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Level up your table setting game with this dotable dishware. Nautical Dinnerware Sets
Whether you’re having a quiet Tuesday evening meal at home or hosting a few friends for a weekend dinner party, the right dishware can make all the difference. Dipping into a crock of softened butter or admiring the cheese pull as you lift a wedge of lasagna from a casserole dish serve as great reminders that it’s worth having the right tool for the job — even when the job is simply holding a plate of food.
When it comes to choosing plates, bowls, and mugs, stoneware is a terrific material. It looks nice and isn’t especially fragile, and it comes in a seemingly endless array of colors, patterns, and finishes to suit any design taste. And though you can buy a multi-piece set of dinnerware from your big-box store of choice and call it a day, we think it’s worth spending just a little more to choose stoneware that you’ll actually look forward to using for years to come.
To help you start your ultimate stoneware search, Food & Wine staffers plated up dozens of dishes to determine which are worth a closer look.
This is a practical, high-quality, easy-to-clean set that is a pleasure to use.
The price may seem daunting at first glance.
A near-perfect set that strikes the perfect balance between striking dinnerware while still maintaining practicality, we chose the West Elm Kanto set as our favorite overall. After incorporating them into her daily cadence, writer Kristin Montemarano raved about the West Elm Kanto set, praising the plates’ high, straight walls that ensure everything stays tucked in, no matter what, without any lost real estate from tapering. She also appreciated the generous capacity of the 8.75-inch pasta bowls, whose wide, shallow shape works well for everything from pastas to salads to rice dishes and more.
The Kanto set is safe for use in both the microwave and the dishwasher, and their “perfectly weighty” feel lends a sturdiness that doesn’t feel overwhelming when loaded up with food. With practical, great-looking pieces you’ll actually use, the Kanto set is a winner for us.
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 pasta bowls, 4 small bowls | Care: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
These are sturdy, thick dishes that suit either rustic or modern decor.
The matte glaze is prone to scratches.
The Pottery Barn Larken Reactive Glaze set contains pieces that are thick, sturdy, and seemingly durable, and we think they’d last a long time. We also liked the size of the dinner plates, which fit well in hand and can hold a good portion of food.
While the bowls were a bit small for our liking, we think that Pottery Barn’s Larkin stoneware is great for everyday use, even for a household with kids. The only downside? The matte reactive glaze is prone to scratching through everyday use — think silverware, stacking, scraping. These dishes are, however, dishwasher- and microwave-safe, so if you’re of the mindset that use-induced scratches only serve to add character, you’re golden.
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 cereal bowls, 4 salad plates | Care: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
These handmade pieces feel high-quality and sturdy.
They are slippery when wet.
Available in nine different colorways, Year & Day’s The Core Set of stoneware dishware is a great choice for everyday use. The pieces are practical for everything from cereal to pasta to salads and more — and they feel nice and durable in hand.
That is, until you try to handwash; in which case the lovely semi-matte glaze finish becomes slippery. We thought they were gorgeous and super sleek, but we wished they had either a more grippy finish or some texture to the edges so they’re easier to hold when wet. Fortunately, this Year & Day set is dishwasher-safe, which earns it a place on our list.
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 large bowls, 4 small bowls | Care: Dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe
A timeless design and customizable sets make this set a pleasing pick.
At $23 per piece, they’re in “splurge” territory.
“The design is definitely my favorite thing about these dishes,” says writer Katie Brown. “I love the organic, speckled look, and the raw edges make them look so elegant.”
A great pick for those restaurant-inspired dinners, Costa Nova Livia stoneware is available in three colors and has a substantial weight that lends a high-end feel. Brown says the pasta bowls are so oversized that they take food presentation up a notch. While the dinnerware set does not come with mugs, the Livia line does have matching mugs available.
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 pasta bowls | Care: Dishwasher safe
Durable, scratch-resistant, and ethically produced dishes in a variety of colors.
At full price, the set is an investment.
Editor Mary Lagroue says that the Sojourn Essential Bundle has become her favorite set of dinnerware for its quality and beautiful glaze, citing the handcrafted feel and ethical production in Portugal. “It’s cool that the brand is female-founded and sustainably minded — it makes me want to buy from them.”
The glazed stoneware is durable, resisting scratches even in the face of knives and banging up against other dishes. The 16-piece Essential Bundle comes in seven colors, each dishwasher- and microwave-safe. The price tag may seem steep, but this is a set that will last you for years to come — and you don’t even have to be ultra-careful.
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 cereal bowls, 4 pasta bowls | Care: Dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe
A generous 20 pieces ensures there’s a dish for every scenario.
The dessert plates could be a little larger.
This set is a great value, but moreover, it’s ideal for hosting thanks to the ample number of included pieces. And regardless of the theme of your dinner party, the Our Place Classic Stacking Set should fit right in thanks to its design that associate editorial director Dana Fouchia describes as “earthy, trendy, and modern.”
But not too trendy — the flat bottoms and straight-sided rims make stacking a breeze and ensure that food stays where it belongs. Fouchia was even impressed with the Our Place packaging, remarking on the “extremely thoughtful separate boxes that felt like I was receiving something special.”
What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 dessert plates, 4 dinner bowls, 4 soup bowls | Care: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
Beautiful stoneware in tasteful colors.
It’s expensive, heavy, and has an eight-week lead time.
Myrth’s stoneware is among the priciest on our list at $41 per piece, but it is gorgeous and made to order. Updates Writer Nick DeSimone describes these pieces as “super vibey and modern,” equally suited to everyday settings and special occasions, thanks to the rich colors and high-quality heft.
While the Myrth dishes do feel very durable (and are both dishwasher-safe and stackable), we had concerns that the weight could lead to drops — though the price point will probably keep you on your toes during handling. This set is sold per place setting, starting with one five-piece set. After that, choose from eight, 10, or 12 place settings.
What’s Included: 1 dinner plate, 1 appetizer plate, 1 morsel plate, 1 tasting bowl, 1 helping bowl | Care: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
These dishes have a unique look and feel with a glazed interior and unglazed exterior. Plus, you can find them in just about every hip restaurant these days.
They’re sold as a single, four-piece place setting.
Senior Writer Jason Horn describes the Jono Pandolfi Coupe pieces as “hipster minimalist” in their distinctive, clearly handmade appearance. The interiors — or the surfaces that come into contact with food — are glazed and smooth, while the bottoms of the pieces are unglazed with a rough texture. It’s a unique contrast that makes your table setting — and the food — look great.
We especially loved the large bowls, which are big enough for an entreé salad or a restaurant portion of ramen. And despite the unglazed exteriors, the Jono Pandolfi stoneware is dishwasher-safe, making for easy cleanup after that luxe meal.
What’s Included: 1 dinner plate, 1 salad plate, 1 Alaska bowl, 1 cereal bowl | Care: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
The West Elm Kanto Stoneware Dinnerware set is our top pick thanks to its elegant, aesthetically pleasing design, durable finish, and practical pieces you’ll be happy to reach for each day.
Before splurging on a set of stoneware dinnerware, it’s important to decide if it's the right dishware material for you. While it is a type of ceramic, stoneware is typically decidedly more rustic than its more polished ceramic counterparts, making it a better fit for home cooks with a style that is similarly casual. Likewise, you’ll want to do your research into the type of care your chosen pieces of stoneware dinnerware necessitate, to ensure it feels realistic and achievable to your lifestyle.
Glazes and shapes can contribute a lot to the aesthetic of a collection, as well as how versatile or flexible it is taste-wise. As you consider different styles of stoneware dishware, Ward suggests you keep the vibe of your kitchen — and your home’s overall design — top of mind. “In any design concept, we always start with a sense of place,” she explains. “If the project is in the countryside, we will be using more handmade and honest, raw materials throughout the project,” she says.
“This informs the tableware as well, as we wouldn't want it to feel like a stark contrast to the table it is sitting on, or within the room it sits in. We tend to use heavier, more substantial dinnerware in a project that is in the countryside to bring in that rustic feel, and in a city project, we will use a softer, daintier dinnerware collection that feels a bit more refined.”
As you’ll quickly discern while shopping, dinnerware collections can come in all shapes and sizes — especially something that’s typically handmade, like stoneware. When considering a stoneware dinnerware collection to buy, make sure the size and shape of the plates suit your needs. If you’re a family who rarely eats cereal but downs a lot of pasta, you may want to seek out a set that caters to your bowl needs. Or, conversely, if you love cereal, you might consider a set of cereal bowls. Likewise, you’ll want to also consider how large the set itself is. If it touts only enough place settings for four people but you’re a family of five, you’ll want to make sure that there’s an option to purchase a single place setting to complete your set.
Stoneware is notoriously durable and easy to care for, which is why it’s gained such a stellar reputation over the years. That being said, there are some things you’ll need to be aware of when caring for your stoneware pieces. First and foremost, always read the care requirements before purchasing a dinnerware set to ensure you can use them in the dishwasher, microwave, or oven should you choose. Additionally, many stoneware pieces that feature a matte glaze can be susceptible to scratches from everyday flatware or serving utensils, so you may want to choose a glossy glaze (or darker color!) if that’s something that will bother you.
Food & Wine / Kristin Montemarano
Our team assessed each stoneware set on its design, material and finish, number of included settings, and care and cleaning.
We incorporated our stoneware dinnerware candidates into our daily routines as much as possible — from dining to dishwashing to stacking in cabinets — to test how well it held up and how much we enjoyed using each item. We paid close attention to details like volume and shape — was a bowl a pleasure to scoop from, or did we wish the walls were less sloped? And because longevity is key when investing in new stoneware, we monitored how well each set held up to knives, stacking, and cleaning to assess whether the glazed finishes were easy to scratch or prone to chipping.
Finally, we considered the practicality of each set, noting if there were pieces we never used or ones we missed having.
Crate & Barrel Julo Blue and White Dinnerware Set ($247 at Crate & Barrel)
These are nice-looking pieces, but we found them too fragile for comfort, worrying that they might break at any moment.
Hawkins New York Essential Stoneware Dinnerware ($218 at Food52)
This set just didn’t hold up for us. From arriving with one broken pasta bowl to the plates showing scratches after the first use, we aren’t recommending this stoneware.
Le Creuset San Francisco Coupe Dinnerware Set ($296 at Williams-Sonoma)
We generally love Le Creuset and had no qualms about the durability of this dinnerwear, but the pasta bowls were simply too shallow for comfort.
Stoneware is great for dishes — it’s durable, looks great, and can be finished in a near-endless variety of colors and patterns.
Many stoneware sets — including each set we’ve recommended here — are dishwasher-safe. Otherwise, handwashing with warm water and dish soap and drying thoroughly will keep your stoneware in great shape for years to come.
Fiesta Dinnerware Sets Scratchability depends on the finish — some glazes do scratch more easily than others, and a matte finish tends to show scratches more than a satin or high-gloss finish. Unfortunately, this is often something you won’t discover until after you’ve purchased and started using your new stoneware, so find recommendations (like ours!) and read reviews before committing.