Tabletop accessories include bread boards or baskets; charger plates; cheese bowls or shakers; napkin rings and dispensers; oil/vinegar cruets; salt-and-pepper mills or shakers; ramekins; serving trays; sign holders; condiment squeeze bottles; thermal beverage servers; wine buckets and stands; creamer and sugar holders; votives or candlesticks; electric table lamps; and more.

Tabletop accessories are available in a variety of materials, from wicker and wood to glass and plastic or metals with mirror finishes in brass, copper, gold or silver tones.  Salt-and-pepper shakers, creamers, sugar bowls, sauce boats, coffee servers and vases are usually made of china, glass, or stoneware in the same textures, colors and patterns as dinnerware.

Eclectic shapes, such as “origami-inspired” plates with projecting corners, tilted-square wine buckets and spiral wire-bound condiment caddies; lend new visual interest to tabletops.  Brushed stainless steel, however, represents a growing trend.

Tabletop accessories keep dinning necessities at hand.  They also add decorative touches that help to differentiate operations from their competitors.

Providing dressings, sauces, and other seasonings in tabletop servers, gives diners a sense of participation in the preparation of meals. Many owners look to set themselves apart from their competition with the tabletop accessories.  It is one of the most important aspects of a restaurant because the table is the first thing a guest will see.

Spoilage can become a problem if the containers are not regularly emptied and thoroughly washed.