I like the first one best as well, but I think the textures could work well with some less-contrasted colours on them, and clearer separation between boards. I also think you can create the texture with just 2, maybe 3 colours, you don't need 4 (or 5?) like you have now.
I think I also find the first table more appealing because of the overall lighter colour of the flat part.
With cast shadows the table feels more solid and present, but the shadows in #3 look bad to me because they don't make sense. They look like oversized ambient occlusion shadows. Ambient occlusion should be much subtler than that, the dark outline around the legs is all you need for AO in that case, since the table is presumably standing on a flat surface rather than sinking in. The shadow from the flat part being so small also looks weird. It suggests a characterless diffuse light, but in that case, you'd probably be better off without a shadow, really push the diffuse look. If you are looking for a more defined light source:
- If it's a single light source, the shadow of the table should probably be about the same size as the table, or larger if the light source is close (e.g. a ceiling lamp). The shadow would also probably look better not being perfectly centered under the table.
- If there are multiple light sources, which would allow for the smaller, lighter shadow, then it shouldn't be a single rectangle, but rather a bunch of overlapping rectangle shapes.