How to Choose Crockery: Size of Plates

25 Jul.,2022

 

wholesale restaurant plates

What size plates should I buy?

Guest Writer: In this guide, Industry expert Ross Jones discusses the best plate sizes to use for different purposes. Ross is the brand manager for Chinacraft, the industry's leading resource for the latest in tableware trends.


You need plates which suit the type of cuisine, presentation style and even portion size of your menu. Plates also need to suit a specific purpose: most large plates will not be suitable for starters because food will look lost in a sea of empty space. Equally, a 6 inch plate will not serve a great main course unless you are severely restricting portion sizes! As such, it’s important to identify the specific purposes which your plate needs to fulfil and then consider the best size to meet those needs. As a general rule, sizes follow the pattern set out by our plate size guide below, there are a number of other concerns which you need to take into account when choosing different types of plate.

Shop all crockery now

What size is a saucer?

Most saucers are between 5 ½ and 6 ½ inches in diameter (140mm – 165mm), although this size is generally dictated by your choice of cup or mug. Often a specific saucer is manufactured to suit a specific cup; the well size will be set to snugly fit the foot of the cup so that the cup doesn’t slide around when carried. It’s important to check which saucers are suitable for your cups/mugs. Will you be placing biscuits, teaspoons and sugars on your saucer? Try to pick a cup and saucer that will suit your requirements, but also make sure that your saucers suit the size of your other plates.

TIP: Many collections such as Olympia Kiln contain side plates which complement their cups and saucers. These are great for coffee shops serving light bites and snacks.

What is an appetiser plate?

An appetiser plate is usually the smallest plate on the dining table and is used to serve appetisers and amuse-bouches. These plates are typically four to five inches in diameter and used to display a single, ornate and petite item. Appetiser plates can also be used as auxiliary plates for disposing of fish bones or teabags due to their small and discreet size. Many restaurants simply use starter plates for either of these purposes.

How big is a side plate?

Side plates are generally 6-7” in size (c. 140-175mm) and can be used for everything from serving bread before the meal to placing napkins hygienically above the table surface. Although many restaurants do not use side plates frequently, some diners prefer to use one and many commonly ask for a side plate in order to share food or serve small amounts to children.

If your back of house space is limited and you do not use side plates as part of your table setting, starter plates can be used for this purpose. Although typically slightly larger, a seven inch starter plate will make an excellent compromise between a side and starter plate.

How to serve a starter

Starters are generally served on seven or eight inch starter plates (175-200mm) and the size helps build height into the presentation of relatively small quantities of food. Starters often feature a central meat or fish item, along with a garnish or accompaniment which should provide contrasting colour and texture, as well as improving the overall presentation. Use your plate size as a guide for the best way to plate your starter.

Starter plates may also be used as salad plates, although designated crescent salad plates are designed to fit snugly close to the dinner plate. Increasing numbers of modern restaurants are also choosing to serve side salads in coupes or bowls.

What size should a dessert plate be?

Dessert plates are typically between 8” to 10” in size (c. 200-250mm) although sometimes certain desserts suit other sizes. Given that most crème brulée is prepared in a three inch ramekin, it can be challenging to fill or decorate the rest of an 8” plate. Some restaurants therefore choose to utilise smaller plates, such as their starter plates, when serving rich, pre-bowled desserts such as crème brulée or panna cotta.

Article: Some desserts look great on rectangular plates, highlighting the importance of your crockery's shape. Why not learn more about Choosing The Right Shape of Crockery?

What size are most dinner plates?

Traditionally, a standard dinner plate has always had a diameter of 10.5 inches. In recent years, however, increasing numbers of restaurants have chosen to use larger 11 or 12 inch plates. These frequently have wider lips in order to give the same well size as standard plates, but give a wider and more decorative frame. This not only better frames the food, but also creates the illusion of a bigger serving, useful when looking at ingredient costs and managing ‘cost per cover’. Larger dinner plates are also available for use in carveries, or for the most generous portion sizes.

Article: Colour has a big impact on the way customers view their meals, so remember to consider the colour of plates by using our buying guide, Choosing The Right Colour of Crockery.