{"id":8530,"date":"2026-09-14T08:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T06:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maybayrestaurant.com\/?p=8530"},"modified":"2026-09-14T08:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T06:45:12","slug":"dishes-to-share-with-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maybayrestaurant.com\/en\/archives\/8530","title":{"rendered":"Dishes to share with friends: our ideas for a cosy get-together in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sharing a table, passing round the plates, trying a bit of everything rather than sticking to a single dish: the way we eat out has changed. Shared dishes have become established as an informal, flexible and convivial way of dining, popular for everything from team lunches to after-work get-togethers and dinners with friends.<\/p>\r\n

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At M\u00e2y Bay in Vincennes, this approach comes naturally: Vietnamese cuisine has always been conceived as the centrepiece of the table, with textures and temperatures that complement one another. Here\u2019s how to put together a truly convivial meal, how many plates to provide, and which dishes to choose so that no one goes hungry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Dishes to share with friends: our ideas for a cosy get-together in 2026<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Reading time: ~8 mins<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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  1. Why sharing platters have become a staple in the restaurant industry<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. Tapas, small plates or family-sized dishes \u2013 how to make sense of it all<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. How many sharing plates should you order per person?<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  4. Our sharing dishes at M\u00e2y Bay: Vietnamese-style and 100% plant-based<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  5. Putting together a cocktail reception or a group meal<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  6. Structuring a restaurant menu around sharing<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  7. Take it a step further with dishes to share at M\u00e2y Bay<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  8. Frequently asked questions about dishes to share<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Why sharing platters have become a staple in the restaurant industry<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    This trend is not a recent one. It began with appetiser platters and has since expanded to include entire menus centred around carefully crafted small dishes, in both contemporary bistros and more upmarket restaurants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"dishes<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    A new way to enjoy a meal at a restaurant<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Industry analyses point to a a shift in habits driven in particular by millennials<\/a>, who favour a less formal meal than the traditional sequence of starter, main course and dessert, and prefer to offer a variety of flavours in a single sitting. Guidebooks and specialist media, from Gault&Millau<\/a> From Sortiraparis to TheFork, Paris Secret and the Tribune de Lyon, these publications now devote entire sections to restaurants where dishes are shared \u2013 a sign that this format has become a category in its own right, rather than merely a passing fad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    From the restaurateurs\u2019 point of view, there is also an economic incentive. The professionals interviewed on the subject explain that tapas and small portions enable them to maintain reasonable profit margins thanks to the number of plates ordered during a single service, coupled with a faster turnover of dishes. The North American catering consultants<\/a> go a step further and recommend making sharing plates a key category on the menu, even if it means reducing the number of main courses. For the customer, the benefit lies elsewhere: a meal put together step by step, a richer culinary experience, and a meal that remains a shared occasion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Tapas, small plates or family-sized dishes \u2013 how to make sense of it all<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Three formats are often confused, yet they serve different purposes. Tapas and small plates are designed for tasting a succession of dishes, with food served to be shared and at a brisk pace. The family-style dish, on the other hand, is placed in the centre of the table and shared amongst the guests; it is better suited to a leisurely, seated meal. The tasting menu for sharing combines the two, with the order of courses determined by the kitchen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The table below summarises the key differences to bear in mind when making your choice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    A comparison of sharing plate formats<\/caption>\r\n
    Format<\/th>\r\nPortions<\/th>\r\nSecond-hand<\/th>\r\nMeal schedule<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    Tapas and small dishes<\/td>\r\n3 to 4 per person<\/td>\r\nCocktail reception, after-work drinks, dining bar<\/td>\r\nDishes arriving as the meal progresses<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Centrepiece<\/td>\r\nServes 2 to 4 people<\/td>\r\nA cosy meal with friends, a family lunch<\/td>\r\nA unique highlight, extended opening hours<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Tasting menu to share<\/td>\r\n5 to 7 community services<\/td>\r\nTasting dinner, business meal<\/td>\r\nA progression dictated by the kitchen<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Appetiser platter<\/td>\r\nServes 2 to 3 people<\/td>\r\nEarly evening, waiting for a table<\/td>\r\nConstant snacking<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    How many sharing plates should you order per person?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The most common guideline, as set out in Parisian guides specialising in sharing meals, is three to four small plates per person for a full meal. Any fewer and the diners will be left feeling hungry; any more and the flow is disrupted and the dishes get cold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The real issue isn\u2019t quantity but balance: you need to alternate between hot and cold, crispy and melt-in-the-mouth, tangy and rounded. This is precisely the essence of Vietnamese cuisine, which constantly plays on the contrast between fresh herbs, light fried dishes, fragrant broths and sauces.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    A meal to share in three courses<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    At the table, a balanced meal is put together in three simple steps, which can be adapted to suit your appetite and the time you have available.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n