pets Table vs. Ollie: While The Pets Table is good if you want to blend new food with your dog's current diet, Ollie has a bigger selection of treats and supplements alongside fresh and baked recipes. It has 5 fresh dishes compared to The Pets Table's 3, bringing more variety to your pup's food. Check out our in-depth Ollie review for a closer look.
• The Pets Table vs. Nom Nom: The Pets Table offers more variety in terms of meal types, but Nom Nom has gently cooked food as well as pork options. Read our Nom Nom review to see if it’s a better choice for your dog. It also offers discounts if you have multiple pets.

The Bottom Line: Is The Pets Table Worth It?

The Pets Table is worth it if you’re looking for fresh and air-dried choices. Backed by HelloFresh, it offers quality, human-grade ingredients free of preservatives and fillers. When my colleague tested it with his dog, Baxter, the food arrived neatly packaged, with clear portioning instructions. Flexible delivery and account management also make it convenient for busy pet owners.

However, The Pets Table does have some drawbacks. While it offers some customization, it’s not as tailored as other services, and the packaging isn’t the most eco-friendly. If you’re looking for a fully customized plan or sustainable packaging, there are options that might fit better.

Baxter enjoyed the meals, and the transition was easy thanks to helpful instructions. The nutrient-packed meals look fresh and colorful, making it easy to add to or fully replace your dog’s diet without much fuss.

Overall, The Pets Table is worth trying if you want quality dog food with a flexible plan. But if you’re after more personalized options, check out our guide to the best human-grade dog food delivery services to find the right fit for your pup.

FAQ

What is The Pets Table’s cost?

The Pets Table's cost varies based on several factors. Some most common ones are the size of the dog, its dietary needs, and the chosen meal plan. The cost per meal for most average-sized and active pups ranges from around 2 to 3 bucks.

What are The Pets Table’s ingredients?

The Pets Table uses human-grade ingredients to craft dog dishes. It sources animal proteins, vegetables, and fruits that meet or exceed AAFCO standards. Also, it steers clear of worthless fillers, preservatives, and other undesirable by-products.

Who makes The Pets Table?

HelloFresh launched The Pets Table in August of 2023. The pet food delivery leverages HelloFresh's production expertise and tech infrastructure.