Guide to Plate Sizes
Choosing the right plate size is crucial for your restaurant’s profitability and the guest experience. Size not only determines how food is presented but also affects portion control, service flow, and dish handling.
Here’s the ultimate guide to help you choose the right tableware for your restaurant—whether you run a bistro, a café, a pizzeria, or a fine-dining restaurant.
Size Guide: Find the Right Diameter for Your Menu
15–17 cm: Side Plates (Small but Indispensable)
- Used for: Serving bread, butter, small side dishes, and coffee and pastries.
- Features: Takes up minimal space on the table but enhances the overall impression.
19–22 cm: Dessert plates (The perfect finale)
- Used for: Desserts, cake slices, pre-desserts, and tasting menus.
- Feature: Creates an elegant balance so that the sweet final course looks generous without overwhelming the guest.
21–23 cm: The Appetizer Plate (Compact Elegance)
- Used for: Appetizers, small salads, tapas, and entrees.
- Feature: Prevents smaller portions from “disappearing” on the plate. Provides a centered and intimate presentation.
24–26 cm: All-Purpose Plate (The Kitchen’s Workhorse)
- Used for: Lunch dishes, pasta, bowls, and simpler hot dishes.
- Features: The most versatile size. Suitable for most standard menus and easy for serving staff to handle.
27–29 cm: Main Course Plate (Premium Service)
- Used for: Complex main courses, meat and fish dishes with multiple components.
- Feature: Gives the kitchen room to work with an airy presentation and plenty of “negative space” (empty space) for an exclusive feel.
30–32 cm: The Grand Stage (For creative concepts)
- Used for: Signature dishes, sharing plates, and dishes with elaborate sauce garnishes.
- Characteristic: Creates a powerful “wow” factor, but requires large restaurant tables and extra space in the dishwasher.
Deep & Specialized Plates
22–28 cm (Deep): Volume meets diameter
- Used for: Soups, risotto, pasta, ramen, and hearty salads with plenty of dressing.
- Keep in mind: Here, the volume (depth) is just as important as the diameter for the dish to maintain the right temperature and texture.
30–33 cm: Standard pizza plate
- Used for: Neapolitan, stone-oven-baked, and classic restaurant pizzas.
- Feature: Provides full support under the crust so the pizza doesn’t hang over the edge and lose its toppings.
34–36 cm: Large pizza plate
- Used for: Family-size pizzas, “Pizza Grande,” and American pan pizza.
- Keep in mind: Provides a hearty and rustic presentation, but measure your oven, tables, and sink before buying.
💡 Pizza tip: Always measure the fully baked pizza (they expand in the oven). Choose a plate with a small, subtle rim so that oil and sauces don’t spill onto the guest’s table.
Invest in the right quality at Restaurang & Kökskompaniet
Once you’ve got the measurements down, the next step is to choose tableware that can withstand the fast pace of a professional kitchen. Here you’ll find a carefully curated selection of durable restaurant tableware designed for rigorous daily use.
- Durable materials: Affordable tableware with high rim impact resistance that can withstand both the daily demands of a restaurant and hundreds of cycles in the dishwasher.
- Well-known brands: We offer products from well-known brands such as Bonna, known for its extreme durability and timeless design, as well as Blomus.
- Complete collections: Find everything from side plates to giant pizza plates in the same design line for a cohesive look.
- Fast delivery: We deliver quickly and efficiently directly to your restaurant or warehouse.
Visit our online store today and find the tableware that matches your menu, your brand, and your budget.