Small, low-capacity serving ladles are designed for serving gravy and sauces. They are also perfect for serving toppings like hot fudge, syrup or salad dressings. Larger ladles are generally used for serving punch and soup. When choosing a serving ladle look for a one-piece ladle. These ladles lack the ugly rivets that hold the two-piece ladles together, and often come with accents or engraving for a decorative note.