Best sampler/combo options at San Francisco restaurants?

September 24, 2013 10:04 AM

When I eat out, I like getting sampler dishes with a few bites of different things. Dim sum is the obvious example. Please recommend your favorite "a little taste of everything" dishes at San Francisco restaurants.

Another example is the four kinds of fillo at La Mediterranee, or just about any middle eastern meze plate.

I'm open to any cuisine. Affordable places are better than expensive places, but if you know of a great splurge option, please include it.

So - what other sampler-type options can you recommend in San Francisco? (Outside of the city is okay, too, but I'll get to San Francisco places sooner.)

Thanks!

posted by kristi to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

Best answer: Upcider.

Chubby Noodle.
posted by blob at 10:10 AM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: This question covered tasting menus, and may have some good ideas for you.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:19 AM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: Colibri Mexican Bistro
438 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102-1223

The Appetizer menu has a great Tamale Trio, three really distinctive tamales. Also a Sope Assortment. You can also get a side of the papas al gratin, which are amazing cheezy potatoes with poblano chilies.

The prices were fair for a place off of Union Square.

For dessert you can head over to Hubert Keller's Burger Bar (top floor of Macy's) and enjoy a Milkshake Paddle, with three different milkshake flavors.

If you go to Burger Bar, a warning, don't order your burger rare, unless you like tartar. I'm serious. I ate it, but you know, it was pretty much raw.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:22 AM on September 24, 2013

Any tapas-style place, right?
posted by crazy with stars at 10:30 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Mosto on Valencia has excellent tequilas and delicious bite-sized tacos.
posted by rtha at 10:40 AM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: The ceviche sampler at La Mar. YUM. Well, for that matter, the empanada sampler as well.
posted by janey47 at 10:42 AM on September 24, 2013

I'd second Colibri--have only ever had delicious food at that place
posted by donovan at 10:56 AM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: Candybar in nopa does a sampler for $25, where you can pick 4 desserts and share them with a friend.
posted by tinymegalo at 10:56 AM on September 24, 2013

State Bird Provisions, once they reopen.
posted by pombe at 11:10 AM on September 24, 2013

Do family style-meals count? People seem to complain a lot about the Slanted Door, but I thought the food was outstanding. It's really expensive and all family-style, so you do get to sample everything your party orders.
posted by cnc at 1:06 PM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: Nojo.
posted by mollymayhem at 1:07 PM on September 24, 2013

Best answer: The first 3 sections of Bar Tartine's dinner menu is a gold mine for people like us. Despite the fact that the first section doesn't include an "Assortment of the above" option, they're happy to let you order all of them and bring them out together. You'll get a wonderful variety of tastes and textures and have a lot of fun nibbling and sharing. If you're hungrier and/or with more than a couple other people, go for something from the 4th section as well. (Or anything from the rest of the menu, too, it's all delicious, but beyond that the dishes are a little more substantial and less suited to being part of a many-small-dishes course.)
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:08 PM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Adding another - I really enjoyed Bocadillos (tapas) when I went a few years back.
posted by cnc at 3:45 PM on September 24, 2013

Response by poster: Great suggestions - I can't wait to check them all out.

Thank you!
posted by kristi at 9:37 AM on September 26, 2013