From bar snacks to tapas and mezze platters, small plates are seriously popular right now – and for good reason. This 'pick and choose' style of eating is the perfect way to try new foods, experience a range of flavors, and share in the joy of a tasty meal with family and friends. Want to know where to go to get your next fix? We've found the best small plates restaurant every state has to offer.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover America's best places to dine on small plates, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Billed as a ‘casual haven for grown-ups,’ Taste serves wine flights, craft beers, and cocktails alongside an ever-changing menu of delicious tapas – which you can enjoy while listening to live music. Opened in 2017 by married couple Clint and Ginger Hahn (the head chef), Taste is renowned for its cozy ambiance, excellent service, and inventive menu. Popular dishes include Spanish meatballs with Manchego cheese and burrata, arugula and goats' cheese–stuffed mushrooms, and a decadent charcuterie board.
Crush Bistro receives rave reviews for its standout selection of small plates. Perfect for enjoying with a glass or two from the extensive wine list, menu highlights include an eight-cheese baked mac 'n' cheese, prosciutto-wrapped dates, and deviled eggs. The bistro runs regular wine tasting nights, and there's a popular ‘take and bake’ selection of pre-prepared foods you can cook at home. There’s even a bottle shop next door where you can pick up your favorite wine.
Customers say the charcuterie board at Quench Taps and Tapas is worth the visit alone, but they also love the excellent made-from-scratch small plates. Run by husband-and-wife team Jeff and Angie Cline, the restaurant prides itself on its organic ingredients, local wines and beers, and craft cocktails. Customer favorites include the blackened shrimp with mango sauce, the charcuterie board, and the baked Caprese dip with warm bread.
With a menu based around two of the most shareable (and crowd-pleasing) foods around, this Little Rock restaurant is all about unpretentious small plates in a fun and trendy setting. It may only have opened in fall 2023, but it's already made a big impact on the city's dining scene, offering craveable dishes like white bean hummus with crudités and warm flatbreads, and a platter known simply as The Board (a sumptuous selection of cheeses, meats, and other tasty accompaniments). Not only that, but it won an Arkansas Times 2024 Readers Choice Award for 'Best Wine List.'
Helmed by James Beard Award–winning chefs Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, beautiful restaurant and wine bar AOC specializes in Californian French cuisine. There's a wine-matching chef’s choice menu available – plus an array of delicious small (and large) plates to share, all of which are made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Diners say the place is perfect for a special occasion and rave about decadent dishes like clams with sherry, sliced garlic, and toast, and wagyu brisket with cornbread pudding, cherry tomatoes, and black olives.
Housed in a former mortuary, Linger is a lively restaurant and rooftop bar serving a menu of global small plates. Diners love the inventive menu – especially the steamed bao buns filled with BBQ duck, pickled cucumber, and scallions. Other favorite dishes include hot honey sweet potato fries, lemongrass potstickers, and smashed wagyu sliders with bacon-onion jam, Cheddar, and miso Dijonnaise. There are some killer cocktails on the drinks menu, too.
Çka Ka Qellu serves a menu of traditional Albanian and Kosovan small plates in its rustic-style restaurant, which regularly wins rave reviews from diners. Popular dishes include mantia (veal-stuffed dumplings), tava kosi (lamb and rice baked with yogurt and eggs), and traditional Albanian grilled meatballs with onions, crushed red peppers, and herbs. There are also two sister locations in New York City.
This intimate Wilmington bistro has an outstanding French-inspired menu with dishes made for sharing. As well as artisan cheese and charcuterie boards, it offers small plates like lightly smoked sea scallops with sweet onion purée, ponzu sauce, and a tapioca crisp, and porcini-rubbed rib-eye steak with charred broccolini, olive oil–marinated blue cheese, and aged balsamic vinegar. It’s owned and operated by James Beard–nominated chef Bryan Sikora, and customers adore its comfortable atmosphere just as much as the food.
Touted as an ‘experience’ and ‘more than a restaurant,’ Café Tu Tu Tango offers live entertainment and resident artists alongside its menu of tapas-style small plates. Customers love the lively atmosphere, eclectic surroundings, and perfectly executed dishes. Menu favorites include sesame steak skewers, black bean hummus, grilled fish tacos, and crispy Brussels sprouts with soy-chili honey. If you’re struggling to choose what to eat, go for the set tasting menu of signature dishes – it's perfect for groups of six or more.
Casi Cielo serves a menu of dishes inspired by Oaxaca, Mexico, made using locally grown ingredients. It also has the largest collection of mezcal in Atlanta, and the spirit features heavily in its excellent cocktail list. Customers love the variety of sharing dishes on offer, as well as the chic surroundings. Menu highlights include plantain croquettes with Manchego cheese, portobello mushroom tacos, and charcoal-grilled red snapper. The guacamole is also something special.
Headed up by Masa 'Arnaldo' Gushiken, a talented Argentinian chef who's plied his trade in esteemed restaurants from California to Japan, Honolulu's El Cielo specializes in Spanish-inspired tapas. Must-try dishes include ground beef empanadas (seasoned with onions, paprika, raisins, and citrus fruits), Spanish-style French fries (topped with jamón serrano and a fried egg), and a savory truffle custard pudding that's served in an delicate eggshell. For dessert, don't miss the colorful ube Basque cheesecake, made with a purple yam native to Asia.
The cozy Basque Market is tucked down a side street, but it's fast become one of the most popular places in Boise thanks to its authentic menu of Spanish tapas and incredible paella – which is cooked outside on the patio every day. The pintxos are the perfect small bites to enjoy with a drink, while other must-try dishes include the Basque meatballs (beef meatballs in a rich, zesty pepper and tomato sauce), perfectly crispy calamari, and spicy citrus olives.
Customers say every dish they order at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba is excellent – plus, they love the lively atmosphere, friendly service, and reasonable prices. Favorite tapas-style dishes include chorizo-wrapped dates, beef empanadas, Spanish omelets, deviled eggs, and seared scallops. Billed as Chicago’s original tapas bar, it opened in 1985, and it also has an impressive drinks menu of Spanish wines, sangria, craft cocktails, and local beers.
Restaurant and wine bar Tinker Street has a regularly changing seasonal menu of both small and larger plates. Customers can't get enough of the joint's cozy ambiance, great service, and delicious food – which is perfect for sharing with a date or group of friends. The oysters with pickled berries, roasted corn, and crystalized ginger come highly recommended. Other menu highlights include the Korean fried mushrooms, the pork gyoza, and the burrata salad with peaches and heirloom tomatoes.
Martini bar The Stuffed Olive receives great reviews for its excellent selection of cocktails, delicious small plates, and lively atmosphere. People often come here to grab a drink and a snack at the bar – or to share a few plates with friends and make a real night of it. Top dishes include Nashville hot chicken sliders, Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze and bacon, zucchini fritters, risotto croquettes, and spinach and artichoke dip with garlic bread.
It may be a chain, but the Kansas outpost of North Italia receives rave reviews for its menu of classic Italian dishes and its excellent service. As well as pizzas, pasta, and entrées, the menu includes a great selection of small plates, which are perfect for sharing. Popular choices include the crispy eggplant Parmesan (with fresh mozzarella and Calabrian tomato sauce), the white truffle garlic bread, the wild shrimp scampi, and the prosciutto bruschetta.
Regular customers call Mojito Tapas Restaurant a neighborhood gem – with a great atmosphere and outstanding tapas dishes that are always cooked to perfection. Diners rate the Rioja short ribs, the tenderloin skewers, the stuffed dates, the sizzling garlic shrimp, the guacamole with plantain chips, and the chicken empanadas. There are also sister locations in Middletown, St. Matthews, and the Highlands.
Latin-style tapas joint Bésame combines fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico with Latin and Caribbean flavors, resulting in an eclectic menu that's won rave reviews from diners – and there’s a fabulous cocktail menu, too. Popular dishes include Peruvian ceviche, crawfish queso, lamb lollipops, crispy cauliflower, and paella.
Not only do customers love the relaxed atmosphere and friendly service at Central Provisions, but they also say that its small plates are beautifully presented and executed to perfection. The eclectic menu includes dishes such as bone marrow toast, a local beet salad (with avocado, green peppercorns, lemon, and Swiss chard), and BBQ shrimp with fresh corn polenta and charred shishito peppers. There’s also a great menu of craft beers and cocktails to enjoy with your meal.
The cozy and intimate 1157 Bar and Kitchen receives rave reviews for its great food and chilled, fun atmosphere. Customers say the bar makes for a great night out – and they enjoy its menu of small plates so much that they return again and again. Highlights include honey-roasted beets with whipped goats' cheese and fig jam, sea scallops with white corn succotash, and Korean fried chicken wings.
This intimate restaurant serves Italian small plates, lovingly prepared by James Beard Award–winning chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. There's a great antipasti selection, and tempting menu items include celery Caesar salad, chicken liver mousse, meatballs, and arancini – plus, there are plenty of pizza and pasta dishes to choose from. It’s hard to get a table, so customers say it’s well worth booking ahead. There’s also a sprawling patio area if you can’t get a seat inside.
Set up by a group of friends who loved their holiday to Seville so much that they decided to bring a taste of Spain back to Detroit, La Feria gets rave reviews for its delicious, reasonably priced tapas and fun atmosphere. After tucking into some classic hot and cold tapas dishes and an excellent wine list, head next door to the joint's sister wine bar, Cata Vino, to continue the fun.
Bar Brava has a rotating ‘pop-up’ food menu, teaming up with a variety of different chefs to create a small list of dishes to share with friends (or enjoy with a glass of the bar's natural wine). Recently, the intimate neighborhood joint worked with another Minneapolis favorite, Torsk, to create a menu of Scandinavian-inspired delights. Highlights included Swedish meatballs with gravy and pickles, duck and potato croquettes, and pork schnitzel with mustard cream sauce and sauerkraut.
Located in the pretty, historic town of Livingston, The Briar Patch is a vintage-style cocktail bar modeled on the glamour of the Prohibition era – and customers can’t get enough of its great drinks, delicious tapas-style dishes, and friendly atmosphere (plus, there’s also regular live music). Menu standouts include smoked brisket tacos, pimento cheese and salmon dip, a cheese and charcuterie board, and seared tuna tacos. It’s a popular place, so make sure you book.
A cool spot with local artwork on the walls and a lovely patio for sunny days, Springfield wine bar Cellar + Plate specializes in tapas and hand-selected boutique wines; in fact, every dish on the menu can be paired with a suggested wine to help give diners the best taste sensation. Favorite menu choices include roasted Brussels sprouts with walnuts, goats' cheese, and maple balsamic, and Cellar Sliders: seasoned beef, caramelized onions, bacon-fig jam, and Boursin cheese on a brioche bun.
Chic cocktail bar Plonk serves an extensive list of cocktails, wines, and beers (with some great alcohol-free versions to choose from, too). Aside from the delicious drinks, customers also love its range of entrées and small plates, which are perfect for sharing. Highlights include the panzanella salad, the Buffalo cauliflower, and the ploughman's board, which comes stacked with cheese and charcuterie. The bar also has a great rooftop patio and a private cellar for events, and there’s a second location in Bozeman.
Diners say that the intimate V. Mertz is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion thanks to its precise attention to detail and excellent food – especially the small plates. Housed in a century-old building in Omaha's historic Old Market Passageway, the location is as pretty as the menu is impressive. Dishes have included wagyu beef tartare, seared foie gras with sweetcorn panna cotta, watermelon salad, and poached octopus with fermented carrot and pickled apple.
When chef John Simmons opened Firefly Kitchen & Bar in 2003, it was one of very few tapas restaurants in Sin City. With the aim of becoming the go-to place for people to unwind after work with a drink and a bite, its popularity grew and grew, and the restaurant still receives rave reviews today. Not far from The Strip, diners say it’s a must-visit, with exceptional food and a friendly atmosphere. Popular dishes include steak and mushroom skewers, and bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. There are two locations in Las Vegas now – the flagship on Flamingo, and the newer Southwest restaurant.
James Beard Award–nominated Moxy is a modern American tapas restaurant with a seasonally changing menu and excellent reviews. Diners love the creative, fresh, and flavorful dishes and craft cocktails, and say the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Menu highlights include patatas bravas, crispy pork belly on white pepper sweet potato purée, and mushroom fritters with herb salad and balsamic black pepper aioli.
With first-rate service and a lively atmosphere, modern Spanish restaurant Mompou gets great reviews for its extensive menu of tapas dishes, which you can enjoy while watching one of its live flamenco shows. Top picks include fried calamari in a sweet and spicy mango sauce, baby lamb chops in a Canary Islands sauce, and sweet roasted peppers filled with goats' cheese and walnuts.
La Boca regularly features on ‘best of’ restaurant lists, and it's remained consistently popular since it was opened by James Beard Award–nominated chef James Campbell Caruso in 2006. Diners rate the great service, fantastic food, and lively, European wine bar–style atmosphere. The New York Times says its menu, which changes seasonally to make the most of local ingredients, is filled with ‘modern reinventions of classic Spanish cuisine,’ so expect plenty of creative twists on old favorites.
Hip Korean joint C as in Charlie is owned by three lifelong friends – and if you want a great night out with some amazing food and a super-fun atmosphere, it's the place to go. Diners love the tapas-style Korean dishes and say the service is wonderful (the staff like to make sure everyone is having a good time). The restaurant only seats 40, so be sure to book in advance. Dishes include popcorn chicken with a sweet gochujang glaze, fava bean hummus, mushroom bibimbap, and shrimp toast rolls.
Family-run tapas joint Cúrate won the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality – and diners love the creative and flavorful food as much as the attentive service. The menu changes seasonally, but you can expect to find dishes such as creamy mushroom fritters, seared scallops with charred leeks, Galician-style octopus with potato purée, and honey-drizzled eggplant. Housed in a renovated 1920s bus depot, the restaurant has an open kitchen, plus a separate wine bar and bakery.
Diners rate the atmosphere and service at Blackbird Woodfire – and they love its menu of tapas dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and salads, all of which are perfect for sharing with a big group of friends. Its small plates selection is simple and effective, with dishes such as house-made hummus, Mediterranean meatballs, marinated olives, and melted provolone with peppers, oregano, and freshly made bread. Customers also rave about the ‘create your own’ pizza option.
Since opening in March 2021, Bendi Wok n' Bar has received rave reviews for its Asian cuisine, with a menu featuring small plates, pad Thai, curries, and stir fries. Highlights include Korean ribs with gochujang barbecue sauce, pork and vegetable egg rolls with a sweet chili sauce dip, tempura vegetables with sriracha aioli, and crab Rangoon wontons with cream cheese. Diners also rate the chilled-out atmosphere, R&B music, and inviting decor.
At Bar Cicchetti the menu is made for sharing, with a selection of small and large plates that are flavorful and well presented. Favorite dishes include crispy cauliflower with fried green onions, garlic aioli, and peppadew hot sauce, lamb meatballs with spiced yogurt and jalapeño-mint chimichurri, seared tuna carpaccio with pistachio salt, and crab lasagna. There’s also a creative cocktail menu – and customers say the desserts are definitely worth saving room for.
South American tapas joint Lechon in downtown Portland gets rave reviews for both its service and its food, with many diners describing the meals they've eaten there as the best they’ve ever had. It's located on the city's scenic waterfront, with a lovely patio area – and the decor is stunning on the inside too, with several large aquariums adding to the ambiance. Standout dishes include foraged mushrooms with Parmesan toasted brioche, Peruvian fried chicken bites, brisket empanadas, and beef short ribs.
Chic-yet-rustic Spanish tapas restaurant Amada has been wowing customers with its delicious offerings since it opened in 2005. It's consistently voted a Philadelphia must-visit, and diners rate the fun ambiance and excellent service, as well as the range of Andalusian-style tapas dishes. Menu highlights include crab-stuffed peppers, lamb meatballs, ham croquettes, garlic shrimp, and calamari. As well as a spacious dining and bar area, there’s a chef’s table overlooking the open-plan kitchen.
Aguardente brings together food and wine from its three owners’ home countries – Portugal, Guatemala, and the Azores – with stunning results. Diners say the ambiance is beautiful, the food amazing, and the service impeccable. There’s a wide menu, and dishes include codfish fritters with creamy cilantro dip, traditional Portuguese sausages, chorizo tacos, a selection of tinned fish served with bread, and grilled garlic and herb lamb chops.
Award-winning modern Mediterranean restaurant Gervais & Vine gets rave reviews for the variety of dishes it has to offer, as well as its excellent selection of wines (more than 40 are available by the glass) and cozy atmosphere. A popular spot for nearly 20 years, the restaurant also has a beautiful patio area and lively bar. Popular dishes include baked Brie, spicy shrimp with tomatoes and bacon, seared scallops, and Spanish meatballs with romesco and mozzarella.
Hip brewery Fernson is renowned for its great beers, but customers say it has the perfect selection of small plates to share with friends, too. There’s a cool taproom and bar area, plus a patio, and fans say it’s a must-visit when in Sioux Falls. Crusted in potato flakes and served with garlic Parmesan sauce, the Wisconsin cheese curds always go down a treat, and the hummus plate, pimento-stuffed pretzels, and nacho waffle fries are also firm favorites.
Popular (and family-friendly) modern Italian restaurant Chrysalis only opened a few years ago, but it’s already made a big impression with its great food and welcoming ambiance. Diners say a visit here never disappoints; they recommend sharing a few of the small plates alongside one of the pasta dishes, or with some flatbreads to mop up the tasty sauces. Not sure what to order? The bruschetta, homemade pork, beef, and veal meatballs, burrata with crispy prosciutto, and watermelon panzanella are all fail-safe options – and there's even a build-your-own antipasti menu that allows you to choose bite-size portions of your favorite meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
The perfect place for a date or night out with friends, cozy Dallas restaurant Rye serves a menu of American small plates and cocktails. It gets fantastic reviews from customers; some even go as far as saying that the restaurant has served up the best meal they've ever had. Popular dishes include burnt orange and bourbon braised pork lollipops, duck tacos, and Icelandic hot dogs, made with delicious wagyu beef. Want to go all-out? Try the chef’s menu, complete with exquisite wine pairings (choose from seven, nine, or 11 courses).
Eva is named after its chef’s great-grandmother, who loved cooking with fresh ingredients and sharing meals with her friends and family – a vibe that this brilliant restaurant aims to emulate. The menu includes sautéed Brussels sprouts with toasted hazelnuts, charred beets with whipped goats' cheese, and fried chicken with miso, lime, and peanuts. This really is premium tapas dining, and customers praise the cocktails and wine list as well as the flavorful food.
Charming Eastern Mediterranean–style mezze restaurant Honey Road is loved for its fresh and flavorful food and relaxed atmosphere – and customers say every dish they try here is delicious. As well as the main restaurant, there’s a patio and bar area where you can enjoy a few drinks and snacks with friends. Menu highlights have recently included shish kebabs with cucumber and mint labneh, seared halloumi with pomegranate hot honey, fried squid in a chickpea batter, and lamb koftas with tahini hummus, golden raisins, and local cherry tomatoes.
Modern Mediterranean spot Pinky’s only opened in 2021, but it’s already regarded as the place to go in Richmond for a seriously good meal. Diners love the large, airy restaurant, the relaxed atmosphere, and the tapas-inspired menu. Dishes have included seared yellowfin tuna with crispy serrano ham, crab and sherry risotto, burrata with walnuts, apple, and arugula, and Pinky’s classic meatballs – beef, chicken, and lamb served in San Marzano tomato sauce with shaved garlic.
Cute neighborhood Champagne bar The Coupe & Flute serves a small plates menu alongside its extensive list of Champagnes, wines, and cocktails – and diners love its luxe, bistro-style decor, friendly atmosphere, and delicious dishes. Highlights include deviled tea eggs, clam dip and crackers, kimchi arancini stuffed with mozzarella, and lemongrass steak nachos. Those who've eaten here say the desserts are not to be missed, either (especially the panna cotta).
Not only is a long list of drinks available at Sip wine and whiskey bar, but the joint also serves a delicious small plates menu. Customers love the bar's chic and sleek interiors, buzzy atmosphere, and tasty selection of bite-sized dishes. Highlights include maple and bourbon glazed wings, pulled chicken nachos, seared scallops with fried green tomatoes, and patatas bravas.
Casual tapas joint La Merenda serves an interesting menu of small plates from around the world, as well as an international wine list. Diners love the restaurant's unique concept and sprawling patio area, and say that the customer service here is second to none. The menu spans dishes from countries including Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, and Japan, as well as some local favorites. The pork and shrimp tostadas, butter chicken, garlic shrimp, and house-made gnocchi with braised rabbit and mushrooms are all impossible to resist.
Customers say dining at Bin 22 is a unique experience, complete with plenty of fabulous food. This cozy wine and tapas bar can be found at the back of a bottle shop, and – despite being small – its menu is vast, with a wide selection of cheese and charcuterie, plus a long list of small plates to share with friends. Tantalizing dishes include house-made meatballs, lamb pintxos, fried artichoke with lemon-truffle aioli, and shrimp with piquillo butter, preserved lemon, and paprika gremolata.
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Last updated by Jessica Morris.