Salad Plates

What Are Salad Plates?

While they're not defined by an official size, most salad plates range in diameter from 4 to 9 inches and are smaller than their accompanying dinner plates. They're the ideal size and shape for a delicate serving of tossed greens, colorful chopped vegetables and crunchy nuts and seeds topped with a light homemade vinaigrette. Don't forget a grater for garnishing the dish with your cheese of choice. When setting the dinner table for a formal gathering, place each dish to the left of the dinner plates and above the forks. If you're using placemats, the dish should sit at the upper left corner of the cloth and should not touch it. Additionally, be sure to consider opting for square salad plates. Their modern look elevates the dining table.

Why Use Small Plates?

Separate the fresh, raw greens from the cooked protein, vegetables and carbohydrates of the main course by giving it its own serveware. When serving the salad before or after dinner, separate table settings are recommended. Salad plates aren't just for your leafy greens—while they can be used in conjunction with appetizer, dessert and bread plates, they can also be used in place of them. Anything served in smaller portions is appropriate to be placed on them, as it's harder to make a large dinner plate look hearty and full with portion-controlled serving sizes. The beauty of dinnerware like salad plates is that they're so easily switched in and out, and no dish has to be used for only one type of food. Versatile and dynamic, this piece isn't just for formal dinner parties; while it can be set with your most elegant bone china, it can also be used alongside your everyday dish sets—on its own for a small meal, a snack or dinner for a child. White salad plates are especially easy to stylize beside other dinnerware. Or, select pieces with patterns or bright colors to add personality to mealtime. During the holiday season, explore Thanksgiving plates or Christmas salad plates that bring a festive mood to mealtime.