Foodie Friday: The Best Small Plates to Share for Date Night on the Peninsula

Find my article here too: 

https://www.bayarea.com/eat/small-plates-date-night/

The weather is getting cooler and the rain has started to fall more regularly. It’s the perfect time to get cozy with bae (does anyone even use that word anymore?!) and share a blanket or, better yet, a meal. Small plates and tapas are perfect for sharing along with an intimate dinner conversation with your boo. And when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Peninsula is a great go-to spot to find restaurants that cater to this special dining experience — and hopefully not an awkward one. Cheers.

Amour Amour

San Mateo

Amour Amour is the perfect date night spot with a huge selection of wine and tapas, along with decor that makes you feel like you just walked into a restaurant on the streets of France or Spain. The chef uses global ingredients spanning from Asia to Europe for a truly unique experience. I highly recommend sharing a pitcher of Sangria, the crostini sampler, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, the escargot. And if anything, it’ll at least be a conversation starter. Bon apetite!

  

B Street and Vine

San Mateo

If Amour, Amour is too busy, another fun date night restaurant just steps away is B Street and Vine. This wine bar has live music (usually jazz) from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, which makes for an inviting and lovely atmosphere. Their delicious bruschetta, with toppings like prosciutto with fig and mascarpone, or other small plates like ceviche are perfect choices for dinner. Try out their wine pairings or flights to top off the evening.
Mokutanya 

Burlingame

This place is as unassuming as they come from the outside (think strip mall, nestled between a bank and a gas station), but step inside this place with your date for a nighttime dining experience, and you’ll be transported into a different era. It’s design, combined with the dark lighting and lively atmosphere, can sometimes make you feel as if you’ve just entered some exclusive nightclub.  

You’ll be sure to impress your date as you make your way into the dining area if you opt for one of the low tables that require you to remove your shoes and sit true izakaya style on tatami mats. No matter where you sit, you can enjoy the wide variety of yakitori and kushiyaki grilled skewers to share, like the foie gras with yuzu sauce or the chicken skin skewers. And if you’re feeling adventurous, they also have exotic meats on certain days of the week to try too.

Evvia Estatorio

Palo Alto

Usually when you think of small plates, you don’t think Greek food, but at Evvia their mezethes are delicious Hellenic cuisine small plates you can share. The inviting, warm, and welcoming environment makes for a perfect date night atmosphere. Be sure to ask for a window seat for some opportune people-watching. 

Choose from the traditional grilled octopus with lemon, oregano and olive oil or the mesquite grilled lamb riblets — and if you’re looking for a taste of fall, order the roasted squash with crumbled feta, toasted pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds. This place is sure to hit the spot.

TasteVin

San Carlos

There’s no need to travel all the way to Wine Country if you’ve got TasteVin nearby. This small, but quaint wine bar and bistro offers a variety of wine and bubbly flights paired with a delicious cheese or imported charcuterie plate with your date. You can also add the fig and prosciutto skewers and the mushroom tartine with truffle oil among other tasty items on their menu. For a sweet finish, order the chocolate fondue for sharing. Cheers!

Vesta

Redwood City

Nothing says date night better than “dinner and a movie.” If you’re in downtown Redwood City, head out to the movie theater and then finish your night at Vesta. 

Their back patio is dreamy, with the Italian lights strung up and turned on in the evening. Start with a beet and avocado salad, then order the famous mushroom toast, grilled pears with burrata cheese and the pork shoulder and polenta cakes for sharing. And if that’s not enough, they also make delicious pizza. 

You simply can’t go wrong here — and for date night, be sure to finish with a Tahitian vanilla gelato drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Oh my!