Finally, we tried to find dinnerware sets that have been around for a while, which increases the likelihood theyll remain in stock down the road. Also, a Wirecutter staff member has owned this set for over five years and has chipped and broken several pieces. After considering hundreds of dinnerware collections in stores and online, we settled on 30 place settings to test for our 2019 update (roughly 140 pieces of dinnerware in all), and invited 15 Wirecutter staff members to evaluate them in our New York City test kitchen. Then, coordinate your white porcelain dinnerware with serveware in a similar shade for streamlined appeal. This set also has an off-white or pink hue in certain light, which makes it too difficult to match to other porcelain pieces. We also ruled out a number of dinnerware collections from Bloomingdales, CB2, Dansk, Emerson Creek Pottery, Fishs Eddy, Food52, The Home Depot, Jay Import Co., Juliska, Lenox, Michael C. Fina, Noritake, Rosenthal, Royal Doulton, Spode, Target, Villeroy & Boch, Walmart, Wedgwood, and Year & Day for a variety of reasons, including polarizing designs, unappealing color, insufficient or unfavorable reviews, limited stock, replacement problems, high prices, or quality issues. Something went wrong. Why its great: The Williams Sonoma Brasserie All-White Dinnerware collection feels similar to durable restaurant dishes, but its still refined and not at all clunky like the plates youd use at a diner. Although this set is thicker than the Crate and Barrel Aspen dinnerware set, it still feels refined. Although we recommend the dinner plates from the Pottery Barn Caterers set as an affordable backup for entertaining in our Thanksgiving guide, theyre typically available only in open-stock sets of 12. One of our testers remarked that the Aspen was a really nice set with even glazing and decent heft.. The Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen Dinnerware Collection was our former budget pick, but in our new round of testing, we noticed that the quality had diminished. After dinner, pop dishwasher-safe dishes into the machine for quick cleanup. The Fiestaware 3-Piece Bistro Place Setting was more popular among our testers than the Fiestaware 3-Piece Classic Place Setting, because they preferred deeper, rounded bowls as opposed to flat-bottomed bowls (mugs or teacups and saucers are sold open stock outside of the main sets). Find out when your online purchase will arrive or schedule a delivery. But since the breakage seems common enough, we no longer feel comfortable recommending the set. Whether youre prepping for an elaborate dinner party or a daily family meal, a complete 16-piece dinnerware set will help you set the table. This set has been around for decadesone reviewer on the Williams Sonoma website says theyve used their set for 27 yearsso replacing pieces or growing your set shouldnt be a problem. The plates also stack surprisingly evenly, which is uncommon for such a low-cost set of dinnerware. After our test panel helped narrow down the list, we took a plate from each of our top-rated sets and scratched it with a fork and knife 50 times to see if the utensils damaged the glaze or left metal marks. The bowl was too wide and shallow for cereal. IKEAs 365+ Dinnerware did well in our tests and is very inexpensive, but it doesnt offer as many pieces as the affordable Crate and Barrel Aspen set. We love its classic design and durable, superb quality. The Snowe 5-Piece Table Settings and 4-Piece Table Settings have mugs that are unglazed around the lip, which many of our testers disliked because they looked unfinished. Those experts included Eddie Ross, the co-founder and chief content creator of Maximalist Studios and the former design, decorating, and food editor for Better Homes & Gardens, Food Network, Martha Stewart Living, and House Beautiful; Marion Hover, former tabletop decorative gifts buyer for Macys; and chef Candy Argondizza, vice president of culinary and pastry arts at the International Culinary Center at the time of our interview. The Villeroy & Boch Artesano Dinnerware Collection is available open stock, but ultimately we thought it didnt look classic enough. Earn Reward Dollars every time you shop* (excluding special financing purchases), plus get access to special offers and events. All of our testers disliked the oval bowl of the Villeroy & Boch For Me 16-Piece Dinnerware Set. Crafted by skilled artisans in Portugal, the plate is part of our soon-to-be-a-classic Farmhouse collection distinguished by its vivid, interchangeable colors, bold rims and sturdy feel. As far as dinnerware goes, this porcelain set is decently priced, especially for the quality. Learn more. Though none of the mugs or teacups from our picks broke in our thermal stress tests, breakage can occur, so be mindful. We independently review everything we recommend. The porcelain has a slightly gray hue compared with the creamy white of bone china. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. We found some minor imperfections, but the overall quality of this set far exceeds its low price, and we like its clean lines and simple design. Were confident that its classic design will elevate any table setting and never go out of style. Hosting? And our testers who preferred lighter bone china found the set to be too heavy overall, though most still liked its classic styling. It feels more refined than any of the other sets we recommend because all of the pieces are flawlessly shaped and glazed. Once youve chosen your favorite 16 piece dinnerware set, learn how to set a table. Since the shade of whiteware varies dramatically from set to set, we also compared the hue and brightness of each; in general, dinnerware that had a blue or gray hue was less appealing to our testers than pieces that were creamy or bright white. Download on the App Store (opens in new window), Up to 30% off In Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to 30% off Outdoor Entertaining & Grilling, Up to 30% off In-Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to $150 off Select Wolf Gourmet Electrics, Dishwasher-, microwave- and warming oven-safe. This dinnerware collection offers several serving pieces too, such as large platters and bowls, which are nice for entertaining. Try our View in Your Room feature, manage registries and save payment info. Some of our testers said the mug was too big and the bowl was too wide. Previously, he was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York. Note: The 5-piece place setting doesnt include bowls, but both soup and cereal bowls are sold open stock. If you dont love the items in the five-piece place setting (which includes dinner, salad, and bread-and-butter plates, plus a teacup and saucer), Wedgwood also sells a four-piece place setting that includes a dinner plate, salad plate, cereal bowl, and mug (these pieces are also sold in a 16-piece set). Get this if: Youre partial to thicker, heavier dinnerware. Finally, we refrigerated a mug or teacup from each of our picks and filled each with boiling water to see if the extreme change in temperature caused them to break. However, our testers found the cereal bowl was much too deep and awkward to eat from. Perfect for casual lunches or chef-inspired entrees, the Paige dinner plate coordinates with other pieces in our exclusive Paige grey or white dinnerware collection. Or you can purchase mugs, cereal bowls, or soup bowls separately outside the main five-piece set. In researching this guide, I interviewed William Carty, PhD, emeritus professor of ceramic engineering and materials science at the Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University. And although the teacup and saucer are thicker and a bit larger than some we tested, theyre still more tasteful and refined than most heavy dinnerware. Look for everyday pieces you can dress up when the need arises. With thousands of patterns to choose from, shopping for a set of dinnerware can be a daunting task. Why its great: In our tests, the Wedgwood White 5-Piece Place Setting stood out on a crowded table of dinnerware for its bright creamy hue, attractive translucency, and simple but sophisticated look. If our picks dont appeal to you, weve added a section on other dinnerware sets we like. After researching more than 200 collections and evaluating 37, we have recommendations for three classic-looking whiteware sets. This elegant fine china dinnerware set isnt hand-painted, so its durable for everyday use and can go right in the dishwasher. *At the time of publishing, the price was $100. However, since its not sold open stock, replacing broken pieces would be difficult. In addition, this set is so off-white that matching it to other whiteware pieces would be difficult. Made of four 4-piece place settings, our dinnerware sets include dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and mugs. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Earn Reward Dollars every time you shop* (excluding special financing purchases), plus get access to special offers and events. Traditional white dinnerware is timeless, while colorful options can show off more personality. Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Aspen set has some minor inconsistencies on the surface of the glaze, but you can detect these only when you hold the pieces up to the light. To prevent our testers from being influenced by brand names, we covered the manufacturers marking on the bottom of each piece. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call (800) 967-6696 for assistance. Up to 24 Months Special Financing on qualifying purchases. Ideally, we wanted sets that allow you to choose shallow soup bowls or deep cereal bowls, simple coffee mugs or dainty teacups and saucers, and a variety of dinner and salad plate sizes. For a more rustic dining room, opt for artisanal pieces with plenty of character and a handcrafted look. Try our View in Your Room feature, manage registries and save payment info. The Aspen dinnerware has been sold at Crate and Barrel for more than 20 years and has excellent owner reviews that attest to its quality and longevity. Download on the App Store (opens in new window), Up to 30% off In Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to 30% off Outdoor Entertaining & Grilling, Up to 30% off In-Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to $150 off Select Wolf Gourmet Electrics, Dishwasher-, freezer-, microwave- and oven-safe to 350F, Flatware may leave more visible marks on matte dinnerware, removable with Bar Keepers Friend or other gentle powdered cleaner. Note: While writing this guide, weve seen some of our picks go in and out of stock, which is not uncommon for dinnerware. He has worked in various facets of the food and restaurant industry for over a decade. The dinner plate in the Apilco Tradition Porcelain Dinnerware Collection weighs a whopping 2 pounds, 1.6 ounces. (Full disclosure: Carty has worked as an unpaid consultant for Buffalo China, Syracuse China, Hall China, Sterling China, Lenox China, Pfaltzgraff, and Homer-Laughlin.) That said, we also tested a handful of newer sets in order to include some options with more modern styling, and we checked with the manufacturer to confirm that they would remain in production for the foreseeable future. *** Learn More. The Crate and Barrel Aspen Dinnerware set was the best-quality set we tested for the price. Download on the App Store (opens in new window), Up to 30% off In Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to 30% off Outdoor Entertaining & Grilling, Up to 30% off In-Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to $150 off Select Wolf Gourmet Electrics. Some testers also thought the color of the Brasserie dinnerware looked muted and gray next to the bright creamy color of bone china. If none of our picks match your style, and youd rather shop around, see our Other dinnerware sets we like section or our dinnerware buying guide for more advice. (The ICC has since been acquired by the Institute of Culinary Education.). Good dinnerware should be a neutral canvas for any meal: As chef Candy Argondizza noted, A simple white plate allows the food to make a statement so that the diners eye is drawn to the food with no distractions. Decorated sets can be exciting, but theyre also more likely to become dated with time, so we avoided those with any designs. For our next update, wed like to expand this guide to include stoneware. Its durable for everyday use, but it still feels refined and classy enough for entertaining. Many manufacturers develop their own testing standards, but since everyone has a different dishwasher, uses different detergents, and operates microwaves at various power levels, its impossible to create a standardized test. If none of our picks appeal to you, and youd rather shop around, see our Other dinnerware sets we likesection or our dinnerware buying guide for more advice. An ivory glaze accentuates the dinner plate's seamless contours and rimmed silhouette. Our testers werent fond of any dinnerware with ridges or rings, finding the style dated, so we eliminated the Crate and Barrel Roulette Dinnerware and the Lenox Tin Can Alley Four 4-piece Place Setting. *** Learn More. Up to 24 Months Special Financing on qualifying purchases. One thing to keep in mind: Some of our testers found this set too informal for entertaining. If you entertain often, the saucers are handy for resting a demitasse spoon, holding a small cookie, and keeping coffee rings off your tablecloth. Our testers werent bothered by these very minor flaws. Prior to joining Wirecutter, I was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York City, and I worked in various facets of the food and restaurant industry for over a decade. We prioritized sets that were elegant enough for fine-china occasions like a dinner party but also sturdy and casual enough for everyday use. We also searched for dinnerware collections that you can purchase open stock, which allows you to customize the set to suit your needs and to replace the dish or two that will inevitably break. Another drawback to this set is that you cant buy individual pieces fully open stock. The mugs are narrower and taller than your run-of-the-mill mug, which makes them a bit more elegant, and the set also offers a flat-bottomed teacup and saucer. Find out when your online purchase will arrive or schedule a delivery. Were confident that our picks will be around for years to come should you need to replace pieces. Try our View in Your Room feature, manage registries and save payment info. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call (800) 967-6696 for assistance. The Dansk Ingram Bone China Dinnerware Collection was our former top pick, but its been consistently low in stock, so we no longer recommend it. This thicker, heftier porcelain dinnerware has classic bistro styling. The Williams Sonoma Apilco Tuileries Porcelain Dinnerware collection felt similar to the Fitz and Floyd Nevaeh White rim set, but its typically double the price. The H.F. Coors American White 4 Piece Place Setting and American Bistro 4 Piece Place Setting are great if you like heavier diner-style dinnerware, but we found both sets too informal and utilitarian for entertaining. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call (800) 967-6696 for assistance. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Many of our testers liked the Aspen sets wide cereal bowls because they also work well for salad and pasta. Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016. We ran a series of thermal-shock tests and had no problems, and the Fitz and Floyd customer service representative we spoke to was not aware of the issue. Try our View in Your Room feature, manage registries and save payment info. Up to 24 Months Special Financing on qualifying purchases. As other testers noted, however, the cups smaller size allows you to finish hot beverages before they have time to cool. Although most dinnerware is designed to be dishwasher and microwave safe, emeritus professor of ceramic engineering and materials science William Carty told us that neither ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) nor the American National Standards Institute has a standard test. Sign in to see items you may have added using another computer or device. *At the time of publishing, the price was $80. Flaws but not dealbreakers: At just under 2 pounds, the Brasserie dinner plate is about 8 ounces heavier than the Crate and Barrel dinner plate. The soup bowls are shallow but still plenty big for a decent serving of pasta. Earn Reward Dollars every time you shop* (excluding special financing purchases), plus get access to special offers and events. Download on the App Store (opens in new window), Up to 30% off In Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to 30% off Outdoor Entertaining & Grilling, Up to 30% off In-Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to $150 off Select Wolf Gourmet Electrics. Crate and Barrels Toben Dinnerware was unavailable at the time of our testing this round, so we were unable to include it in our review. Wedgwood, which dates back to the mid 1700s, has a long history of making high-quality ceramics for various heads of state and royal families, including custom dinnerware for the White House during President Theodore Roosevelts term in 1903. This set has a bright creamy hue and a simple yet sophisticated design. To avoid coffee and tea stains, its best to rinse mugs and teacups with water after use if you cant get to cleaning them right away. The Villeroy & Boch Royal 30-Piece Bone Porcelain Set was our former upgrade pick, but its discontinued. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The Aspen dinner plates have a pleasant medium weight that falls in between that of the Wedgwood plates and the Williams Sonoma Brasserie plates. The pedestal on the foot of the teacup was also polarizing for our testers, as some thought it was too formal for everyday use. The handle on the teacup was a bit small. Additional serving pieces offered outside the main place setting were a nice bonus but not a requirement for us. Also, avoid subjecting your dinnerware to extreme temperature changes, such as pouring boiling water into a cold teacup, as this can cause breakage due to thermal shock. The Brasserie plates have wide, slightly angled rims that give them a classic bistro style. The Nevaeh White by Fitz and Floyd Coupe Dinnerware Collection looks similar to the Dansk Ingram set, but some of our testers thought the plates were too big. Sign in to see items you may have added using another computer or device. Their slightly angled rims, like those in the Brasserie set, make these plates easy to hold and help keep food from spilling. After 130 hours of research, weve created a buying guide to help you find a set of dinnerware youll love. That said, we dont think you should worry too much about your dishes being damaged in the dishwasher or microwave (unless the manufacturer explicitly advises against putting them in either appliance). I also talked to experts about what they looked for in a basic dinnerware collection. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, The weight of our recommended sets, in ounces. Its expensive, but youre paying for a superior-quality set that has virtually no visible flaws. The White collection also includes bowls and several serving pieces that are sold separately. The cereal bowls in the Everyday White by Fitz and Floyd Coupe Dinnerware Collection were so small, they looked like they were from a different set. *** Learn More, Omri 4-Piece Blue and White Place Setting, Lira 4-Piece White Porcelain Place Setting, Aspen Coupe Dinner Plates 10.5", Set of Eight, Omri 16-Piece Blue and White Dinnerware Set, Maison Platinum Rim 4-Piece Place Setting, Maison Platinum Rim 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Roulette Blue Band 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Roulette Blue Band 20-Piece Dinnerware Set, Mercer Square Appetizer Plates, Set of Eight, Aspen Rimmed Dinner Plates 10.5", Set of Eight. Dinnerware can be made from a variety of materials, but weve limited our selection to all-white porcelain or bone china due to its aesthetic appeal, resilience, and practicality. According to our experts, food always looks best on an all-white plate because the design is free of distractions. White porcelain dinnerware brings a clean look to the table. Earn Reward Dollars every time you shop* (excluding special financing purchases), plus get access to special offers and events. *** Learn More, Omri 4-Piece Blue and White Place Setting, Lina 4-Piece Matte Blue Stripe Place Setting, Julo 16-Piece Blue and White Dinnerware Set, Omri 16-Piece Blue and White Dinnerware Set, Maison Platinum Rim 4-Piece Place Setting, Visto 16-Piece Cream Stoneware Dinnerware Set, Ora Stoneware Dinnerware 4-Piece Place Setting, Range 16-Piece Dinnerware Set by Leanne Ford, Range 4-Piece Place Setting by Leanne Ford, Maison Platinum Rim 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Lina 16-Piece Matte Blue Stripe Dinnerware Set, Visto 4-Piece Cream Stoneware Dinnerware Set, Julo 4-Piece Blue and White Place Setting, Lira 4-Piece White Porcelain Place Setting, Maison Cobalt Blue 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Primrose Gold 16-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, Roulette Blue Band 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Roulette Blue Band 20-Piece Dinnerware Set, 18th Street 4-Piece Place Setting with Cereal Bowl, 18th Street 16-Piece Dinnerware Set with Cereal Bowl, Mercer Square Appetizer Plates, Set of Eight, Aspen Rimmed Dinner Plates 10.5", Set of Eight, Aspen Rimmed Salad Plates 8.25", Set of Eight, Mercer Square Dinner Plates, Set of Eight, Aspen Coupe Dinner Plates 10.5", Set of Eight. Initially we didnt include the Corelle Winter Frost 18-Piece Dinnerware Set in this review because its made of Vitrelle (a proprietary type of durable glass laminate), a material that falls outside the parameters we set for this guide. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call (800) 967-6696 for assistance. With the Aspen collection, you can even choose mugs or teacups and soup or cereal bowls, which is unusual for most dinnerware in this price range. Download on the App Store (opens in new window), Up to 30% off In Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to 30% off Outdoor Entertaining & Grilling, Up to 30% off In-Stock Kitchen & Entertaining, Up to $150 off Select Wolf Gourmet Electrics. We think the 11-inch plates are nice to have as a backup for large holiday dinners. You can, however, get the Royal 16-Piece Starter Set, which costs significantly less and is the same style as the discontinued set, except it comes with mugs in lieu of teacups and saucers. The coupe plates in Fortessas Caldera 16 Piece Place Setting have a sloped shape that was popular among our testers. This set comes with soup bowls, but you can purchase cereal bowls open stock. Since a stack of four plates would weigh nearly 8.5 pounds, we had to dismiss this set. The AmazonBasics 16-Piece Dinnerware Set had inconsistencies in the glaze, and the plates were badly scratched. But since buying the five-piece place setting is significantly cheaper than getting each piece individually, you can buy bowls separately and still save money over buying all the same pieces individually. Consider individual pieces to expand your collection. We then examined each piece under light to check for any flaws, such as uneven rims, drippy or inconsistent glaze, pitting, scratches, or crazing (you can read more about these flaws in our guide to buying dinnerware). Find out when your online purchase will arrive or schedule a delivery. According to the Wedgwood representative we spoke to, the original design for the White dinnerware was introduced in 1920, though newer pieces have been added to the collection over the years. Well continue to monitor the availability of our picks, but weve confirmed with each manufacturer that if stock is low or unavailable, its only temporary. I also spoke at length with Jono Pandolfi, potter and owner of Jono Pandolfi Designs in New Jersey, who has created dinnerware for a long list of notable restaurants around the world (he also used to design dinnerware for Crate and Barrel). Try our View in Your Room feature, manage registries and save payment info. Get this if: You like to host dinner parties and want wide-rimmed dinnerware thats made from fine bone china, but that can still withstand the rigors of daily use. The Winter Frost set includes plates and bowls only. Some testers who were accustomed to thicker dinnerware mistook the thinness of bone china as an indication of poor quality. We hope to do another round of testing once our test kitchen is fully operational again later this year.
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