Crate & Barrel Lina Blue Stripe 16-Piece Place Setting Review

We purchased the Crate & Barrel Lina Blue Stripe 16-Piece Place Setting so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review. 

New dishes are always fun, so I looked forward to putting the Lina Blue Stripe 16-Piece Place Setting, a Crate & Barrel exclusive, on the table. I also wanted to see how it performed in the microwave and how it felt to curl up on the couch with snacks in a bowl.

To find the right dinnerware set for your needs, you need to take a look at the number of pieces in the set, the size of those pieces, and—of course—the visual appeal. Is this the right dinnerware set for you? Read on for some clues I gathered below.

Appearance: Casual, yet classy

This set of four place settings has a casual, rustic look that works for casual dining, but I can also see it being used for more upscale settings because of the artisan, handmade vibe. Each piece is a little different in shape and design. They all have a speckled glaze that adds visual interest, while the handpainted lines vary in thickness; they may also have a fuzzy edge or occasional thick splotches that add to the handmade look. Even the base color of my set varies: Some pieces have more of a cream color, while others are a bit more white. Still, when used together, it’s obvious the dishes are a set.

The dinner plate is a bit larger than usual, at 11 inches in diameter. With a narrow, sloped outer rim, marked with four blue lines, you have 9.5 inches of flat space in the center, so folks with generous appetites can take fewer trips to the buffet. The large flat center also makes the dinner plates useful as serving pieces when there are fewer diners at the table or when the small plates are used. I also found that the dinner plate is even large enough to hold a 9-inch round cake.

The smaller flat plate is similarly generous at 8.75 inches in diameter, with a single blue line around the exterior. I liked it for plated salads, a cozy lunch, and dessert.

The bowls have multiple lines around the exterior, and when they were lined up next to each other it was easy to see the differences in the painted lines. The bowls are deep and curved so they are perfect for soups and cereal, but I also like them for generous salads.

The mugs are a fun shape that reminds me of a ball with the top lopped off, and they have blue lines around the exterior that match the rest of the set. They have a generous round loop handle that fits one finger easily, and possibly two. While they hold plenty of coffee or tea, because of the round shape, I needed to tip my head back just a little further than usual to get the last sips of my drink. Because of the generous size, I even used them for soup a few times.

When it comes to storage, the plates and bowls stack neatly, but depending on how they are stacked, they could be a bit wobbly or uneven. While I found that four plates weren’t at risk of falling, it may become more of an issue if someone purchased multiple sets for a large party. While I could temporarily place one mug on top of another, some pairs of mugs were more stable than others due to their irregular shapes. I'd suggest storing them without stacking to avoid having one mug topple and break.

Durability: Sturdy stoneware

Made from stoneware, these feel sturdy, but of course, they can be damaged if they’re dropped or used roughly in the kitchen. I was pleased that they’re dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and I found that they didn’t get overly hot when I heated my leftovers on a plate or in a bowl in the microwave. They’re also warm-oven safe, so while they’re not designed for baking, they’d be safe for keeping food warm or for warming the plates for serving.

While no stoneware lasts forever, I expect that these will last long enough to be worth the price. However, because this is an exclusive from Crate and Barrel, there’s no guarantee that replacements will be available in the future if there’s a need to replace pieces or add more place settings as the family grows.

Shipping: A few glitches

While these seemed to be packed securely, with plenty of bubble wrap and other protective packaging, the set arrived with some issues. Two mugs had broken handles and two dinner plates had chips on the edge. It’s hard to imagine how they broke with normal handling, so the box must have been dropped or poked at some point during its travels. The good news was that I got my replacements quickly. I wouldn’t expect breakage to be normal considering how well everything was padded, but it’s good to know that they took care of the issue without requiring me to ship back broken pottery.

Price: Moderately expensive

For casual dinnerware, this set is moderately expensive, but it’s understandable given that the pieces are handpainted in Portugal. The attractive design and handmade appearance also make them worth paying extra. To be fair, at approximately under $200, this set is only a little pricey—there are plenty of dinnerware sets that are more expensive. While these might not be appropriate for a dinner party with the Queen, they’re attractive enough to appear at just about any other dinner with family or friends, from a birthday dinner to Thanksgiving to a normal weeknight.

Crate & Barrel Lina Blue Stripe 16-Piece Place Setting vs. Fiesta Four-Piece Place Setting

Fiesta, with its rainbow of colors and heavy pottery, tends to be used for casual dining, just like the Lina set I reviewed. While the Lina set is enough for four diners, the Fiesta Four-Piece Place Setting (view at Wayfair) that I tested is just one place setting. This means it's possible to create a set in multiple colors to suit any décor.

Meanwhile, the Lina set is only available with blue stripes, and the colors are a bit muted compared with Fiesta’s bright, solid-colored offerings. The decision here should be easy. Which set suits your personality better?