Among the book's admirers were James P. Pinkerton, who, writing in "Newsday", praised Bawer's "live and let live" message. Describing the book as "a conservative manifesto declaring what the silent majority of gays wants and why", John Fink of the "Chicago Tribune" wrote: "If there is one book about homosexuality and gay rights that everyone should read, it is probably this one." In "Reason", David Link wrote that "Bawer is not a champion of any cause except good sense... A Place at the Table is ultimately a defense of self-determination, and a much-needed one." Lee Dembart described it in the "Los Angeles Times" as "a remarkable, gutsy, even brilliant book" and "the most interesting, provocative and original discussion of gay themes that I can recall".