I Tried All the White Dinner Plates at Crate & Barrel
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A couple of years ago, I organizedTabletop Weekon the Strategist. I hadmany takeaways, but the one that stuck with me most was the realization that so many expert cooks and hosts love Crate & Barrel. The brand was the most recommended for its classic-but-not-boring look, reasonable price points, and surprisingly durable goods — chief among them the whitedinner plates. A bit later, when my own old set of plates had chipped and scratched to the point of no return, my source for replacing them was a no-brainer. I’m quite pleased with my ultimate selection (you’ll have to read on to find out which), but it took me a bit to whittle it down from the options on the site. Turns out when clicking between a ton of tabs, it can be overwhelming to discern exactly what you want and why.
So I decided to make a clear guide with everything in one place. I called in one of each of the 18 white dinner plates on offer on Crate & Barrel’s site right now (anything with a hint of color, even a subtle rim, didn’t make the cut) and examined them on my dining table at home. Here, I broke them into categories for easy perusing. And I picked out my favorites within each category and explained why I liked them best with notes on the others in case my taste is different from yours.
A couple of things to note: Each of these is sold individually as well as in a set of eight. This is great in case you have one that breaks down the line or end up wanting a few extras. Also, there isn’t heavy turnover of styles; every single plate recommended in my original reporting for Tabletop Week is still on offer, and the people I spoke to then had already owned their plates for at least several, sometimes many, years.
Coupes
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This is my favorite coupe-style plate of the bunch — meaning it’s somewhere between a flatter plate and a “blate,” as the bowl-plate hybrid is known. It has a distinct slope, but not enough of one that I would use it for pasta. I like the seamless finish across the surface, whereas the Marin Stoneware Dinner Plate below, in the same family as this one, has an indented circle around the bottom that, despite its name, makes the plate read even more like a coupe. It looks ever-so-slightly organically shaped and glazed, as opposed to most of the others on this list that are distinctly uniform.
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This is the largest of the coupes; it feels more like a serving platter. Don't love the texture.
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Lower sides than the others. Totally fine to me, but a favorite of designer Peter Som.
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Similar to the Marin Coupe but, as mentioned, with a more distinct well at the bottom.
Thin-lipped
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Thin-lipped plates are the biggest category I identified, and there were several I liked — the Logan, plus the three directly below: the Tour, the Hue, and the Verge. The Logan plates in particular are meant to stack neatly, and they have a nice curve up the sides but still somehow read more straight than sloped (this looks especially so when they’re stacked). As compared to some of the others here, the rim isn’t too delicate, like it would be in danger of chipping easily. It’s an appealing size (on the smaller side, like the Tour) and weight (not too light, not too heavy).
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Tapers into an even straighter edge than the Logan, but otherwise is fairly similar.
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Subtle, pretty ring detail around the bottom with a delicate slope up. I like this one a lot.
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Sides that slant outward to be taller than the others in this category. Favorite of Maira Kalman.
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Lip is extra delicate. I'm not a fan of the texture. But it's a favorite of cook Caroline Chambers.
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One of my least favorites. Heavy, and with a very distinct foot at the bottom.
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One of the few plates with a matte finish.
Wide-rimmed
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I really like the Roulette. It’s a nod to a classic design, like the Aspen below — but a bit more fun. It’s a plate you could dress up or down. It would add something to the table without adding too much. The rim is a pleasing width (as compared to the Staccato’s, which I found too big).
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The Villa is not as wide-rimmed as the other plates in this section, but it has a distinct and flat one nonetheless. It’s also probably the most distinct plate on this whole list thanks to its stoneware finish. It reads more like handmade pottery than any of the others, with an off-white textured matte finish. It’s one of my favorites overall, but on clearance — so if you like it, I’d act fast.
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Reads like a plate you'd buy at a restaurant-supply store (not in a bad way).
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My least favorite of the decorative plates. Rim is too wide, and somehow the pattern reads cheap.
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Not my style, but a lovely version of a scalloped edge.
Simple
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Despite being the most expensive plate on this list, it’s one of my other least favorites. It’s strikingly thin and flat, which both makes it feel precarious and gives it amehlook in terms of the way it appears on the table.
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Before I undertook this mission to test every single white plate at Crate & Barrel, I scoured the site myself to try to discern which I would like best in my own day-to-day. I landed on the Hudson line — and even after spending time with every single style, I feel glad about my original choice. I’ve now lived with a full set of eight of these for about a year and a half. What I love most is their ever-so-slightly off-white color — notquiteas bright as the others listed here, but still with a nice gloss. Somehow, this makes them look even higher-quality than the price suggests. They clean up beautifully, aren’t too heavy, stack nicely, and look great set out on the table.
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
