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In the world of grown-up tableware, platters and serving bowls tend to take a back seat to nice glasses and decent flatware. But every home should have one or two, even if you rarely host dinner parties, because transferring your food from a cooking to serving vessel enhances the experience of eating. To surface the best dishes, sets, and a few more unorthodox plating vehicles, we asked a handful of experts — including chefs, designers, and prop and food stylists — about their own favorites. Aesthetics play a big role here, so we’ve collected a range to suit different styles and considered size, material, durability, and — as we’ve sorted them in this list — price. Read on to see if any strike your fancy. Solid Wood Boards
Anna Polonsky, founder of the food-focused strategy and design consultancy Polonsky & Friends, says that enamel is lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and generally affordable (especially compared to artisan handmade pieces). She loves this dish by English designer Matilda Goad, whose style is instantly recognizable for its whimsical details and charm. “It’s a nice size,” Polonsky says of the peppermint-trimmed dish, “a bit smaller than some other ones I have, so I like to use it for cookies and sweet bites at the end of a meal.” Goad sells a rectangular one with higher sides, too, which would be perfect for snacks like olives and cheese.
Black Slate Plate Another enamel option that offers a great amount of versatility is this trio of prep bowls. They’re hearty enough (and easy-to-clean enough) to cook with day in and day out (and even to take outside or on trips). But they’re still “stylish enough to put on your table,” photographer Julia Stotz says. The fitted silicone lids are also a plus — if there are leftovers, “you can take them straight to the table to the fridge,” she says.