Sitting at a well-set table can make the experience of eating out even more enjoyable. And while there is an etiquette to setting the table based on how casual or fancy your meal is, sometimes just sitting at a table with attractive flatware and dinnerware can make the meal stand out even more.
Start With Utensils
The type of utensils that you use on your restaurant's table can help set the mood for your customer's dining experience. Having utensils of good weight but that isn't too heavy is important not only for your diners but also for making sure that the forks, knives, and spoons can withstand the wear and tear of your business.
Also to be considered is the quality of the utensils. The term 'quality' refers to how much chromium and nickel are in the stainless steel makeup in flatware. While quality doesn't determine how heavy the forks, spoons, and knives are, it does help define the look of the utensils, if they have luster or a softer shine, if they're rust-resistant, and even if you can use magnetic flatware retrievers with them.
Plating Your Meal
When serving food, how it looks is just as important as how it tastes. Feeling that something looks unappetizing can make the dining experience feel like a bad experience. Selecting the right dinnerware can help bring out the best in any dish. Using the plates as a framework is the best place to start. Choosing the correct size plate is important to best display your cuisine/product and help provide the desired ambiance or aesthetic - having a small dish on a plate that is too large can ruin the visual effect of the meal. The same theory applies to having too much on a plate that isn't large enough. Having all of your plates and bowls look precisely the same isn't a necessity if that's not the style of your restaurant. However, they should complement each other in shapes and colors.
Something else to consider is the weight of the dishes. A study by Science Direct indicated that people are influenced by the weight of their dinnerware and feel that the heavier the plate, the perceived taste and price expectation increased. So choose your dishes carefully based on the type of restaurant you're outfitting and the impression you want to make on your customers.
Pour On The Glassware
What's a well-set table without beautiful glassware? Developed over 4,000 years ago, the art of glassmaking hasn't changed much over the years. What has developed over time is the different types of glasses used for each specific drink. The shape of glasses helps impart the flavor of the beverage that's being consumed. That's why the form of martini glasses is different from the shape of a glass for beer. There is a glass for every type of drink - water, cocktails, wine, beer and they are now often dishwasher safe, so there's no need to handwash every glass, saving time and labor.
If you're ready to set your restaurant's tables a little more thoughtfully, Elevation Reps is here to help.
