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]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

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]



Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 82 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Vintage Midland Route Large Platter, Syracuse ChinaLamberton Scammell Norfolk & Western Railway 1838 1938 Century Of Service Plate 6 Fire King Green Jadeite Jadite Cup & Saucers Restaurant Ware Slant C 1940'sTepco Western Travler Dinner Plates - Set Of 6Syracuse China Mimbreno Santa Fe Railroad Old Ivory Pattern Teapot Nice Shape 2 Vintage Tepco China Company Pine Cone Or Pine Cone & Needles 8" Salad Plates Pair Of Tepco Pine Cone Or Pine Cone & Needles Restaurant Coffee Cups & SaucersVintage Wallace China - Westward Ho Chili Bowl - Cattle Brand PatternVtg. Ancient Mimbreno Santa Fe Dining Car Service 15.5 X 10.5 Lg Turkey Platter Marina Grill Hotel Restaurant Club Advertising Individual China Creamer MayerB Flag Baltimore Steam Packet Co Steamship Restaurant Hotel Adv China Creamer Vintage Victor Mugs Insulated Off White Coffee Tea Restaurant Ware Cups 8 Oz. 4Fish Bowl Shadowtone Multicolor Stencil Airbrushed Butter PatJackson China Stencil Airbrush Palm Pattern Butter PatBoss Hotel Double Egg Cup, Trenton China, Corn MotifVery Rare Ford Coffee Cup Saucer Cafeteria Restaurant Automobile Sterling ChinaVintage Antique Restaurant Ware Sacred Heart Church Cup Or MugUnusual!~airbrush Plate~speed Boat Or Motor Launch~old Restaurant ChinaVintage Ford Cafeteria Restaurant China Bowl Automobile Gem By Shenango Nice!Vintage Restaurant Ware Ymca Dinner Plate Mayer China Euc2 Carr China Loubat Flaming Devil El Diablo Demitasse Cup & Saucer New OrleansLeigh Ware Serving Plate Made By Leigh Potters. Tan Plate Green Plat DesignUnion Pacific Rr Circus Pattern Syracuse China Child's Dinner Plate Clown 8 1/4"Bpoe Elks Club West Palm Beach 1352 Fraternal Hotel Restaurant China Creamer Fl2 Carr A-35 Ice Cream BowlSet Of 6 Vtg Syracuse China "deville" Pattern Restaurant Ware Fruit/jello Dishes2 Book Cadillac Hotel Restaurant Advertising China Individual Creamer Detroit MiSyracuse China- Cede Nullis Logo-249th Coast Artillery -columbia River -4 BowlsOld Ivory Lamberton Scammell~longley's Restaurant Ware Nyc~12 Saucer Plates 6"~Syracuse Trend Berkeley Cherry Blossom Fred Harvey Restaurant Santa Fe Rr-9 PcsVintage Hartwell Homestead Farm Restaurant Bread Plate Lincoln Ma Walker ChinaSuperb Vintage 5 3/4" Restaurant Ware Stainless Steel Flip Top Lid Sugar BowlWallace 49er China BowlDesert Inn Casino Hotel Restaurant Advertising China Creamer Las Vegas NevadaHall Cadet Blue 143 Individual Restaurant Sauce Gravy Boat Creamer Syrup Jug4 Cup And Saucer Sets Of Restaurant Ware Diner Jackson China Green&black StripePig' N Whistle Restaurant Hotel Advertising Logo Club Ice Cream China Creamer CaCulver Military Academy Individual Creamer 3 3/4 Inches High Nice(4) Vtg Buffalo China Restaurant 5 1/4" Chili Soup Dessert Bowls Green StripeSix Green Stripe Coffee/tea Cups*mayer China Green Trim4 White Ventura China Restaurant Ware, Style Breafast Skillet PlatesAmerican Legion Fraternal Club Hotel Restaurant Advertising Logo China Creamer Gateway Inn Hotel - Restaurant Gambling China Logo Creamer Michigan - WisconsinPalace Hotel Madrid Restaurant Advertising Logo Club Butter Pat Plate SpainMethodist Hospital Restaurant Church Advertising China Creamer Sioux City IowaHotel Crillon Restaurant Advertising Club Individual China Creamer SwissSterling China - Octagon Shape Plate - Medallion - Restaurant WareBpoe Elks Middletown Pa Fraternal Club Hotel Restaurant Adv Logo China Creamer Vtg 1950s Red Hook Hotel Ny Restaurant Coffee Cup Saucer Mayan Ware Mayer ChinaKing Fong Hotel Restaurant Logo Advertising Individual China Creamer Omaha NeTepco Mixing BowlTea Garden Restaurant Hotel Oriental Logo Advertising China Individual Creamer Karzi's Hotel Restaurant Club Logo Advertising Individual China Creamer Vintage Western 3 Section Dinner Plate Chuckwagon Brands 10 1/2"Ridgewood Hotel Restaurant Advertising China Individual Creamer Daytona FloridaLundy Brothers Restaurant Bowl 4.75" Shenango China For Lundy's Brooklin N Y Masonic Lodge Fraternal Club Hotel Restaurant Advertising Logo China Creamer 4~hall China~barrel Coffee Mugs Chinese Red U.s.a. Old Mark Minty!Syracuse Deville 10" Oval Vegetable Bowl Wheat Greek Key Usa Restaurant WarePlate Syracuse China Trend Jubilee Pattern Scp F Fscp