How fun that you have friends from all over the world to entertain! Are these typically sit down dinner events at a set table or more mingling about with a plate of nibbles?

If it's more buffet...and casual...I don't think it matters..

12 and 12 is perfectly acceptable...Do you honestly think that people are going to compare which "design" silverware they picked to eat with...lol..

I think if you entertain a dozen people more often..than 2 dozen...then the two different patterns would be more appropriate to give you different setting options. Yet combine to serve more.

I just saw bulk flatware at Costco, it was available in packages of 12 for each piece The pattern was simple, much like restaurant flatware. It was very inexpensive.

This may be too "cheap" for your intention, but I purchased flatware at Target. 6 pieces for $5.39. Nothing fancy--pretty simple design. I bought a total of 36 each of forks, spoons, knives and soup spoons. Bought a couple sets of each at a time and built up my stash. So nice to have all we need when we have big family gatherings, like when we had 32 after my grandson's baptism. See the link below for one of these inexpensive options.

Here is a link that might be useful: Target flatware

Amazon has 36 piece sets of each...
Lots of stars..on the review..

Or there are lots of others with 12 or 4...

Here is a link that might be useful: Bakers & Chefs

I'm not sure what your goal is. Is it just to have enough non-plastic to serve a crowd? Would you use this only for entertaining, or would you use it for daily use?

I understood the question to be whether using 12 salad forks and 12 dinner forks would be okay, not 12 of 2 different patterns. If that is the case, I would say it would do in a pinch, but not for planned use. Would you use 12 soup spoons and 12 teaspoons? What about extras for dessert, coffee, etc?

I would either buy something inexpensive (Target, Ikea, Costco, Sam's or restaurant supply) that you use only for casual entertaining or look for one or more sets to get you a full service including serving pieces. Then you can have something you use daily as well as for more formal entertaining.

I needed more pieces for our family gatherings, but the stainless I'd had for years was discontinued and it would have cost way too much to buy more than a few pieces through Replacements. I found some I liked at Marshall's and bought the two sets they had. Found another at TJ Maxx and a fourth online - all in the same pattern. Two of the sets had serving pieces and I ordered some extra teaspoons and iced teaspoons from Replacements (cheap since the pattern was just discontinued) and have a set of 24 place settings plus extras (teaspoons, iced teaspoons, cocktail forks, very similar demitasse spoons) and I think I spent $150-200 or so on the entire lot. I use it as my everyday stainless, but I have enough to serve a crowd. It is 18/10, washes easily in the DW and should last a lifetime. It all fits in the same drawer as I would store 8 or 12 place settings, so no extra storage space is needed. If the crowd is even larger, I kept my 12 place settings in the old stainless and I have 8 place settings from my mom and dad (at least until I send those off with one of my sons). And I will never need to buy stainless again -- at least, not for myself. (I also have 8 place settings from my mom and dad)

Something to consider.

Hi everyone, thank you so much! Very helpful ideas and suggestions.

Phonelady - yes the entertaining style is more like a buffet. No sit down dinners. We have lounging furniture on the deck and whenever weather permitting, that's where guests end up being with plates in hand. Dinner table is used as a staging area :-)

Also, this extra stuff will be used for entertaining mainly.

I really also love the idea of buying 2x12 so they can be easily used in batches of 12 :-)

Checking out costco, target -- yes, had not thought of TJMaxx. Will do! :-)

Has anyone tried online restaurant supply stores? Prices are amazing! The only catch is that they will have to be mailed back, if they do not match expectation.

This post was edited by homey_bird on Mon, Jul 7, 14 at 1:57

I have a huge family so I also entertain large groups and always buffet style. I would recommend buying at least some knives because they do get used on occasion, especially for thanksgiving or more traditional meals. If you don't buy them with the group you may not be able to find the same pattern. I know that may be a minor thing but for the extra $15 to $20 I think it is worth it. I just bought the cheap stuff as well. I hate eating a meal with a salad fork so I skipped over those. I like having extra forks so I'm not washing flatware between dinner and dessert.

If you're in the Bay Area, what about going to a restaurant supply store? I'm sure there are many. Maybe find one that has a website AND a local location?

Thanks, I checked the locations of rest. supply and found that they are quite far for me. Also found some good candidates at BBB and Crate+Barrel. Still not finalized but excited about getting a good set.

Now, my (new) question is: if I buy place settings and only use some pieces in it, will they show age compared to others in few years? Notably, in my case, knives may never get used. After couple of years, will they look sharply different from forks, that are used way more? Are there any care precautions to keep them looking new?

One of my top candidates is Reed + Barton Cabria. I am providing a link to it. Any feedback on these will be appreciated.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photo of Reed Barton Cabria

Unless you've already bought that, you need to keep looking. They have one 5 pc place setting in stock.

Here's a set that is very similar

Reed & Barton Cole, 18/10, not a discontinued pattern and would cost less for the quantity you need (65 pc set is $119 on Amazon and includes 12 5 pc place settings plus 5 serving pieces)

The amount of times put in the dishwasher, may or may not "wear" the pieces differently.

I'd guess it would have to be a lot though.

I meant to add that I use mine all the time (all stored in the same drawer), which means it is all rotating through and wears evenly. If the ones at the bottom haven't been used and washed quite as often, I'm not noticing any difference in wear. If I did, I could easily move the less worn to the top and get them evened out.

Here is a similar look from Macy's - Cambridge Ascot:

This one is on sale ($80 for 65 pcs.), but not a lot else is because the one day sale and July 4th sales just ended, but by Labor Day and again before the holidays, they will have a lot of flatware sets on sale. I bought one for my college son around Labor Day and there were lots of sets that were iin the half off category. Good time to look so you'll be ready to buy as soon as you see them on sale again.

Hope that helps.

This post was edited by lascatx on Tue, Jul 8, 14 at 16:11

Hi Lascatx, thanks for pointing out that...sorry, I posted wrong photo link. The one I was eyeing is from Costco, 65-pc set, with 5 pc hostess set and 12x5-pc setting. That works for me.

I also love the "Cole" and the "Cambridge Ascot", definitely can take a look in Macy's.

Also, thanks for the reassurance that there is no noticeable difference between the used ones and the unused ones. True that I will be washing them in dishwasher and once in a while can be extra careful if washing by hand.

Thank you all so much. I am gathering so many great recommendations, and love all the designs posted! You guys are awesome!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Costco link to Reed + Barton Cabria

I didn't mean hand wash them. I meant take the bottom ones out and let the more used ones go to the bottom and the less used ones be on top and become the more often used (and DW cleaned) ones for a while.

Those sets at Costco look nice -- and they are 18/10. I think you're headed in the right direction. :)

If you are still looking, I wanted to let you know that Macy's has a one day sale tomorrow (started today as a "preview")/ I went with my son to exchange some jeans and walked past the china dept. We saw a set on sale and I just looked online -- they have a lot more flatware on sale now than earlier this week -- even sets for 8 as low as $29-39. Didn't investigate the type of stainless or reviews -- just wanted to let you know.

Thank you, lascatx. I too saw that sale and in fact went and checked out some sets myself. I must say, this search has been very enjoyable because of all the learning that happened during it. Too bad that I will not be in the market for long long time again :-)

In the meantime, I got my R&B Cabria set delivered. It was exactly as I had imagined. Very clean lines and modernist feel. I have to say, the handles may be found a bit on the thinner side by some. Sort of like holding flat chopsticks. But they have a good weight.

Overall, very happy with the quality and the look. Just went ahead and ordered another one, since the price for my 65-pc set is only $99.00 at Costco. Very relieved that I have enough flatware to entertain, but also partly sad that, I will never be shopping for flatware again ever in life!

Thank you all for all the help!

Glad it was just what you expected and you are happy. In the long run, I think you will be much happier having a full set and not be limited on certain pieces. Enjoy!