Many date night restaurants St Pete couples choose downtown now serve shared plates instead of a starter and an entrée. The menu is a list of smaller dishes that the table passes around, and the couple builds the meal together over several rounds.
How the Rounds Work?
A shared meal usually starts with two or three light dishes, such as a salad, a raw fish plate or warm bread. The couple sees how large the portions are, and then they add warm plates like dumplings or gyoza in the next round, so the food reaches the table hot and there is time to talk between plates.
Light Dishes and Rich Dishes
The order of the dishes affects how full the couple feels. Bright, light plates come early and the richest dish comes in the middle of the meal, so neither person feels full after the first few bites.
The Signature Plate
Most shared menus include a few larger signature plates, and the couple usually picks one to split. This dish is the high point of the meal, and servers can say which one the kitchen is featuring that night.
Portions, Dessert and Drinks
Portion sizes vary between kitchens and between dishes, so many couples ask their server how many plates suit two people. Desserts on shared menus are easy to split, and a cocktail, a glass of sake or an after-dinner drink slows the end of the evening.
On Central Avenue, Fortu serves a Japanese-inspired menu built around shared plates, from milk bread and wagyu gyoza to signature dishes like miso black cod, and weekend tables are usually booked ahead.
