The most-studied type of Roman ceramic, and the most popular, is table crockery, especially that from the High-Imperial period with its characteristic red glaze (known as terra sigillata because the pieces were normally stamped with the workshop's or manufacturer's seal).

It is difficult, and sometimes risky, to identify the different vessels found in archaeological excavations with the names we know from written sources. However, it seems fairly certain that plates were known as patella and bowls or large cups were called catillus or catinus (well-documented in the graffiti found in the workshop of La Graufesenque). They were all used to serve fish, vegetables, foods made with flour, etc.

Drinking glasses were generically known as poculum, although other objects such as the scyphos, the kylix and the calix had the same purpose. Other more complex forms included the cantharos, with very fine or glass walls. As far as pottery from Campania is concerned, there was a marked change in style at the beginning of the 3rd century BC based on the cantharos and the crateriscos. The final items used for drinks were the jug or jar, known as urceus, urceolus or nasiterna and the bottle, or lagoena, lagena, lacuna or laguncula.

In addition to these objects there were various types of pans, dishes and trays to be used in the oven, with the collective name of patina. These items were made for cooking but could also be used to serve at the table. They had many shapes and uses, like the so-called Pompeian red ware, cumanae patellae, typical of Italica and demonstrative of that area's eating habits.