When diners order small plates, they look forward to sampling a restaurant kitchen’s creativity.
Blend a high-quality customer experience with this innovative trend, and you have a recipe for satisfied guests and repeat business.
We offer 15 small plate ideas for filling your dining room tables and upsizing your restaurant's success.
We've also included full servings of cuisine-centric recipes and inspiring small plate tips. Enjoy!
Spanish Tapas-Inspired Small Plates
1. Purple Brussels Sprout Tacos
This small plate makes a big impression with a colorful combination of ingredients.
Sliced purple Brussels sprouts and avocados fill corn tortillas with contrasting flavors and textures. The little veggie tacos are even better topped a with tomatillo sauce or served with a side of your restaurant's house-made salsa.
2. Shrimp and Chorizo Tapas
Those who document food trend timelines consider tapas the original small plates. Emeril Lagasse would surely agree.
Never satisfied to not kick it up a notch, Lagasse puts a big bang into these little Spanish appetizers with a crowd-pleasing combo of fresh shrimp sauteed with spicy chorizo.
Just like their original namesakes, these tapas define the dine-and-share experience.
3. Charred Green Onion Salsa
Treat restaurant guests to a delightfully different type of salsa. This recipe incorporates charred green onions and San Marzano tomatoes into the traditional sauce with delicious results.
Make the most of the unique dip on a small plate surrounded by spicy fries, house-made bread sticks or julienned veggies.
Small Plates Filled With Mediterranean Flavors
4. Greek Chicken Salad
Layer tender slices of grilled chicken breast over a comfort-food base of creamy potato salad. Present the combination on a bed of fresh romaine and iceberg lettuce accompanied by sides that speak Greek.
This masterpiece on a small plate is bright and delicious with sliced cucumbers, Kalamata olives and tangy peperoncini. A generous topping of feta finishes off the Mediterranean flavors.
5. Fattoush Salad With Romaine Hearts
Sometimes, your dining room guests want more than a salad but less than an entree.
Give them exactly that with a small plate of garden fresh fattoush salad. Give them reason to be extra pleased too, with ingredients that include romaine hearts, Persian cucumbers and mint leaves.
6. Dukkah-Crusted Lamb Chops
This mini-entree serves as a delicious example of how well the small plate can present an international profile.
Dukkah complements Egyptian cuisine with a unique blend of ground nuts, seeds and spices.
It gives a tender lamb chop global appeal that impresses sophisticated palates and delights customers looking for culinary adventures.
This little plate proves that fine dining doesn’t have to be large.
Small Plates of American Favorites
7. Steakhouse Wedge Salad
Customers always appreciate a classic, especially when it's served as a hearty, satisfying mini-meal.
This small plate recipe showcases the versatility of premium baby iceberg lettuce. The crisp leaves create a crunchy bowl base with a gourmet look and taste.
We like to dress up our small wedge salad with bacon, candied pecans and sweet dried cranberries.
8. Crunchy Mac and Cheese Balls
Is it possible to upgrade one of America's favorite comfort foods? Yes.
Simply roll creamy macaroni and cheese into bite-sized balls, deep-fry the little creations to crunchy perfection, and present them on small plates.
The recipe calls for sharp cheddar and pepper jack, but you can easily make it a signature dish. Let the kitchen show off its culinary talent with unique cheese combinations.
9. Very Small Burgers
Atmosphere doesn't matter when sliders taste this good. These all-American mini burgers are sure to win fans in sports bars, fast-casual restaurants and fine dining establishments.
Their universal appeal comes from an appetizing blend of premium beef, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise. They're even more irresistible when served on fresh house-made buns.
Small Plates for Seafood Lovers
10. Crab Balls with Grapefruit Salad
We bring you a small plate recipe idea from one of the culinary world’s brightest stars.
French chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten reimagines a crab and grapefruit combination into a masterpiece of delicious simplicity.
His dish features panko-crusted crab meat with tart slices of grapefruit. Small bites and big flavors make this seafood-salad fusion a star on its own.
11. Halibut Dressed With Citrus Salsa
Mild and slightly sweet, halibut is always a favorite with restaurant customers. Dress it with a fresh citrus salsa topping, and the popular flatfish becomes even more appetizing.
This small plate recipe earns extra thumbs up for beautiful presentation and minimum prep time.
12. Salmon Bites With Ginger Apricot Dip
Downsize fresh salmon fillets into bite-sized cubes. Coat each bite with a combo of chopped walnuts and panko crumbs, and give the morsels a quick oven bake.
Arrange the crunchy salmon bites around a dipping bowl brimming with apricot jam, soy and ginger. You now have a small seafood plate that makes a big impression on dining room guests.
Delicious Desserts on Small Plates
13. House-Made Sweet Corn Ice Cream
Yes, fresh corn is the main ingredient in a yummy recipe for ice cream made in-house. Steeped with cream and sugar, the kernels yield a surprisingly sweet flavor.
Simply serve as scoops, or present the frozen treat in miniature cones. This special ice cream is destined to become a signature dish on your small plate dessert menu.
14. Divine Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
These luxurious chocolate-covered strawberries are sure to entice repeat business from the most discerning diners. The recipe is simple enough to charm the busiest kitchen staff.
There's plenty of room for creativity on this divine plate too. Dip the strawberries in white chocolate, sprinkle with freshly grated coconut, or roll in crushed almonds.
15. Red Velvet Truffles
How do you turn cake into an unforgettable truffle? Start with a classic red velvet recipe. Bake the silky batter into bite-size balls, and coat with a cream cheese frosting.
It's not easy to find another cake dessert that tastes this rich and looks this beautiful. It's very easy to thank customers for their compliments and their promise to come back again.
5 Creative Tips for Successful Small Plate Menus
1. Contrast Textures and Flavors – Ensure guest enjoyment by enhancing the mouthfeel of their experience.
The right combination of contrasting ingredients creates an ideal balance of customer-pleasing flavors and textures.
2. Design Perfect Plate Presentations – Craft small colorful servings that inspire appetites before that first bite.
Dress up small plate presentations with miniature cuts of green veggies, bright fruits and vibrant garnishes.
3. Cater to Dietary Preferences – Make everyone feel welcome by offering several small plates developed around dietary preferences.
For example, a faro and broccoli salad is an easy choice for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians.
4. Celebrate the Holidays – Let small plates ring in the season with festive appetizers or miniature versions of traditional holiday fare.
Small portions of honey-glazed ham or slow-roasted turkey with a classic side are sure to serve up delicious holiday memories.
5. Pair Small Plates With Cocktails – Show off the bar's talents by pairing house specialty cocktails and small plates.
This simple tip introduces guests to your unique libations, and it gives them one more reason to raise a glass to your successful small plate menu design.
Sharing the Latest News and Trends
From sampling tapas to munching on lamb chops, casual grazing has transitioned into small plate dining.
Small plates and recipes that perfectly fit your menus help manage both portion and cost controls. They’re ideal for off-peak service, and they give the kitchen plenty of culinary freedom.
We enjoy sharing the latest restaurant news and trends, so check back with us soon for more industry updates.
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