For me, microwave-safe is a must.

No help, but our favorites for everyday are cobalt-blue restaurant plates with pour handles marked USA underneath with a picture of a dove. I bought them 25 years ago, but I have no idea where to get more. They go in the oven, microwave, under the broiler ... love 'em.

I posted a link below to a recent discussion of dish preferences on Home Decorating forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: dish discussion

I like Emile Henry pottery (and I have dozens of sets of china--it's a weakness). Food looks good on it, it's heavy but not too much so, and I like the shapes. Don't make everything match up--your dessert plates can coordinate as can soup bowls, but a whole table of all the same pattern looks rather like a dept. store, I think.

I'm not much help either as it's not a passion for me.
I'm a Corelle girl.... plain white. Then I have some other mismatched pieces with white background.

I also have service for 8 in Pfaltzgraff "Filigree". Pretty, never use it.

It's pretty casual and simple 'round here!

Deanna

My everyday set is plain white and simple, Martha Strewart from K-Mart. Pedestrian? Probably, but anything I serve looks good on it and it doesn't compete. If I want to add color, it is easy to do with fun linens, etc.

Plus it is easy to get replacement pieces!

Alexa

You might want to look at Fiestaware - mix and match colors, sturdy, old pieces are very collectible. A classic!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fiesta

As I've said many times, I love Bennington Pottery. Actually, I just ordered a set of 4 of what they call "Necessary Plates" last night. They are a 10-1/2" cross between a plate/bowl...1-1/2" deep. I think they'll be great for serving large entree-size salads, chicken 'n dumplings, seafood pasta...things were a plate isn't right but you also don't want a deep bowl.

Bennington isn't inexpensive but, if you're careful, it will last a lifetime. It's open stock & they have a nice selection of glazes. I've been building my set for almost 20 years & now have a service for 6 (8 pieces per place setting). Plus I've got 4 now of the "Necessary Plates". Plus, I've got many serving & baking pieces.

My set is comprised of two different glazes that I think blend well. Food looks attractive & I've received many, many compliments. And, they are made in Vermont NOT China! That's important, to me, in my selections. I like the weight...heavy but not excessively so. The downside is price...have to build a set as opposed to instant gratification. They've got 20 different glazes for mix 'n match.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Bennington Potters

I would get the cheapest possible plain, serviceable dishes. Restaurant supply stores are great. Target and K-Mart too. I would not buy eight place settings yet, so I'd also be able to pick up odd pieces at Tuesday Morning, T.J. Maxx, or Marshalls. When you're at flea markets looking at the vacuums, look around at the stands that are seling dishes.

The reason I'd do it this way: if I were you, I wouldn't want to acquire another set of dishes I don't love. Get only some very basic things now. Wait until you see some you really, really want, and then you'll feel free to get them. I find the older I get the less I'm willing to buy anything I don't love. I've needed an oval platter for years, and I can't get myself to buy one. I hate having things that don't really please me.

I found some plates I love at the dollar store. Then I got some pasta bowls from Williams Sonoma that look like they go - white on the outside but on the iside the same provencal white yellow and blue as the plates.

I also have white chili bowls from Williams Sonoma that I love and highly recommend. They go with everything, and I have great bread/hors d'ouevres plate collection from various places including Home Goods and Olde Pottery Factory. They don't match, but they "go"

When I was in college one of my roommate's mom's said the key to picking dishes is to imagine the plate with a fried egg on it. If that makes you dizzy don't buy it!

My first set of dishes were fairly plain stoneware - white with a dark blue ring.

I prefer not getting a set, because the sets I got all had coffee cups and saucers I never use, and shallow bowls. And I think Cloudy's advice is great

My reccomends are much like christine's....buy 4 plates of some plain white stuff ( the dollar store is a good place to start....or Good Will) then pick up things as theys trike your fancy....I think given 1/2 a chance you could get hooked on dishes!
I find so many things at places like T. J. Maxx and Tuesday Morning....I saw plates with line drawings of various cities in Black and White...those Portugese dishes shaped like a cabbage leaf....a set of salad plates with jungle animals on them, all those wonderful colors in the new Fiesta which is micro safe by the way!

You say your dishes warped in the dish washer??? Does that mean they are plastic? EWW!!
Get some basic but cheap white plates.....then look for something that trips your trigger...or floats your boat...
Linda c

If you're not finding stuff you really like, I recommend nice classic white restaurant-style dishes, potentially with a little style zing. My favorite dish source is a fantastic store in NYC called Fish's Eddy -- and they have a website! Don't be fooled by the melamine they have on the home page right now -- if you click on their "dinnerware" link you'll see all types of fun and classic ceramic dishes for reasonable prices...

Here is a link that might be useful: Fish's Eddy

TJMaxx, Ross, Tuesday AM or HomeGoods always has an excellent selection of dinner plates/salad plates/bowls to choose from and the best part is they are inexpensive. You don't have to buy a whole set, you could get 2 or 4 of a pattern and 2 or 4 of a complimentary pattern, so that you could mix them.

I'd love some FiestaWare, just because I like their colors, but I think I'd tired of the brightness.

Elery bought my current set, which I really don't care for. Why? Because they are square. Are you listening, Bobby?

The dinner plates are too big, I use the salad plates mostly. The bowls are too deep, and smaller on the bottom than the top so it's difficult to get the last inch or so of soup out of them. It must have been a genius that decided a person could drink coffee out of a square cup, because I can't do it without dribbling out one corner or the other.

Don't go with square, in my opinion!

I think the people who are saying "go with white" are pointing you in a very reasonable direction. when I get another set I'm going to have to love them, and they will NOT be made in China. Those are currently my requirements.

Ditto the sets. I use the salad plates and not the dinner plates and everyone I know hates my square cups so I use a different set of those completely. I'll buy specific pieces and shapes next time.

Annie

What?:?are you talking???
Sorry I've been lost at Fish Eddys! Wow!!!!!
Go look at Fish Eddys....you will find so much great stuff that you will buy 4 white plates and go from there....
How about a Brooklyn platter?
And Annie....the new Fiesta comes in some less intense colors than the old, chips a lot less and is micro safe.
Or you could do like an easily bored friend does....china often is sold in a box of 4 place settings....so she buys 4 or this and another box of 4 of something else....and she uses them until she is sick of them and then donates them.
Linda C

LOL, LindaC, you've been shopping for pink dishes again, haven't you?

Yes, I've looked at the new FiestaWare too. I really like the bright green, the flamboyant turquoise and the screaming golden yellow. I won't buy anything for a couple of years until Elery and I each sell our current homes and build one at the farm,then I'll decide on colors, shapes, patterns, styles, companies.

And they closed the Tuesday Morning in northern Grand Rapids, but frankly, I didn't find many good sales there. The one on the South side always has better prices, I guess they must vary from store to store.

I love Marshall's home department, but the closest Home Goods is near Elery's, so that's about 4 hours from me.

Annie

I bought white plates & soup bowls from Crate & Barrel almost eight years ago & not one piece has cracked or broken. YOu can buy by the piece rather than sets, which was nice for me because I didn't want coffee cups. Then I have bought other colors & patterns for for salad plates & cereal bowls.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crate and Barrel dinnerware

I have 6 sets of dishes that each serve at leats 12. The set we use most often is my white Corelle -- I love it for everyday use. It stacks easily, takes up the least amount of space, and rarely breaks. My plates have a little bit of raised design on them, but are solid white. I bought the full service (cups, saucers, bowls, etc.) for 12, and then bought extra plates and cereal bowls (our most used pieces) at an outlet store. Corelle is inexpensive and never wears out.

I also have a set of black square dishes that are my favorite to look at. But, the cups are round. I can't imagine trying to drink out of a square cup -- I spill too much out of a round cup!!

6 sets of dishes? Be still my heart, dlynn you are my new hero!!!!

Thanks for the tips.... I hadn't even considered TJ Max.

No, LindaC, the dishes I have now aren't plastic... just cheap. Cheap ceramic can warp too!

I was told to check out Old Tyme Pottery as well, so I'll do that too. Who knows what I'll end up with. I'm pretty sure it won't be anything square though (I'm with ya, Annie).

Several people have suggested Corel, and I grew up with them. I like that they are break resistant, but I haven't found any with a design I can tolerate yet.

Thanks again :o)

LOL at LindaC! I was lost at Fish's too - and I don't even have a dish fetish! I bookmarked that site for sure!

Thanks fearless! I think. We are going to be in NYC in a couple weeks - where is it located? Oh lordy I'm asking for trouble...

LindaC, Some of my dishes I have never used before, and most have rarely been used. One set belonged to my Grandmother and were going to be thrown away before I decided I would take them. She had many sets of dishes and everyone had already claimed their favorites before me. I got the ones with magnolias (Mississipi state flower) on them. They are pretty in a very old-fashioned sort of way. My style is very contemporary, so I never use them but I remember eating on them at my Grandmother's when I was growing up. Another set of dishes my Godfather got for me at a pawn shop. They must have been custom made for someone, but they were perfect for my family. My DH and I are both pharmacists, and my DH also has another career. This set is ivory with a gold band, and gold symbols of both of these professions are in the center of the dishes. These dishes are very unique and great for professional parties. Before I got married I had already started a "hope chest" of Lenox China, but it was not sold at the stores in the home town of my DH, so I picked out another set so that people from his side would have something to buy for us. I have the set of Lenox dishes (which happen to be the same pattern as my MIL had when she got married), and the Noritake that was sold in DH's hometown. Then a couple of years ago DH got tired of me complaining about how I wish I had some really cool square and contemporary dishes... so he bought me a set for our anniversary. But, like I said, my favorite is the inexpensive Corelle that I bought myself. I use it everyday.

Ditch the corelle!!
Pick something else for every day...
Oy! 6 sets of dishes....
No Bobby....cheap ceramic CANNOT warp....not possible!

Talk amongst your selves...I'm headed back to Fish Eddys.....

Okay, slap my hand if I try to click on the Fish Eddy link.

I've missed numerous opportunities to drop in while in NYC. One of the travel shows visited Fish Eddy.

Oooh -- glad you guys like the Fishs Eddy site. The store is fantastic! Its on Broadway around 20th street -- a two or three minute walk to the Union Square Farmers Market if you go on one of the days the market is open (I think Wed, Fri, and Sat?) Makes for a really fun foodie outing!

Emily

We have 3 sets, some Ironstone decorative, too heavy and only gets used for Xmas and such. Some plain white but embossed white stuff, maybe ironstone,, too heavy and clunky.. and some cheap Corelle I've had forever which is what gets used daily. I vote for Corelle because it's light, it's break resistant and you can always find replacement or add on pieces.

Here is my biggest word of caution: Make sure you measure the depth of the cabinet in which you will store the dishes. I was so excited a couple of years ago when Amazon had Pfaltzgraff "Napoli" on sale for a great price. Only problem is - the dinner plates are about a half-inch too big to fit in the cabinet where I was planning to store them. I kept them, but they're in a hutch where they're inconvenient to get to, so I don't use them as often as I'd like.

Hi --

I was looking around for new dishes recently (like you, not knowing what I really wanted). I hit the Pfaltzgraff site and saw a few patterns I was debating about. They suddenly had some 'deal of the day' going, and I was able to order one of the sets I liked for less than half the usual price. Great deal.

I tell you this because the set came with 16oz bowls and they are bodacious. lol! Very deep. You'd love them! :)

Check the Pfaltzgraff site and look for their deep 16oz bowls, either individually or with a set.

I should mention that I was surprised to learn that my Pfaltzgraff set can go in the dishwasher, microwave, oven, or freezer.