If you want really bang around kind of stuff I would use corelle. That's what I have. Here's why. My DH likes it. Lightweight, stacks well, doesn't chip, microwaveable, etc.
Since DH only likes Corelle, I wouldn't buy anything else. BUT, if it was up to me I'd buy the Mikasa porcelain. They're beautiful and durable. I'm sure others will agree.
I know there are others but these are just my top choices.
I may buy Mikasa later on down the line but for now the white corelle works with everything. My design style is contemporary.

I used Corelle dinnerware for years and it really is durable. The good news is that it comes in sooo many styles now. They even have styles with square plates that are very modern looking.

Here is a link that might be useful: Corelle.com

I second the all purpose Corelle. I have a beautiful blue "Southwest" design Mikasa that I bought probably fifteen years ago in Virginia. It became too heavy (it has a large lip on all the plates) and it takes up so much room in my dish drawer that I put them away and brought out the summer white corelle plates. I love them, I dont worry about them breaking and they go with everything.

I also would say Corelle also. I have used forever and they will take alot of everyday punishment.

We also use Corelle for everyday dinnerware. Holds up well to my 3 boys and only breaks if dropped on the tile floor.

You can find great prices for it on Ebay.

Our friends next door have a wonderful set of simple-but-elegant white Corelle dinnerware. Works so well -- and the food looks great too!

My dishes were purchased at the grocery store - one of those promos where you can buy bowls one week, cups the next, etc. When the promotion was over, the store put all the remainders on clearance. I got a complete service for 20, plus doubles of some of the serving pieces. They have held up remarkably and I am not kind to breakables.

I have these all black dishes from Ikea which are very similar to corelle. I got them because I have black solid surface countertops and these glass dishes don't scratch.

For years I used a set of Mikasa china. I got them at the Mikasa outlet, and they are really great. I've never had a problem with them chipping the way my old pfaltzgraff did.
I still use the Mikasa for holidays, but the pfaltzgraff is for display only - those dishes are so heavy!

Thanks for your replies. I had thought about Correlle, but couldn't get past the vision of my moms dated dinnerware. I checked their website and they have come a long way since those days. I'll be so happy to have something thats not chipped and cracked. Thanks again for your help.

Corelle is great. Another option to look into is porcelain. (China is wonderful, too, but more expensive). My everyday dinnerware is C & B white porcelain dinnerware (I think it's called their Restaurant or Diner line). It is tough as nails and very affordable. Williams-sonoma also has a reasonably priced porcelain set in white that is similar.

DD uses plastic plates, cups, etc., from Ikea. Adults use W-S white plates and bowls from the Brasserie line, supplemented by C&B plates in white with cobalt stripe that DH bought at an outlet back in college days.

For guests, we'll mix in the 1950s Harmony House - Mainstreet plates and bowls, and the Russell Wright serving dishes. Also, fun glassware from W&S.

Usually, I'm the one breaking dishes....

For some reason, even though I am a total klutz our Pfaltzgraff stoneware is holding up beautifully - we've only broken a couple of pieces since 1995, when we got it. No chips, no cracks, no crazing. My grandmother had Pfaltzgraff she had had since probably the 1950s, and my dad and stepmother had had theirs for about 15 years when we were doing our wedding registry, so it was kind of a no brainer for me.

I seem to have a talent for dropping Corelle at exactly the right angle that allows it to explode into millions of extremely small, razor-sharp shards that go everywhere, unlike the bigger chunks that stoneware breaks into IME. This is very much bad if you go barefoot or have pets. My ex broke a few too. I've only had a few tile kitchen floors and ironically did not have Corelle at that time - although I did learn the hard way that dropping a bottle of balsamic vinegar on a tile floor results in pink grout, which really ticks off your landlord! :-) But I've had it go kerflooey on vinyl flooring, a Formica counter, and ordinary steel kitchen sink (not even a particularly heavy-gauge one, your basic apartment wonder). I've had three sets over the years until I finally learned that when it comes to Corelle, I am clearly cursed. I hope they've changed how they apply the patterns, too, because the ones on mine chipped and scratched off, which looked really tacky - I think it was just painted onto the glass.

I hear good things about Ikea's dinnerware, though, and it's cheap, too. Much of it is porcelain, although you do have to read the descriptions. I haven't seen it, since the one time I got to visit Ikea by the time we got around to that department DH was getting very grumpy so we were desperately trying to find the exit. Spent too much time in cabinetry and bookshelves. :-) Plain white is the way to go, though, and always get something that's expected to be available as "open stock" (meaning you can buy individual pieces rather than having to buy whole sets) for years to come... if you can even get it because the pattern's been discontinued. My Pfaltzgraff pattern (Acadia) is admittedly discontinued but it is easy enough to find pieces on eBay.

I use all white ironstone that I pick up at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, garage sales & flea markets. I don't freak out when something gets broken. It's all mismatched but since it's all white it goes together in a nice cottage type style if you're into that look.

Hi, and welcome Darlene!

I love my Fiestaware. It's not the vintage stuff, but several new sets (in every color!) that I picked up on sale at Kohls. The dishes are extremely sturdy -- we don't have a dishwasher so must handwash, which means they actually take more of a beating. If you want to keep things neutral, you could always buy the white sets. :-)

I've used my Mikasa English Countryside for years and it hasn't chipped or scratched at all. It's all white and casual for everyday. I don't know why but it doesn't seem to scratch up and chip like some dishes I've seen. I got it at a Mikasa outlet years ago and added a few serving pieces through the years.

Welcome to the forum!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mikasa English Countryside

I have Mikasa Italian Countryside. I also have some very inexpensive stuff from Target (Gibson)that is all white with a scroll design. The stuff from Target gets grey lines on it if it is scraped too hard.

The Mikasa Italian is very pretty!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mikasa

I really hate Corelle...yeah the patterns are more up dated than in the past...but it still looks and feels like "early college apartment" or "institutional kitchen" to me.
I have been using Mikasa fine china for every day for 20 years, and outside of one awful table collapse that cost me $100 at Replacements, the original $30 of on sale dishes have been fine!
China, hard fired porcelain is really best for wear...and in my way fo thinking, for looks. I love that English Country side!
Linda C

I love my Corelle "Winter Frost White." I have sets of 12 of every piece they make and doubles of the serving pieces. All these fit in the space that had been used by a partial six-place setting of Mikasa stoneware. Corelle doesn't chip and craze; and I love how the food looks on it.

In 1975 my first apartment was fitted with four place settings of Corelle "Winter Frost White." Thirty-three years later, and many types of stoneware, ironware, china, etc. I've come full circle back to the Corelle.

I do have a vintage set of Royal Albert's Old Country Roses for "special dinners" and "decor", but I love the Corelle.