How to Order Tapas
Ordering tapas in a restaurant is not a particularly difficult task, but you do want consider various options before just ordering willy nilly. Tapas are very small dishes, smaller than appetizers, so you are able to try a variety of flavors and combinations before even beginning to feel full.
- Confer with the other diners on their preferences, allergies, and other requests. Because tapas are served to the entire table rather than just one person, the idea is that they will be shared by all. This is an excellent opportunity to try foods you have never had or maybe never even considered having. Chances are, if you order something that is "exotic" to you and maybe not overly appealing, someone else at the table is bound to like it. If, however, nobody at the table likes a certain plate of tapas, it's just a very small amount of food going to waste rather than an entire entree sized meal.
- Look over the menu well and start out by ordering one tapas per person. A dinner of tapas is more of an event than your typical dinner and is therefore more of a gradual progression. As the first course of tapas comes to an end, put in an order with the server for your next round. Don't worry that the server may become upset about visiting your table so frequently, this is how it is done.
- Consider how you are going to order your tapas. You could have an all seafood course, followed by an all vegetable course, followed by an all pork course, or you can mix and match complimentary items in one course. An entire course of pineapple related items, followed by a course of tomato related items. The possibilities with tapas are literally endless.