Eating outside (picnic table, gentle breeze, all that) makes every meal and snack feel special—even if it’s just a PB&J. And when you’re dining al fresco, serving kids, or eating in a place where you might be walking around barefoot, shatter-resistant outdoor dinnerware lends peace of mind.
I considered eight sets of outdoor dinnerware, from a range of prices and materials. For the tests, I thought about a day in the life of a piece of outdoor dishware: Could it withstand an accidental drop onto the patio? Would food spill over the edge during the walk between the buffet and picnic tables? (And would it be comfortable to hold on those walks one-handed, so you can keep one hand free for a cold drink?) Would it be resistant to stains, even those from zingy summer condiments, and even after baking in the sun all afternoon? Would steak knives and other utensils damage it? I also thought about the look and feel of the sets, considering that outdoor dining is always better with friends. With all this in mind, I got to work.
The Winners, at a Glance
These peppy, lightweight dishes have range. In bright color options, like yellow or coral, they’re right at home on the kids’ table or at a picnic, while in “mint” or “stone grey” they feel chic and classic. I loved their clean lines, eco-friendly construction, matte glaze, and practical sizes. I felt equally as likely to reach for this brand’s dishes for a sunny weekend lunch, a festive dinner, and a camping trip.
Made In’s handsome set of melamine dinnerware is my white-tee-and-blue-jeans pick: well made, easy to dress up or down, timeless, and unfussy. A lovely oval tray rounds out the assortment of nicely sized dishware, which practically calls out for a heap of corn on the cob or sliced watermelon.
Neutral-hued and mod, this set from West Elm’s Kaloh line looks like actual dinnerware (nothing flimsy or especially plasticky about it). The plates’ rims have a gentle slope that helped me keep a secure hold on a saucy serving of cookout food.
Made from bamboo, cornstarch, and melamine, this set had a pleasing matte texture and “handmade” shape. It’s on the higher end of the price range of sets I tested, but the earthy, elegant dishes felt and looked truly fine dining-worthy.
The Tests
- Unboxing Test: I examined the pieces included in each set, checking for glaze imperfections, scratches, and other unwanted blips. I also reviewed each set’s assortment—what kinds of pieces are included in the set, and how many—then weighed each piece, considering how its size, shape, and weight would affect the experience of trotting back and forth from the grill to a picnic table.
- Drop Test: To see how durable the pieces from each set were, I dropped one of each kind of piece (e.g. a bowl, plate, and cup) from each set onto the kitchen floor from hip height (oops!), then checked out the dishes for any marks, cracks, or dings.
- Staining Test: Would the dishes stand up to condiments? I smeared dinner plates from each set with a dollop of barbecue sauce and a swipe of turmeric mixed with oil, then left them out at room temperature for three hours, just like they might sit on the counter by the sink after lunch while you take another dunk in the pool. After washing with a sponge and dish soap, I checked to see if the plates had taken on any stains and noted how easy they were to clean up.
- Hot Foods Test: It’s not a proper picnic without an overloaded plate. I doled out steamy, saucy servings of baked beans and macaroni and cheese onto a side plate from each set, then took them for a walk to see what it was like to hold the heavy, hot plates one-handed and in motion.
- Scratch Test: I ran a steak knife over a plate from each set 10 times, as though slicing through steak or chicken breast, then checked to see whether the knife had left any scars.
What We Learned
Size and Shape Made a Big Difference
Just like any set of dinnerware, the size and shape of the pieces included in the assortment are essential. Across the board, many of the sets had dinner plates that were just too darn big to be practical (the enamel one from Cinsa was more like a pizza pan or a serving platter). Similarly, the sizes and shapes of the bowls made a significant difference. Several sets included lower, wider bowls—a.k.a. pasta bowls—as well as smaller, deeper bowls. The best sets, like those from Fable New York and Made In, had pasta bowls that were generously sized but not massive, and smaller bowls that could hold a couple of scoops of ice cream or serving of soup.
One gripe I had across several brands was that the smaller bowls, including those from two of the sets I liked, Kaloh by West Elm and Made In, tended to be oddly deep and narrow. I preferred plates that had a bit of a lip—the ones from Made In and Kaloh by West Elm were especially comfortable to carry during my hot foods test, and did a solid job keeping foods from spilling in transit. One reason I liked the collection from Fable New York was the range of sizes and shapes included, which made the set truly versatile.
The Assortment Was Important
So you want some outdoor dinnerware. What are your outdoor eating habits? Are you a camper? A hoster? A barbecue fiend? A picnic queen? Are you feeding kiddos or adults or both—and how many? These questions play a role in how you choose a set. The most versatile outdoor dinnerware sets included four to six settings; most consisted of a dinner plate, side plate, pasta bowl, and cereal-type bowl. (The Tarhong Planta set was the outlier, with six settings of a dinner plate, side plate, and pasta bowl.) Some sets (from Lenox and Teivio) included tumblers. Tumblers seemed like less of a priority, and I for one don’t want to pour wine into a plastic glass. Something else to consider: Some sets (Fable New York, Kaloh by West Elm) are available in smaller sizes, so you can buy a few more plates or bowls as needed if you’re feeding a crowd or need replacements.
Melamine Was Nice—Bamboo Might Be Better
Melamine has been the go-to for outdoor dinnerware for decades, and for good reason: It’s lightweight, fairly inexpensive, easy to clean (and dishwasher-safe), and sturdy enough for pool-side dining. Most of the options I tested for this review were melamine, and I really liked two of them. Both the Kaloh and Made In sets were thoughtfully designed, looked like actual dishes, and performed well. Of note, all of the dishes I tested for this review made it through the stain and drop tests totally unscathed. But I was really impressed with the two bamboo-blend options, from Fable New York and Tarhong, which were just as colorful and sturdy as the melamine options and appealing in other ways, too. Made from fast-growing bamboo with a little melamine added to make the pieces dishwasher-safe, both had lovely matte textures that looked and felt luxe. Also, they weighed less than the melamine options and weren’t as noisy when stacking them or setting them down.
Don’t Go for the Cheapest Option
The quality of the material made a big difference in these tests. Some of the sets, like the one from Teivio (which was far and away the least expensive set I tested, at under $50), was flimsy and plasticky; the scratch test made me think I might be able to saw right through a plate with the steak knife. The second-least expensive set from Cinsa, had a great, campy look but a couple of downfalls: They got too hot during the hot foods test, and the flat rim meant that saucy foods threatened to jump overboard. Higher quality materials were almost instantly noticeable just by feel, had better heat retention, and were more resistant to scratching.
The Criteria: What to Look for in Outdoor Dinnerware
The best outdoor dinnerware sets had a practical assortment of pieces in a range of sizes and styles (nothing too big or too small). They were lightweight but sturdy, resistant to chips and scratches, heat-resistant, and dishwasher-safe—plus, they were nice to look at and comfortable to hold.
Our Favorite Outdoor Dinnerware Sets
What we liked: There’s so much to love about this set from Fable: the eco-friendly composition of the plates (mostly fast-growing bamboo with a wink of melamine); how lightweight and low-profile they are, which makes them easy to stack, carry, and store; and their papery-smooth texture. Not to mention their mix of colors, which covers those who want something peppy and those who prefer something a little more muted. They were also a good price, right in the middle of the range of dinnerware sets I tested (from $40 to $229): At time of publication, the set was $148 for 16 pieces ($9.25 per piece).
What we didn’t like: Some folks might find a few of the pieces (particularly the pasta bowl) on the small side, especially compared to other pasta bowls on the market.
Key Specs
- Number of pieces: 16
- Types of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 pasta bowls, 4 cereal bowls
- Materials: Organic bamboo fiber, non-GMO corn starch, and a food-grade BPA-free melamine binding
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe (top rack only). Not microwave-safe.
What we liked: The set from Made In has a classic style—the pieces look like ceramic dishware, about as far from a paper plate as it gets. I loved the subtle ridging around the rims of each piece, which added to the “real deal” look and feel. I also dug the tray, which lends itself well to the festive bent of outdoor dining. Slightly more formal-feeling than the set from Fable, this set is suited to anytime hosting.
What we didn’t like: This set performed well in my tests and looked beautiful. It did feel a bit more plasticky than I expected. The side bowls were narrow and too deep. It was also the most expensive set I tested, at $229 ($13.47 per piece).
Key Specs
- Number of pieces: 17
- Kinds of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 appetizer plates, 4 entrée bowls, 4 side bowls, 1 serving tray
- Materials: Melamine
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe. Do not heat above 150˚F.
What we liked: Into neutrals? Maybe you have the stoneware Kaloh collection (we reviewed the pasta bowl here) and want the outdoor set to match? This set from West Elm was light and bright. It was easy to imagine reaching for them daily and for more formal occasions. The slight lip on the dinner and side plates kept sauces from spilling and made them especially comfortable to hold. The pebbly exterior glaze also helped keep a good grip. The glaze was especially resistant to scratching, with barely visible marks. And like the set from Fable New York, you can order additional pieces as needed in sets of four.
What we didn’t like: As with Made In, the Kaloh side bowl skews narrow and deep.
Key Specs
- Number of pieces: 16
- Kinds of pieces: 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 pasta bowls, 4 cereal bowls
- Materials: Melamine
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe.
What we liked: This chic set was fancypants, with its earthy shapes, tones, and textures. Like Fable New York, my overall winner, the set from Tarhong is bamboo-based with a melamine binder. They’re also super lightweight, with a satisfyingly crisp texture. Despite their delicate looks, the pieces stood up well to testing, passing my tests with flying colors.
What we didn’t like: This set has settings for six, but only three kinds of dishes. I missed the smaller cereal (or, if I’m being honest, ice cream) bowl that other sets had, and the pasta bowls were too big, both deep and wide. This set also was at the higher end of the price range, at $198 ($11 per piece).
Key Specs
- Number of pieces: 18
- Kinds of pieces: 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 pasta bowls
- Materials: “Planta is plant-based material (majority bamboo powder and cornstarch) with melamine binder.”
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe. Not microwave-safe.
The Competition
- Sicily Red Outdoor Melamine 12-Piece Dinnerware Set: Although pretty, intricately patterned, and satisfyingly solid-feeling, this set of 12 pieces had a lackluster assortment (dinner plates, side plates, pasta bowls) and was the most expensive set per piece ($14.17!).
- Lenox Blue Bay 16-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set: This collection was glossy and friendly-looking, and performed well in testing, but felt plasticky. The set also included tumblers, which wasn’t as practical a choice as a smaller bowl.
- Cinsa 16-Piece Enameled Outdoor Dinnerware Set: Camp vibes are always in, but these enamel dishes weren’t quite right—sizing that didn’t make sense, bumpy glazing, and uncomfortable to hold when full of hot food.
- Teivio 32-Piece Plastic Dinnerware Set: This was the least pricey set I tested, and while I love a deal, these dishes were cheap and flimsy. Even though they passed all of my tests, I doubted their longevity and still can’t recommend them wholeheartedly.
FAQs
Are outdoor dinnerware sets shatter-proof?
Most outdoor dinnerware sets won’t promise that they’re shatter-proof, but they are generally shatter-resistant. After all, they’re designed to be used poolside and on patios! This also makes them a good choice for regular use, inside and out, with kids. None of the pieces I tested for this review were at all impacted by being dropped from hip height onto a laminate kitchen floor, but it’s possible that a big fall could lead to chips or scratches.
What is outdoor dinnerware made from?
Outdoor dinnerware has most often been made from plastic or melamine, a kind of plastic (more on that below). But as more brands think about sustainability, outdoor dinnerware is becoming available in other materials, like bamboo, corn, wheat, and other kinds of plant starches (like two of my top picks, from Fable New York and Tarhong). But even most of the “eco” dishes have a little bit of plastic or melamine in them, which helps bind the starches and makes the dishes dishwasher-safe.
What is melamine?
Melamine is a kind of plastic (C₃H₆N₆, if you really want to know). It’s approved by the FDA for use in lots of food-adjacent functions and formats, like cooking utensils, plastic products, and paper. Keep in mind that not all melamine is BPA-free; many brands indicate if they are using BPA-free melamine. (Fable New York, Made In, and Tarhong all specify that they use BPA-free melamine.)
Can you reuse bamboo dinnerware?
You sure can! As long as it’s bamboo dinnerware that is made to be reused, like my top picks from Fable New York and Tarhong. There are other styles of bamboo dinnerware often used by caterers that are explicitly single-use and less expensive than reusable sets.
Can you put outdoor dinnerware in the microwave?
Nope. As noted above, even most plant starch-based dishes contain some plastic, which could warp, melt, or leach chemicals if microwaved or exposed to extreme heat.
Why We’re the Experts
- Caroline Lange is a freelance writer who has spent more than 10 years working in food media.
- Caroline has tested recipes for acclaimed and award-winning cookbooks and has also worked as a freelance recipe tester for a variety of publications, including the New York Times.
- For this review, among other tests, Caroline dropped nearly 30 pieces of dinnerware on the floor of her New York City apartment. She sends her apologies to her neighbors.