At Play’s debate over the virtue and value of the small-plate dining concept, prompted these.
CON:
Although small plates are the trend du jour, I find the whole concept ANNOYING for a meal. Cocktails and nibbles fine, a few small plates for appetizers great, but for dinner I find the whole process tedious. I simply would like to order my meal and let the evening gracefully progress rather than the constant back and forth dialogue between myself, my dining companion, and the waitperson, all trying to micromanage a dining experience.
–Bob Merliss, Plymouth, Mich.
PRO:
I love small plates–to try a few different tastes and know what I might like more of another time. It’s a great idea and I eat out at least five nights a week.
–Cora Adams, Chicago
Small plates are the way to go! As much as I like to eat, what am I supposed to do with 16 ounces of prime rib, or some of the other gigantic entrees I find in many restaurants? At the age of 25, I could handle a huge meal, but at more than twice that age, no thanks! When I go to one of my favorite restaurants–Caliterra, say–I can have a full meal, dessert and still have room for their cheese plate. Or at Bruna’s, where the tiramisu is the best in the world, where I can order it and still leave without feeling like I’ve been stuffed like a bratwurst. If you’re concerned about how much it will take to fill you, TALK WITH YOUR SERVER. They know what might be too little or too much. Small courses rule!
–David Perry, Chicago
I have long found the overly-abundant size of restaurant portions grossly unhealthy, and have never been one to rally around a restaurant, as I hear others do, simply because “the portions are huge!” … Give me those great restaurants that will look beyond the pure economics and provide me with a healthy, smaller portion at a lesser price. … I would take this any day over the 18-ounce ribeye (a healthy portion being less than 6 ounces) at $30-plus, including salad, bread, baked potato and vegetable. How can you possibly argue AGAINST smaller portions?
–Libby Gilmore, Evanston
