MDMAISON Guide to Selecting Tableware for Restaurants

In such establishments, every detail of service shapes the overall perception of the venue. Presentation directly influences how a dish is experienced, helping to communicate the concept, boost the serving, and create the right impression even before the first bite. 

For this reason, we turn our attention to the aesthetics of table setting and the choice of dinner plates in the HoReCa sector. For designers working with fine dining venues, this is the roadmap to help them choose the perfect shape, color, texture, and quality of plates to showcase the kitchen’s style and the chef’s unique vision.

What This Post Is About

• We will outline the core principles of selecting restaurant dinnerware for fine dining establishments, including key considerations that should be tested before purchasing a set.
• We’ll share pro tips on how to choose dinnerware for gourmet and luxury settings. Plus, you’ll see some of the most popular brand names and collections created with these venues in mind.
• And of course, we’ll add some advice from our MDMAISON team, drawn straight from what we’ve seen and practiced ourselves.

How Do Fine Dining and Michelin Chefs Approach Restaurant Dinnerware?

Every top chef views dinnerware as an extension of presentation: it is not a backdrop but an integral participant in the culinary performance. They approach every plate as a canvas, weaving texture, light, and contrast into the story. To heighten the drama, cooks shift dinnerware from course to course—forgetting patterns, relying only on concept and rhythm.

For this reason, brands often invite culinary gods into the creative process, using their wisdom to craft collections that mirror the soul of a dish and turn presentation into pure theater.

How to Choose the Best Plates for Restaurants: Core Principles

Approaching restaurant modern dinner plates selection requires strategy. It’s an investment that balances aesthetics with operational needs, so factors from durability to overall décor should be taken into account.

• Functionality and purpose. Pick plates that fit the style of the dishes and can handle the job—whether that means being safe for the microwave, tough enough for the oven, or just right for cold servings. Stick with basic shapes for your everyday menu, then add a few standouts for special dishes, like matte plates, trays, or textured pieces. And don’t skip the extras like bowls and sauce dishes.
• Durability and longevity. Restaurant dinnerware goes through hundreds of serving and washing cycles every day, so it must withstand impacts, temperature fluctuations, and heavy use. When choosing a collection with a touch of decoration, double-check its resistance.
• Concept alignment. A plate is part of the idea. The way it looks—its shape, color, and texture—should line up with the vibe of the food. You can also go for customization. Many brands actually offer this option to make your tableware stand out.
• Brand support and logistics. Choose manufacturers that provide the option of reordering from the same collection.
• Price. In the high-end space, it’s not just about how much each plate costs, but how long it’ll hold up. Quality pieces might seem pricey, but they can last way longer than cheaper ones—saving money in the long run.

Modern Dinner Plates for Gourmet Restaurants

Modern plates for restaurant of haute cuisine succeed when three elements meet in harmony—material, form, and decoration, all tuned to elevate the dining experience.

MATERIAL

The material of the dinnerware determines not only its appearance but also its performance in use. 

• Porcelain, fine china, and ceramic always look classy—thin, elegant, and durable enough for both hot and cold, and even dishwashers. The real difference between porcelain and ceramic plates lies in their color, decorative potential, and weight.
• Bone china is super light, thin, and looks really high-end. It’s also less likely to chip, which makes it perfect for signature dishes or special presentations.
• Stoneware brings a vibrant texture to the table, making it a favorite for natural-style presentations, especially in chef-driven restaurants.

FORMS

For gourmet dishes, form matters far more than decoration. Clean lines, coupe forms, bowl-plates, and asymmetrical designs allow chefs to use plating as a canvas, while open centers, decorative grooves, sauce wells, and raised details enable multi-level presentations.

DECOR

Décor on a gourmet plate should lift the presentation, not steal the spotlight. In today’s dining world, minimalism with carefully placed accents is quickly becoming the norm. Trending now are monochrome palettes—think white, ecru, graphite—paired with matte textures, reactive glazes, and a touch of hand-finished detail.

Examples of Brands and Collections for Gourmet Establishments 

Villeroy & Boch Mariefleur Basic Gourmet Plate — a classic line featuring subtle floral decoration, suitable for use as a dessert or appetizer plate.

The Royal Doulton Maze Dinner Plate Set has a simple, understated design with a geometric texture. It’s really versatile and works especially well for modern city-style dining.

Serax Dusk Matte — a matte canvas with organic, earthy texture, ideal for showcasing signature chef creations or minimalist, composition-driven plating.

Iittala Teema — pure Scandinavian minimalism, offering a flawless canvas that highlights any style of cuisine.

Fürstenberg Auréole White, Grecque White, Fluen White, Datum Satin Collection — refined porcelain with an emphasis on form and proportion, suitable for fine dining.

Hering Berlin Pulse, Silent Brass, Cielo, Soda, Velvet — collections designed with gastronomic presentation in mind, featuring matte, lightly textured surfaces, handcrafted finishes, deep forms, and contrasting interiors.

Restaurant Dinnerware in the Luxury Category

Luxury restaurant dinnerware should function as an integral component of both branding and the establishment’s visual identity. So, the focus is on how refined the material feels and how artistic the design looks, along with its overall value and exclusiveness. 

These items are frequently produced on a made-to-order basis, highlighting the philosophy of haute couture presentation. In the premium segment, customization is common: beyond selecting costly sets, establishments add personalized elements, incorporate precious metals, and commission custom shapes and decorations.

MATERIALS

• Delicate bone china with thin walls, translucent lightness, and pure white tone delivers that signature “airy presentation” chefs love.
• Hand-painted artistic porcelain—think Limoges or Meissen—is the perfect stage for signature dishes. It often comes with the author’s watercolors, rare finishes, and shimmering touches of gold and platinum.
• High-fired glazed ceramics are valued for their natural texture, tactile quality, and character, pairing effectively with seasonal and nature-inspired presentations.

AESTHETICS AND DESIGN

Dinnerware design plays a key role in fine dining. Guests at this level observe not only the plates’ decoration and form but also their tactility, layering, light effects, and the associations they create. The most effective elements in such collections are:

• Custom shapes—petals, waves, drops, or asymmetry—that make the dish look even more creative.
• Complex geometric patterns: hidden depth, raised centers, concave or convex surfaces.
• Artistic designs: brands often bring in artists to create décor just for a collection.
• Delicate brushwork: florals and abstract motifs rendered in watercolor strokes.
• Luxurious accents: platinum, bronze, and white gold.
• Nature-inspired finishes: glazes that echo stone, ice, and water.
• Biscuit porcelain: matte, paper-like surfaces with a soft, refined touch.
• Artisanal glazing: effects such as haze, gradients, and others.

Iconic Luxury Manufactories Creating Dinnerware for Restaurants

Bernardaud. This brand is basically the haute couture of porcelain. Known for unique forms and decorative innovation, it partners with culinary legends such as Alain Ducasse and Anne-Sophie Pic.

Raynaud. Masters of artistic porcelain, celebrated for hand-painted watercolor motifs that echo nature and the language of art. Among its highlights is a collaboration with the legendary Joël Robuchon.

Haviland & Parlon. They mostly focus on porcelain with platinum and gold touches, architectural patterns, and detailed guilloché designs. Its creations grace the tables of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.

Meissen. Europe’s oldest porcelain house and a true icon of German heritage style. Its pieces are distinguished by relief work, narrative painting, and classical forms, frequently used in Michelin-starred restaurants across Germany and Austria.

Ginori 1735. One of the most fashionable brands, combining the aesthetics of high fashion and gastronomy. It produces collections in collaboration with Massimo Bottura and Gucci Osteria.

Herend. Elite porcelain with hand-painted decoration. Each piece is unique, featuring an imperial style. It is commonly used in luxury hotels, embassies, and fine dining establishments.

Vista Alegre. This popular dinnerware brand works closely with chefs and designers to make custom collections for certain menus or concepts. It’s used in Michelin restaurants in Portugal and Spain.

Where to Order Restaurant-Quality Dinnerware?

Getting dinnerware for a restaurant is definitely a big deal. It takes planning and a professional approach to get it right. Make sure to source it only from trusted suppliers who guarantee quality. Planning to buy luxury tableware or a designer gourmet set? Go straight to the manufactories, their official reps, or trusted distributors.

Therefore, if your restaurant project is already underway but you still lack pieces, contact us at MDMAISON. We know how to select collections that match both the budget and the concept, working directly with the manufacturer. We are ready to develop the idea for you and organize fast delivery to any destination worldwide.