Small plates

[Flyhigher]

Does it drive anyone else nuts when you sit down at a restaurant and the server says
Have you been here before?
The concept is small plates , they come as and when they are ready.

Small plates have been around for 20 years at least!
Is it because I'm over 50 and they think that I've no idea what small plates are???

Well I wouldn't have a clue, so I would appreciate the heads up.

I’m sure they’ve had their fair share of customers whining because they booked without realising what sort of restaurant it was so this way it’s just making sure people are aware. I think it’s called customer service, not something to be all affronted by!

YABU. The server is just letting you know it's small plates rather than typical 3 course menu.

I think they say it to everyone, unless they recognise you as having been in before.

Yeah, it annoys me as well- its 2024 I get the concept thanks….But then I hate small plate restaurants anyway,- expensive and annoying. So I suppose if I’ve made the mistake of accidentally going to one, they are at least giving me the heads up to leave.

The server can’t tell by your face if you’re aware can they, its what they are told to say YABU.

Perhaps make a little sign saying ‘I know how small plates work’ and hold it up next time?

I think they ask everyone though, unless you go enough to be recognised. I've always been asked this in Wahacca. I don't think they are subtly implying you are old and don't have a clue!

I think it's a good thing, it's embarrassing staring at a menu wondering how it works and how best to order with unhelpful waiting staff just looking at you. Just say, yes thanks we've been before.

Ah yes small plates, where they always recommend at least 3 dishes per person so you spend an extra tenner each than if it were to all come on a big plate together. And I love when you order thinking you’ll have them in a specific sequence but the kitchen has other ideas and you’re left eating charred broccolini with a miso crumb ten minutes after everything else.

I’m in a country where eating out isn’t so much as small plates but large plates brought out as and when , put into the middle of the table to share.

It’s very difficult to regulate as I forget what others have ordered and what’s still to
come.

Server thing wouldn’t bother me though as this way of eating isn’t quite the norm in the UK -

Well it’s not a concept I have ever come across so I would need it explaining!

Why does it matter? Fucking hell. 😄

You have never been to a tapas or sushi bar?

I love eating somewhere with small plates on the menu. I get to try more than one dish, and at lunchtime I don't have to eat a big meal.

As someone who doesn't regularly eat out, I wouldn't have a clue what small plates is. What is it?*

• (In case I'm ever rich enough to eat in such a restaurant).

I like that they tell you how many dishes to order and if they say 2-3, I know that 2 will almost certainly be plenty for me. It's rare that a restaurant portion of anything will be too little for me, but I always have that fear that I'll order something and find I've paid £9 for 3 king prawns and a smear of alloli.

Annoying when both your companion's dishes come out and neither of yours do, so they're unsure whether to start or wait as you have no food and no idea how long it will be.

But we have an excellent small plates Indian street food bar in our city (Bundobust). All the portions are large starter size so even two are quite a decent meal and they always bring all the order together.

Never heard of small plates.

Have eaten at tapas and sushi places, so understand the apparent concept.

Just never heard it called this.

Instead of a large meal, everything is starter size (with some variation, you could literally get a few prawns but sometimes a single plate is pretty much 'lunch' size eg 3 koftas, sauce and bread or a vada pav, which is basically a spicy potato quarter pounder) and you mix and match according to appetite.

But it doesn't need to be expensive, all the dishes in Bundobust are about £7 or they do a lunch deal on a selection that's 2 for £10.

Please someone explain this to me. The best quality restaurant I've ever been to in the UK is a Nandos, so clearly I'm missing something

Never heard of it before this thread so I wouldn't have had a clue and would have appreciated it being explained to me.

https://bundobust.com/menu/

Menu with pictures

Oh thanks!

As my appetite is not that big these days I find a small plates approach quite suits me. Recently I went to a pizza restaurant with some friends and I would never have finished a big pizza but I had a small baked chicken in tomato sauce and some garlic bread and that was fine for me!

@Bjorkdidit thank you for that explanation. It looks a great concept in theory but the never knowing whether it comes out together or 15 minutes apart would do it for me.

It’s just tapas, isn’t it?

I'm under 50 and I had no idea what small plates were before I read this thread.