Restaurant ware, also called hotel china, describes plates and bowls, cups and saucers, and smaller items such as creamers and monkey dishes made especially for use in restaurants. Potteries such as Homer Laughlin, Shenango, Jackson, Wallace, Syracuse, Tepco, and Buffalo are some of the best known manufacturers of restaurant ware, which is generally heavier than dinnerware produced for the home. Some of the most collected types of restaurant ware include airbrushed pieces, western themes (wagon wheels and cowboys throwing lassoes are popular), and plates bearing an establishment’s logo.

Interviews & Articles

Bowes Curator Howard Coutts on Meissen, Staffordshire, and Sèvres

I’m the curator of the ceramics bit of the Bowes Museum. It’s a big museum with 30 galleries of which three or four are devoted to… [more]



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Restaurant Ware Collectors Network

Restaurant Ware Collectors Network

Don't miss this collaborative reference guide to china and dinnerware used in public, commercial venues. The site c… [read review or visit site]

The Bowes Museum: Ceramics

The Bowes Museum: Ceramics

This gallery showcases 2,130 of the 5,000 items in the museum's ceramics collection dating from 1500-1900. Include… [read review or visit site]

Ceramics at The V&A

Ceramics at The V&A

A great reference on ceramics from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Learn about different ceramics techniques and st… [read review or visit site]



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Vtg Wallace Western Rodeo Boots Saddles Sugar Bowl W/ Lid 1951 Restaurant WareJackson China Rw Dinner Salad Bread Plates Blue Crescent Airbrush 12 Pc Set 1981Vintage Westward Ho Rodeo Pattern Wallace China 10 3/4 Plate4 Vtg Cm Club Med England Espresso Restaurant Ware Cups,saucers.blue TridentChicago Worlds Fair Fred Harvey Toy Town Tavern Restaurant Creamer Rare 1933 Wallace China Chuck Wagon PlatterFire King Jadite-jadeite Oven Glass Grill Plates / FourCb & Q Railroad Syracuse China Violets And Daisies Butter PatFire King Jadite - Jadeite Oven Glass Restaurant Ware Coffee Cups / 22 Large Wallace Restaurant Diner Ware Western Tan Mixing Batter Nesting BowlsRoycroft Renaissance China Platter By Buffalo ChinaFire King Green Jadite - Jadeite Slant C Restaurant Oven Glass Coffee 4cup & SauBismarck Hotel Chicago Il Pre-1910 Bauscher Made Restaurant Hotel Creamer MintFire King Jadite-jadeite Oven Ware Grill Plates / 4Ahwahnee Hotel Restaurant Ware Sterling China Small Bowls Yosemite National ParkVintage Mayer China Restaurant Ware Monticello Pattern 9 5/8" Dinner Plates LotTepco 4 Maroon Hawaiian HibiscusHubley Radio City Grill Hotel Restaurant Advertising Individual China Creamer NyAntique O P Co. Syracuse "pullman" Indian Tree Pattern Railroad Dining Car PlatePennsylvania Railroad Buffalo China Purple Laurel Ice Cream Shell Rr Backstamp1920's Green Mill Chicago Al Capone Related Handleless Creamer HutschenreutherWinnipeg Public Parks Board Handled Inividual Creamer Restaurant Ware Free Ship(4) Early Syracuse China Western Theme Restaurant Custards1950's Atomic China Diner Mayer Plates Abstract Boomerang Mid-century ModernPlate Wallace China Denny's Family Restaurants 1963Shenango Western "round Up" Soup Mug Restaurant Ware 1966 Great Condition Jackson China Creamer Western Guns N' Hats Airbrused Stencil 1966 Tan Mcnicol China Windmill Sailboat Red Floral Border Small Oval Platter 9.5x 6.5 Riviera Casino Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising China Creamer Las Vegas NevadaLittle Tavern Coffee Mug - Nr6 Carr China Dayton Restaurant Ware Small Bread Plates 5-1/4" Red TransferwareTepco China 4 Small Bamboo Bowls 1953 Handleless Creamer Unusual Design Lawrence Vitrified China Free Ship No RsrHotel Restaurant Ware Ironstone Individual Creamer The Jackson Hospitals2 Vntg Royal Jackson China Restaurant 8"plates /navy&gold Rim W/mayflower? ShipDesert Inn Casino Hotel Restaurant Advertising China Creamer Las Vegas Nevada3 Vtg Homer Laughlin Thick White Restaurant Ware Coffee Mugs Cups *must See*Dunkin Donuts Boston - Limited Edition - Destination Mug - Boston (strong) MugBuffalo China Restaurant Ware Green Stripe Bowls 5.5 In. X 4 8-11Desert Ware By Wallace China 9" Soup/salad Bowl Ex Nice Condition *nr* Vintage Hotel Holland Creamer E.f. Burg Duluth MinnesotaTom Sawyer Motor Inns Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising China Creamer Ny FloridaXlent! Vintage Tepco China Compote Palm, Banana Leaf, Shadowleaf, Green Hawaii Us Army Medical Wwii Large Creamer Sterling ChinaTepco Maroon Red Hawiian Hibiscus BowlThe Queen Hotel Restaurant Club Ship Advertising Individual China Creamer CanadaRare Tepco China Printed Usn Under Fouled Anchor Navy Wardroom Officers Mess CupJackson China Restaurant Ware 3 Green Airbrush Airbrushed Sailboat Mugs !Individual China Creamer ~ Decorative Cobalt Blue & Gold Edge Peckett's On Sugar Hill Hotel White Mountains Nh Ski School Demi Cup & SaucerAlsonett Hotel Sailboat Restaurant Advertising Logo Individual China CreamerSouthern Railway Buffalo China Peach Blosson Rr/bmk Corn/celery Tray RailroadHacienda Casino Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising China Creamer Las Vegas Nv2 Children Hotel Restaurant Club Advertising Logo Individual China Creamer Pickwick House Factory Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising China Creamer New YorkNice Huge 13-1/2" Tepco China Palm,banana Leaf,shadowleaf,green Hawaii PlatterVintage 50s Jackson China Restaurant Ware Chili Bowls - Aqua BlueVintage Mayer China Restaurant Ware Creamer And Condiment PotRiviera Casino Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising China Creamer Las Vegas NevadaMli Co Metropolitan Life Insurance Hotel Restaurant Advertising China Creamer