Plates

360 products

Restaurant plates set the stage for every course, from a 5.5" bread-and-butter plate to a 15" pub platter. This collection covers round rim and coupe plates, square and rectangular plates, oval and egg-shaped plates, divided plates and plate covers in porcelain, china, reactive glazes, glass and melamine.

You'll find full dinnerware lines from Steelite, Libbey (World Tableware and Syracuse), Churchill, Browne, Cameo, Calibre, Arcoroc and Cambro Camwear, mostly sold by the case so you can match place settings across a dining room. Plates are part of our Dinnerware range, alongside bowls, cups and saucers, and ramekins.

Types of plates

  • Wide rim and narrow rim plates – classic framed presentation; narrow rims such as Libbey Porcelana give more usable surface for the same diameter.
  • Coupe plates – rimless, modern shapes (Churchill Evolve, Steelite Craft, Calibre) that put the food right to the edge.
  • Square and rectangular plates – Libbey Slate and Rigel, Steelite Varick Pub and Craft rectangles for share plates, sushi and pub boards.
  • Oval and specialty shapes – oval and egg-shaped plates like Churchill Art de Cuisine and Cameo Ovation for steaks, fish and breakfast.
  • Melamine and plastic plates – Cambro Camwear narrow rim and 3-section plates and Steelite Delfin melamine for patios, cafeterias and healthcare.
  • Glass plates and plate covers – Arcoroc glass plates for desserts and salads, and Cambro Camcovers to keep plated food covered in transit.

What to consider when choosing plates

  • Material – porcelain and china for durability and a classic look; reactive glazes for character; melamine or polycarbonate where breakage is the bigger cost.
  • Usable diameter – a 10" wide-rim plate holds less food than a 10" coupe. Size by the well, not the outside edge, and portion your menu to it.
  • Line depth – choose a pattern that also comes in the side plates, bowls and saucers you'll need, so replacements and add-ons match.
  • Stacking and storage – check stack height against your dish racks, plate dollies and heated dispensers before committing to an unusual shape.
  • Pack size – most items ship in cases of 6 to 36; plan par levels around covers per turn plus dishwasher cycle time.

Frequently asked questions

Porcelain or melamine plates – which should I choose?

Porcelain and china suit table service and anything going under a heat lamp or into a microwave. Melamine is lighter and far more break-resistant, which makes it popular for patios, buffets and institutions, but it shouldn't go in microwaves or under direct heat.

What size dinner plate do restaurants typically use?

Entrée plates commonly run 10" to 12", with 9" for lunch portions, 7" to 8" for salads and appetizers, and 6" to 6.5" for bread and butter.

Why are most plates sold by the case?

Commercial dinnerware is packed in manufacturer case quantities. Ordering by the case also keeps your pattern and glaze batch consistent across the dining room.

Prefer to talk it through? Find a Russell Hendrix representative.