Overall very pleased with the product. Im always skeptical of furniture that needs to be built at home, but this table is very heavy and very sturdy. 
The finish is dark brown, nearly black depending on the lighting in the room. It is also very rustic. There is variation in the cut of the wood, the planks are not sanded smooth (has an unevenrough feel if you run your hand over the top). 
We bought this piece to furnish a formal dining room (i.e. Not our everyday table) so it should hold up just fine for our usage, a handful of times per year. Looking to dress it up with some grey upholstered chairs.