Best Places To Share Small Plates In And Around Boston

Restaurants that offer small plates cater to their food-loving patrons who yearn to try a bite of everything. They’re great places for large groups, as long as everyone is into sharing family-style, and they’re also perfect for romantic dinners for two. If you’re one of those people who can never decide on just one thing, why not head to one of these spots where it’s more than okay to order a number of different small plates?

Dali
415 Washington Street Somerville, Mass. 02143 617-661-3254

Dali, located in a small, unassuming building at the corner of Washington and Beacon Streets, is not much to look at from the outside, but once you get in, you’ll immediately feel transported to Spain. Grab some sangria at the bar while you almost inevitably wait for a table. The space is small, yet cozy and inviting.

Highlights off the menu include the ever-popular gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), queso rebozado con miel (fried Spanish cheese with honey and sweet onion), and patatas bravas (deep-fried potatoes with piquant tomato sauce and aioli).

Dali has two sister restaurants: Tapeo in Boston’s Back Bay, which is known for its mouthwatering tapas, and Cuchi Cuchi in Cambridge, where you can find international small plates.

Coppa
253 Shawmut Avenue Boston, Mass. 02118 617-391-0902

Coppa, a small but far from quiet enoteca in Boston’s South End, from favored local chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette, serves seasonal Italian small plates. Head to Coppa to sample stuzzichini (Italian small bar snacks), house made charcuterie, handmade pastas, wood-grilled pizzas, and even offal.

The stuzzichini offerings range from arancini to smoked beef tongue. And fried beef tongue is on the offal menu along with fried pig’s head terrine and foie gras. For the less adventurous, the antipasti selections like house made burrata and charcuterie offerings like duck prosciutto are not to be missed.

End your night with a palate-pleasing scoop of house made gelato.

Piattini
226 Newbury Street Boston, Mass. 02116 617-536-2020

Serving Italian dishes in small portions is Piattini Wine Café, a subterranean restaurant on Newbury Street. If you don’t have a reservation, there’s not much room for waiting in the restaurant itself, but you can sip some wine at the gelateria upstairs until your table is ready.

Dinner begins with a basket of rustic Italian bread and olive oil for dipping. Light starters include salads ranging from arugula to Tuscan and cold small plates like shrimp bruschetta and carpaccio.

Pasta fans need not commit to just one dish and will adore the selection of ravioli, gnocchi, orecchiette, and more. The ravioli di zucca gialla (butternut squash ravioli with apple cider, brown sugar, and sage) is a sweet counterpart to more savory pasta dishes like the Bolognese (homemade fusilli with traditional meat ragu).

Keeping with the diminutive theme, Piattini offers wine flights to accompany your meal. Choose from five different sets, and a trio of wines served in small glasses will be set before you complete with a placemat describing each wine and reminding you which is which.

Small Plates
56 Jfk Street Cambridge, Mass. 02138 617-441-0056

Tucked down an alley in Harvard Square is the hidden gem Small Plates. Inside you’ll find white tablecloths and a small bar, but outside you’ll feel as though you’re sitting in your own backyard. So if you go to Small Plates on a warm spring or summer evening, try to snag an outdoor table.

Appetizer-sized dishes abound at this seasonally inspired eatery. The mezze platter with roasted vegetables, hummus, and muhammara is a light lead-in to the tapas selection, as are any of the salads. Pissaladiere, a French-style pizza, changes daily. Warm squash “fettuccini” with a tomato romesco sauce surprises and delights with its lightness and subtle heat. The Moroccan lamb chops with lemony Israeli couscous makes a perfect dish for two.

Stop by for the Happy Tappy Hour, held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Tico
222 Berkeley Street Boston, Mass. 02116 617-351-0400

Tico, the newest venture from chef/owner Michael Schlow, claims to be American at its core but influenced by Spanish, Mexican, and South American food. Residing in a sizable space in Boston’s Back Bay, it’s accommodating to large groups.

Start the night with a margarita. (Flavors range from traditional to pomegranate to blood orange.)

While there are entrees, the tacos and tapas are the way to go to taste a number of different dishes. The creamed corn, while there doesn’t seem to be anything creamed about it, is a standout with crispy bacon, spicy chiles, and Thai basil. The octopus, with yellow peppers and citrus, is not to be missed. And spicy shrimp tacos paired with avocado and bacon are also sure to please.

Stay for dessert as Tico has delectable choices like a chocolate tart with tres leches ice cream and a caramelized banana split with chocolate and peanut butter accompaniments.

Toro
1704 Washington Street Boston, Mass. 02118 617-536-4300

A tiny spot in the South End, Toro doesn’t take reservations and is always packed. Try a Tinto de Verano — a seemingly odd but refreshing mix of red wine and lemon-lime soda — while you wait for a highly coveted table.

Toro’s menu consists of traditional and modern Spanish-style tapas made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. The pan con tomate — toasted bread topped with tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt — may sound simple but it’s full of flavor. The foie gras with pear and bacon chutney is also tasty. Seeing someone beside you digging into the house special, maz asado con aioli and queso cotija (grilled corn with aioli and aged cheese), will make you want to order your own.

While the roasted bone marrow or sea urchin might call out to you, Toro does less-adventurous-sounding dishes like hamburgers and short ribs equally well and adds an element of adventure to those too (think Armagnac-soaked prunes and smoked tomatoes).

Be prepared to wait, but the food will be worth it.

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