We have a pretty narrow kitchen with very little counter space. We wanted a kitchen cart which could serve both as a surface for chopping veggies and as storage for extra stuff we didn't have space for otherwise. This cart is perfect for our needs. The butcher block is sturdy, but if you don't want to mar the nice look, I would recommend chopping your veggies on a separate cutting board on the surface. We keep recipe books, matches, and grocery lists in the pull out drawer, and spices in the doored cabinet part. The wheels roll easily and the cart's ability to move allows me to move efficiently throughout the kitchen. Building the unit was pretty easy and self-explanatory. It's mostly solid wood, although the panel of particle board did split a little when putting in the screws. It feels solid for what we need it for, and I'm thrilled with the purchase!