I think what GP is saying is that he/she finds smalltalk less awkward at the dinner table compared to other settings, or maybe that less smalltalk is needed bef

I think what GP is saying is that he/she finds smalltalk less awkward at the dinner table compared to other settings, or maybe that less smalltalk is needed before going deeper when there's dinner involved. Which is understandable because food serves as a great icebreaker as well as a natural topic of conversation.