My wife was looking for a clean simple design with a matte look and this set was just that. We are very pleased with the purchase, they are sturdy, strong and durable and we have used them from the fanciest dinner to more casual events, they look great in any setting. Due to the simple design, they are very easy to clean and keep looking good. As far as the size goes, they are bigger than your traditional flatware but it's in the specs, read them carefully, no surprises there. We were so happy we bought the 20 piece set as a housewarming gift for a friend and she fell in love with them.