Best Dinnerware Sets UK to Improve Dining Experience

The best dinnerware sets in the UK are more than vessels that hold and serve food, and they are an extension of your style, and they will help create the best ambience for any occasion, from fancy dinner dates to casual everyday use. The best dinner plates should not only add to the style on your dining table but should also be lightweight enough to comfortably pick up but also durable enough to be chip-resistant and avoid wear and tear. The best dinner set should also be functional, meaning it should be microwavable or oven-safe and also should be easy to clean, meaning it should be dishwasher safe.

Choosing the right plates and bowls for your table is important. Still, it can be difficult because you can easily get distracted with pretty patterns that will end up not being the best for your space and is also not dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe. We have listed some of the best dinnerware sets in the market today to boost your tablescape game, and each has its pros and cons and also, there is a detailed buying guide to help make an informed decision.

Far And Away 16-Piece Dinner Set

Far and Away 16-piece dinner set is an artisan-crafted set made from locally sourced and recycled clay from Northern Portugal. The dinnerware set is made in a family-owned factory and is available in different sets, the 16 pieces serve a large family, and the 4-set set is ideal for a small family. The dinner set is suitable for brunch, dinner parties, or casual afternoons and with a semi-matte reactive glaze finish, the set has a fancy touch of class during any meal.

Far and Away dinnerware set comes in four different colours, including olive, ivory, rose, and noir, and you can choose your favourite colour that best suits your table. The set also has vertical rims that prevent spills from happening, and the rim also allows one to store the set comfortably in the cupboard without being afraid that they will fall.

Pros

• Oven, dishwasher, and microwave safe
• Vertical rims that prevent spills
• A semi-matte reactive glaze finish
• Crafted in a family-owned factory
• Uses recycled clay and is locally sourced from Northern Portugal
• Recyclable packaging

Cons

• Not every dinner plate features the same glaze quality.

1. Royal Doulton Gordon Ramsay Maze GRMZWH22417

Royal Doulton dinner plates set is suitable for anyone looking for something that will make a statement in any dining setting, and it was designed by the renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. This dinnerware set is pleasing to look at and, at the same time, durable, making them ideal for everyday use. The dinner plates are dishwasher safe and microwave safe, and safe enough to handle regular use for years, and the 12 pieces include four dinner plates, four side plates, and four bowls, and you can get cereal bowls with another package of the same brand.

This dinner set is packaged in an attractive box that showcases every salad and dinner plate that will stand out during your dinner party or while dining with your whole family. However, the dinner plate sets have some dimples in the glaze, and also, some items may be too large for the dishwasher.

Pros

• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Guarantees maximum durability
• Designed by a world-renowned chef
• The dinnerware set has an elegant design making it suitable for all occasions.

Cons

• Some dinner plate sets may be too big to fit in the dishwasher
• Not every dinner plate has the same glaze quality

2. Amazon Basics 18-Piece Dinnerware Set

Amazon Basics may not be appealing to everyone, but this is the best dinnerware set for your table if you are looking for affordable quality. The dinnerware set has been made with AB-grade porcelain and comes with six dinner plates, six side plates, and six cereal bowls: microwave, dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe.

The Amazon Basics plates and bowls will easily mix and match your existing decor, and they come in a modern rectangular design with a wave shape. However, keep in mind that the side plates, plates, and bowls are quite fragile, and you need to be extra careful as some of the porcelain items might have dimples in the glaze.

Pros

• AB-grade porcelain material
• Classic porcelain dinner set that will be ideal for all occasions
• BPA-free
• Dishwasher safe set
• Serve a group of six
• An elegant white finish
• Maximum strength and durability
• The dinnerware set can withstand very low and high temperatures

Cons

• The dinner set can be fragile
• Some of the dinner plates may have dimples in the glaze
• Lacks a dessert plate-like with the other Amazon Basics set

3. Stone Lain Coupe Dinnerware Set

Stone Lain dinnerware set is a four-people set with four dinner plates, four cereal bowls, four salad plates, and mugs. The dinnerware set has an organic feel to it, and the round dinner plates and four side plates have a unique design; it is made of bone china, stoneware, and porcelain and, therefore, will last long. It is the best dinnerware set because it is made of high-quality and sturdy materials that will not easily chip with a unique colour matching specific theme settings.

Whether you choose the matte black or matte grey dinnerware, they all have the best dinner collections and dishwasher and microwave friendly. However, it's quite expensive than most sets, and it's a perfect gift for a loved one, thanks to the classic rimmed lip.

Pros

• Unique colour and elegant design
• Durable material
• The bowls are deep, and the dinner plates have a good size
• Microwave, dishwasher, and oven-safe
• Perfect gift set

Cons

• The grey matte option may not easily mix and match with some decors.

4. Flamefield Carre Premium Melamine Set

Flamefield Carre dinnerware set is a melamine dinnerware set suitable for outdoor activities such as picnics, caravaning, and camping because it is not fragile. It is one of the best dinnerware sets for elegant casual dining thanks to the contemporary design, and the set is made with 100% melamine which is also BPA-free.

The Flamefield Carre, while it will take you back to the natural trend, it comes with four dinner plates, four cups, four bowls, and four side plates that are enough to serve a group of four. The set is available in either a grey or white colour, which will easily match your existing decor. However, the set is not microwave friendly but can be used with a dishwasher but only at low temperatures.

Pros

• Suitable for outdoor dining activities like while camping and picnics
• Contemporary design
• Break-resistant
• Dishwasher safe
• Four pieces of side plates, bowls, cups, and dinner plates

Cons

• Not microwave friendly

What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Dinnerware Set

1. Material

Dinner sets can look similar apart from the design, but the material they are made of will tell you a lot about the dinner plates, and therefore it's important to consider the material. Of course, the best material is a matter of preference as there are different materials that dinner sets usually come with, and the popular ones include:

a). Porcelain

This is a strong yet delicate material that offers great durability, and the material is oven, microwave, and freezer safe. It was invented in China, and it has been fired at high temperatures and usually shiny and white. The porcelain plates are usually mostly in white colour, and it can be used to set formal dinners and is also perfect for daily use.

b). Bone China

This is the best material for formal dinner parties, and it is thin, lightweight, and is considered the most durable ceramic dinnerware with superior quality. But, notably, it's also the most expensive, and always check instructions before purchasing because not all bone china materials are microwave-safe and dishwasher safe.

c). Fine China

This material has similar characteristics to bone chine except that it's made of clay instead of bone ash, and it's popular for its delicacy and clarity. However, the fine china material is not as durable as porcelain and will need a user to handle it with care.

d). Stoneware

This material type is durable but with a more refined and less delicate look than porcelain because it's heavier and more opaque. The material can be made with several clay colours, and it will make your dinner table more fun and stylish. However, it doesn't have a lustrous shine like durable porcelain material but and it can be porous to some point.

e). Vistrillle

The material uses a popular technology with the Corelle brand, and where each piece has been made of glass. The material is lightweight and also has a high resistance against staining and breaking.

2. Quantity and Type

The quantity you choose in a dinnerware set will depend on the number of people you are planning to be serving or if you need the dinnerware set for special occasions. The quantity will also depend on whether you want a set full of dinner plates or a full collection, including the dinner plate set, various bowls, side plates, salad plates, and dishes. Once you decide the pieces you want in your collection, you should think about how many items of each piece you will need to serve your whole family, and it might be better if you bought it on the higher side to allow enough for guests if they visit.

The easiest set to find is the 12 piece dinner set, and it is perfect for a family of four; and you can also find a 16 piece dinner set where it will include four mugs, and you will not have to buy it separately. Notably, you might find the best dinnerware sets for the more formal dinnerware sets to have wine glasses, salad plates, cereal bowls, dessert bowls, and water glasses, and you will need each piece for one person.

Formal sets usually come with a dinner plate, a salad plate, a side plate, a tea-cup, a soup bowl, and bread plate, a saucer for each setting, whereas the traditional dinnerware sets include a dinner plate cereal bowl, salad plate, and a mug. On the other hand, there is the open stock dinnerware to pick and choose the pieces you would rather buy and leave the pieces you don't need.

3. Design

Design can often be the deciding factor because while materials will give you an idea of how you want your dinnerware set to look, the sets come in different variations. Some designs have simple designs with the usual dinnerware shape, and some come with an added reactive glaze or paints, so if you want to match your home decor scheme or play around with colours, it's possible to find a design that will make your set unique.

Other best dinnerware sets mostly made in fine china have some rim, but you should get rimless plates with a slight lip on edge if you want a more modern feel. Also, some dinnerware sets usually come with different shape designs of dinner plates or dessert plates where instead of round dinner plate sets, you can get square-shaped designs and in other colours.

4. Price

The price of dinnerware sets varies where you can find porcelain plates in some shops for less than $5, and also you can get your favourite dinnerware sets for thousands of dollars. You can cop yourself a budget set for around $50, but if you up to your budget to around the $75 to $100 range, you can get quality pieces that will last longer. Notably, for the hand-decorated, hand-painted, or fine china side plate or dinner plate sets, you might have to spend more are they cause a price increase.

5. Dishwasher Safe/ Microwavable

Not everyone has the time to cook, and this makes microwave or oven-friendly dinnerware set very important; while most dinner sets in the UK are safe for use in the oven or microwave, some are not. Therefore, before making your purchase, it's important to check the instructions to avoid buying a set that you cannot use to whip up fast dishes.

Also, a dishwasher-safe dinner set is equally important for users who use dishwashers because it would be a loss if you bought a dinnerware set and it was not dishwasher safe, and you have to wash your dishes after a long day. Notably, handwashing is the ideal option, and it usually means your dinner set will stay for longer periods.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Dinnerware Set

1. What is the best material for everyday life dishes?

For everyday dishes, it's recommended that you get dishes either made of bone china, porcelain, or store water for everyday dishes because the materials will be easy to maintain and care for, durable, and affordable. You can start by purchasing one dinnerware set causal enough to use with your morning cereal, but it can still be elegant enough for a dinner party game.

2. What is the best colour for dinnerware?

The best colour used by many chefs to serve their culinary creations is white because as much as you can use other colours, almost every food looks great on a white-coloured large dinner plate. The white colour also makes the food look more appealing and seem much more vibrant, and the colour can be a suitable frame for all food styles.