Salad Plates

Restaurant Salad Plates: What You Need to Know

Salad plates serve a simple function: Operators can plate and serve salad or other side dishes on these small, light plates. However, like everything else in the restaurant business, there's more to choosing a salad plate than mere function. KaTom carries wooden salad plates that fit great in a farm-to-table restaurant alongside porcelain options often used in fine dining. Brightly colored melamine plates are a cost-effective way to serve salad or anything else in a fun, casual setting.

Choosing the right commercial salad plate can make the difference between seamlessly incorporating a new menu offering and a mismatched piece clashing with other table settings. With so many materials, colors, and shapes to choose from, it can be difficult to find the best match.

Common Questions About Salad Plates

What materials are restaurant salad plates made of?

Melamine is by far the most popular choice for salad plates, but we also carry nicer options in glass, ceramic, and porcelain, each with unique benefits and detriments. Melamine is the least expensive option for a plate as it is a form of plastic that's easily mass produced, but it's strong and can be formed into whatever style the manufacturer desires. Melamine cannot be used in a microwave, which is rarely a concern for salad plates. Melamine plates can be washed in a commercial dishwasher and are simple to clean because they resist stains and flavor transfer. These plates are lightweight for easy transport but do not carry the same heft as ceramic, which customers often associate with quality.

Ceramic – or stoneware – salad plates are the next step up in terms of perceived quality. Ceramic is heavier than melamine and has a rich texture. Depending on the vitrification of the stoneware, it may or may not be dishwasher safe. These pieces can have a variety of finishes that bring a handcrafted, natural aesthetic to your table setting. If the rest of your table setting is ceramic or other high-quality dinnerware, ceramic stoneware would be a good complement.

Porcelain is a high-quality ceramic material. White and slightly translucent, porcelain carries the prestige of quality fine dining to whatever tabletop it's placed on. Crafting porcelain is a difficult process, so this material is among the most expensive available for commercial salad plates. Porcelain is used at upscale establishments as a mark of quality, but most casual restaurants don't need to spend the extra money. Consider the materials you're already using for your table setting and try to find plates that match.

What plate style should I choose?

Here you get to have a bit of fun with your selection. Consider which plates complement your existing décor as well as which ones may add visual intrigue to your table setting. Consider also what type of food you'll be serving on these plates; a clean white plate provides a nice backdrop for colorful fruits and vegetables, while neutral colors can be spiced up with designs or brightly colored plates. After picking out a style of plate, consider whether or not it will fit into your existing warewashing routine, determine how many you'll need, and then you're good to go.