Choosing the Right Commercial Dinnerware

From fine-dining restaurants and upscale catered events to fast-casual concepts and buffets, commercial dinnerware is a crucial part of any foodservice operation serving guests on the premises. The pieces selected for your dining room can impact kitchen operations, dishroom efficiency, and the overall customer experience – however, the wide range of options available can make it difficult to know which ones belong on your tabletop. This guide will walk you through the types of commercial dinnerware, including the available materials and styles.

What Is Commercial Dinnerware Made Of?

The material your restaurant's dinnerware is made of determines its durability, how it should be handled by staff, and even what customers expect from their dining experience. Some materials are noticeably heavier than others, some can be damaged by high heat, and some are found primarily in high-volume foodservice operations that value affordability, so it's important to understand which price point and construction grade you're purchasing. Read over the available materials below to determine which would fit best in your dining room.

Plastic & Melamine Dinnerware

Plastic is break resistant and doesn't shatter like glass, though it can discolor over time or when used with tomato-based sauces and other staining ingredients. It is some of the most economical dinnerware available, making it ideal for quick-service restaurants, cafeterias, and buffets. Plastic dinnerware can be constructed from several different materials, though melamine is the most common.

Melamine, which is made from a mixture of plant cellulose and plastic resin, is popular due to its low price point and longevity. Restaurant dinnerware made from melamine is lightweight, making it easy for servers to handle, and is often available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

However, melamine is sensitive to heat; it cracks and blisters if used in a salamander, under heat lamps, or in a microwave. It can be sanitized in a warewasher but should not be cleaned with anything containing bleach. Melamine is known for being very durable and providing a long service life, and it is commonly used in casual restaurants, healthcare settings, and hotels.

While browsing our selection of plastic dinnerware, you'll also encounter products made of polycarbonate. ABS plastic, acrylic, and styrene acrylonitrile (also known as SAN) are less common.

• Polycarbonate is used to make a variety of serveware, from plastic cocktail glasses to food storage containers. Items made with this material are often transparent, but may be colored, often white or black. This is the second-most common plastic dinnerware material.
• ABS plastic, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is more often used to make components in larger pieces of equipment, but you may encounter serving bowls and platters made of this BPA-free material.
• Acrylic is another plastic used most often for display and serving pieces, though a selection of salad bowls, often with a pebbled texture, is also available.
• SAN plastic is most often used to make plastic drinking glasses but may sometimes be used to produce serving bowls and other tabletop pieces.

Ceramic Dinnerware

Ceramic dinnerware, also known as china, runs the gamut between thick-bodied stoneware to fine china. While these options are generally more breakable than plastic and melamine, they are associated with higher quality. Though the heavier pieces are cheaper, they can be more difficult for servers to carry all day. Light porcelain pieces are fully vitrified for durability despite their light weight.

The most expensive option, used by fine-dining establishments, is fine china. All china must be handled carefully, but the glaze prevents staining. Most china is microwave and dishwasher safe, and much of it can be used in salamanders or under heat lamps. China dinnerware is ideal for use in full-service and fine-dining restaurants.

Ceramic is often used as a catch-all term for several types of dinnerware made of clay but processed differently – including porcelain, china, and stoneware. Here's a quick look at some of the specific types of ceramic dinnerware you'll encounter and their differences.

• The least processed option is earthenware, a thick, porous material that requires a coat of glaze to ensure it is food safe and isn't likely to be found in a foodservice operation. Stoneware is similar, but its thinner construction is more refined.
• Porcelain, the strongest and thinnest type of china available, is often used in fine-dining restaurants and comes at a higher price point.
• Bone china is a special subset of porcelain that uses bone ash to give it a milky white appearance and make the final product less brittle, but its high price point tends to limit its use to all but the most high-end dining establishments.

Which Types of Restaurant Dinnerware Do I Need?

Once you determine which material best suits your restaurant, you must decide which specific pieces you need – choices largely guided by your menu. However, the rules for tabletop design and plating in the modern restaurant landscape are increasingly flexible, with some chefs eschewing traditional plates for creative arrangements on display boards, serving platters, and baskets. Long gone, too, is the expectation that commercial dinnerware should be limited to white, round designs.

With the wide variety of dinnerware styles and sizes on the market, restaurants of every concept type and service level can find pieces to complement their dining room, patio, or bar. Below are some of the most common pieces to consider.

Shop Dinnerware by Grade

Want to make sure you're staying within budget? Shop our selection of dinnerware by grade to find economy, standard, and upscale options.