Some restaurant owners choose their dinnerware based on looks alone, but doing that could be detrimental to your establishment.  Select dishes that function well AND make your food look appetizing and pleasing.  This may be the most important decision you make for your restaurant.  Here are some tips for choosing the right dinnerware for your menu.

Size

The size of your dinnerware will determine how big or small your food looks.  If you have a tiny plate for a large meal, the food will look overbearing.  If you have a large plate for a small meal, people may think your portions are off.  Perhaps the easiest way to determine the size of dishes you need is to prepare a menu item like usual and present it on a large, flat surface.  Measure how much space the food occupies and then find dinnerware the fits proportionally.

Shape

The shape of your dinnerware should reflect the overall theme of your restaurant.  Modern restaurants often use square and rectangular dinnerware because that looks updated and sleek. Traditional or “home-cooked” establishments may prefer round and oval dishes, much like what a person may use at home.

When deciding the shape of the dinnerware, also think about how you present your menu items. A pot pie for instance, would look better in a round dish because it is round on its own. You want the food to look like it belongs in the dish it is placed.

Color

Most restaurants choose white dinnerware because it creates a crisp, clean presentation.  White is also easy to clean because it highlights any residue that may be left after washing.  If you want to have a pop of color in your dinnerware, you might reserve it for the glasses or saucers you put out on the table.  Everything else is often best left white.

Quick Tips

When you go to choose your dinnerware, keep the following in mind:

• How sturdy should your dishes be?
• What kind of people do you expect to eat at your restaurant?
• Do you have specific meals that require specific types of dishes?
• How will your dinnerware look when it is presented together?
• How easy will it be to wash your dishes?

Oswalt has hundreds of plates, platters and bowls to choose from with many that can be shipped today!  When you consider your needs and presentation together, you will come up with the perfect dinnerware!