Bites Nearby: Top Spots for Tapas

This time of year is great for catching up with old friends and family members, out-of-town guests and visitors. Many gatherings naturally center around food. That’s why tapas, or meals made up of several small plates to share, are a perfect plan for reuniting with an old gang.

“Tapas” comes from traditional Spanish snacks and appetizers, but many types of restaurants offer their own version of “small plates.” Choosing items to share off a menu is a group activity and discussing and experiencing new tastes can be a gustatory adventure. Patch compiled a list of local restaurants you can go to experience the small plate trend with your own loved ones.

Historic Annapolis

Located on West Street, Level: a small plates lounge, is known around town as a great place for fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant is also known for its large selection of small plates that can be shared among friends. One small plate that is particularly popular is the spicy tuna tartare.

Greater Annapolis
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar in the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole features specialties like rum-smoked mahi mahi tiny tacos and a variety of ceviche (mixture of fish or shellfish in a tasty marinade), and their guacamole is made fresh to order. Oh, and they have all kinds of awesome rum drinks.

Crofton
Roundz Gourmet Market & Catering is also an eat-in restaurant serving food in small and large portions. Lunch or dinner options include roasted rack of lamb, broccoli and rice stuffed chicken breasts, sundried tomato crusted rack of lam, or coq au vin.

Severna Park
Woodfire features entrees such as pizza, steaks, seafood and even desserts from the wood-fired grill. Small plates are available on a select part of the menu.

Odenton area
The closest thing to tapas we can think of locally is the Four Seasons Grille at the Village at Waugh Chapel, which has a variety of Mediterranean options, including appetizers that could serve as small plates themselves. There are options like beef Wellington bruschetta, scallops Napoleon and imperial mushroom caps, plus a
Mediterranean plate hummus, vegetables and an array of olives and pita bread. There’s also a goat cheese brulee and some rosemary mango beef skewers.

Broadneck
Griffin's Grill is one of the best restaurants around Arnold for a small, quick bite. There's a huge variety on their appetizers menu, ranging from Bubba's fried shrimp to several Mexican samplers. They've also got a late night menu for those before- bedtime cravings.