text-align center is not working inside inline-block html table - html

Question

I am making an HTML Email and have decided to use tables for each of the nav elements. I need the tables to be displayed inline. I used display:inline-block; on the table creating the desired result,
However the TEXT inside the table will not align. I have placed the text-align: center; in the table, td, and a tag but it has not worked.
I know the method works with divs but I can't find a solution for tables.
HTML
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td align="right" valign="top">
<table class="navInline" width="130" height="35" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#999966" style="text-align:center;">
<tr>
<td align="center"> <a href="#" style="text-decoration: none; color: #005E82;">
option 1
</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="navInline" width="130" height="35" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#999966">
<tr>
<td align="center" style="text-align:center;"> <a href="#" style="text-decoration: none; color: #005E82;">
option 2
</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="navInline" width="130" height="35" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#999966">
<tr>
<td align="center"> <a href="#" style="text-decoration: none; color: #005E82; text-align:center;">
option 3
</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
CSS
.navInline {
display:inline-block;
vertical-align:top;
text-align: center !important; }
here is the not working code
http://jsfiddle.net/nathanaric/pf35h/9/

Answer 1

You need to set a width attribute on your table cells.
Example:
<table class="navInline" width="130" height="35" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#999966" style="text-align:center;">
<tr>
<td align="center" width="130">option 1</td>
</tr>

Answer 2

Can't say I agree with the chosen answer about adding width.
Your issue is the inline-block attribute. It's affecting all the user-agent defaults of the table child elements. Simply, replace display:inline-block with float:left and you get the same results with all the other css stlying falling into place. (text align e.g.)
.navInline {
float:left;
vertical-align:top;
text-align: center !important;
}
Here is a fiddle applying the new style.
http://jsfiddle.net/bdTUz/
BUT IMPORTANTLY... Your question states you are making an email template. Classes may not work. What I know from making html based emails, best practices are to add inline styles.
This link may be very helpful
http://htmlemailboilerplate.com/

Answer 3

I was able to resolve your issue using a list and not using any DIVs. It's much cleaner. Working code can be found in this JSFiddle:
HTML
<ul class="navInline">
<li>option1</li>
<li>option2</li>
<li>option3</li>
</ul>
CSS
.navInline li {
display:inline-block;
list-style:none;
border: 1px solid #333;
padding: 5px;
background-color: yellow;
}