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  • Place Setting
  • Dinnerware
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  • Dinnerware
  • Placing Dinnerware
  • Plates
  • Bowls
  • Cups
  • Care of Dinnerware
  • Buying Dinnerware
  • Flatware
  • Placing Flatware
  • Forks
  • Knives
  • Spoons
  • Care of Flatware
  • Buying Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Placing Stemware
  • Care of Glassware
  • Buying Glassware
  • Corkscrews
  • Table Linens
  • Tablecloth
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  • Home
    • Dining Etiquette
  • Table Manners
  • Table Setting
    • Formal Table Setting
    • Place Setting
      • Dinnerware
        • Placing Dinnerware
        • Plates
        • Bowls
        • Cups
        • Care of Dinnerware
        • Buying Dinnerware
      • Flatware
        • Placing Flatware
        • Forks
        • Knives
        • Spoons
        • Care of Flatware
        • Buying Flatware
      • Glassware
        • Placing Stemware
        • Care of Glassware
        • Buying Glassware
        • Corkscrews
    • Table Linens
      • Tablecloth
      • Napkins
      • Placemats
      • Table Runners
    • Serveware
    • Serving Utensils
    • Table Setting Terms
  • Parties
  • Business Dining
  • Restaurants
  • International Dining
  • Wine Etiquette
  • Tea Etiquette

Dining Etiquette

  • dining etiquette
  • table setting
  • place setting
  • dinnerware

Dinnerware


Dinnerware is a collective term for plates, bowls, cups and saucers. Each of these dinnerware types is further discussed on the following pages:

setting a table

placing dinnerware

Where to place (among others):

  • Dinner Plates,
  • Luncheon Plates,
  • Cups and Saucers,
  • Salad Plates,
  • Fish Plates,
  • Dessert Plates,
  • Bowls, and
  • Bread-and-Butter Plates.

cups

The cup is made in a variety of different sizes, each with a different volume capacity:

  • Breakfast Cup and Saucer
  • Mug
  • Teacup
  • Coffee Cup
  • Demitasse
  • Chocolate Cup

bowls

Three main categories...

  1. Soup Bowls (with or without handles)
  2. Finger Bowls (to rinse finger tips)
  3. Ramekins (to hold solid foods)

...with seven types of soups bowls:

  1. Soup Plate;
  2. Coupe Soup Bowl;
  3. Soup-Cereal Bowl;
  4. Covered Soup Bowl;
  5. Lug Soup Bowl;
  6. Cream Soup Bowl; and
  7. Bouillon Cup.

plates

Plates for formal and informal table settings.

  • Service Plate
  • Dinner Plate
  • Luncheon Plate
  • Salad Plate
  • Fish Plate
  • Dessert Plate
  • Cheese Plate
  • Tea Plate
  • Fruit Plate
  • Bread-and-Butter Plate
  • Fruit Saucer

Dinnerware Buying Guide

Dinnerware Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Dinnerware Pattern, Choosing the Shape of the Plates, Coordinating the Textures of Dinnerware, Stemware, and Flatware, Judging Quality, How Many Place Settings to Buy, Dinnerware Starter Sets, & Serveware.

Care of Dinnerware

  • Washing Dinnerware in a Dishwasher
  • Washing Dinnerware by Hand
  • Care of Antique Dinnerware
  • Storing Dinnerware
  • Previous
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Table Manners

Table Manners Guide

It's easy to impress at the dinner table! Just take a few minutes to read through our table manners section and you'll be the most sophisticated diner at the table.

Read More

International Dining Etiquette

International Dining Etiquette

Visit our international dining etiquette section for more etiquette tips for your next trip overseas or hosting international guests!

Read More

Wine Tasting Etiquette

Once it is poured into the proper glass, it’s time to evaluate and enjoy the wine. Evaluating wine involves four basic steps – looking, swirling, smelling, and tasting.

  • Step #1 – Look. Holding the wine glass up against a white background, such as a napkin or table cloth, to evaluate its color and clarity. Red wines should range in color from deep purple to brick red. White wines should range in color from lemon gold to golden amber.
  • Step #2 – Swirl. Swirl the wine in your glass to aerate it.
  • Step #3 – Smell. Put your nose in the glass and take a deep breath. Older wines should have subtler aromas than younger ones.
  • Step #4 – Taste. To taste the wine, fill your mouth about ½ full and subtly swish the wine around.
Read More

Table Setting Etiquette

table setting etiquette

Helpful hints for setting the perfect table!


Visit our table setting section for information on:


  • Formal table settings.

  • Informal table settings.

Toasting Etiquette

  • The first toast given during a dinner is normally offered at the beginning of the meal.
  • Traditionally, the first toast is offered by the host as a welcome to guests.
  • Toasts offered by others start during the dessert course.

For more etiquette tips and hundreds of toast examples...

read more toasting etiquette

Etiquette Topics


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Table Manners

For almost all meals, if you are wondering what utensil to use, start from the outside and work your way in.

  • handling utensils
  • napkin etiquette
  • serving etiquette
  • bread-and-butter etiquette
  • hard to handle foods

read more table manners

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