For Starters

For Starters

Words by Major Rogers

There is an art to dining, and the small plates trend is taking root here in Visalia and its vicinity. An intimate culinary experience where appetizers become the meal, and sharing becomes the custom. Find these opportunities for yourself in some of our bar-restaurants and specialty eateries. Here, we highlight some not-so-ordinary shareable plates for you to discover.

Pita Kabob

PITAKABOB.COM | @PITAKABOB

This Mediterranean gastropub in downtown Visalia offers a large craft beer selection and amazing cuisine. A popular shareable dish here is the shawarma fries. Shawarma, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire, refers to freshly sliced meat off a rotating roaster. The tender, juicy meat blends well into the fries, giving the potato dish heavy substance. The melted cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, grilled serrano peppers, pepperoncini, garlic sauce, and tahini produce an explosion of flavors in this Mediterranean take on Poutine.

The Cellar Door

CELLARDOOR.COM | @CELLARDOOR101

“All dishes are made to be shared, which allows you to fill yourself up with a lot of different flavors,” says Chef Tate Darwin when describing the “urban-rustic” style food choices. Standouts include the Mediterranean antipasto salad, rich with salami, prosciutto, shaved provolone, onion and pepperoncini, mixed with the perfect amount of house vinaigrette and spring greens. Or the orange chicken with peppers, mushrooms, onions, and a citrus sauce that doesn’t overpower the succulent and flavorful poultry. Another popular dish is the Calabazas with green and yellow zucchini, tomato, onion, serrano, and jalapeño that bump up the flavor of squash in an exciting way. Ask for drink pairings with any dish.

Lake Bottom Brewery

LAKE-BOTTOM.COM | @LAKEBOTTOM_CORCORAN

Here, Chef Jennifer Villasenor has created a diverse menu in one of Corcoran's newer breweries. It's filled with plenty of shareable choices, like the Spicy Peach pizza oven-baked flatbread, which is brushed with a garlic scampi oil, layered with fresh mozzarella, and topped with grilled peaches and drizzled with a peach-habanero glaze. Share the Korean Cauliflower, as well, to feed 2-3—its crispy battered bites are finished with a sweet Korean glaze and topped with scallions and sesame seeds. For those on the adventurous side, Lake Bottom offers crunchy country-style, beer-battered frog legs. This chicken-like dish is tasty with a side of house-made Cajun sauce. Pair it with a shot of their homemade flavored moonshine.

Brewbakers

BREWBAKERSBREWING.CO | @BREWBAKERSBREWINGCOMPANY

With local breweries popping up everywhere, Brewbakers is the OG, established in Visalia in 1999. Along with an impressive craft beer menu, the establishment’s tradition of a nontraditional food menu contains unique items: a honey wheat beer-battered avocado, balancing crunchy and creamy. Or the medium-rare sesamecrusted seared ahi tuna with a balsamic reduction—a beautiful taste of sea and earth in every bite. Even if you’re so-so on sausage, try the links on their rotating, seasonal menu, fresh and local from Exeter Meats. Served with crunchy sauerkraut, and house-made beer mustard, they may be the best you’ve ever had. And of course: Pair your meal with any of their specialty brews.

Ol’ Buckaroo

OLBUCKAROO.COM | @OLBUCKAROO

This one-time-food-truck-turned-riverside-eatery near Three Rivers offers favorites including fried crispy Brussels sprouts with feta, pecans, and dried cranberries. Its mustard vinaigrette keeps you coming back for more. The refreshingly light heirloom tomato-watermelon salad is delightfully sweet, mixed with arugula, cotija cheese, and a chili-limon vinaigrette, making the entire dish pop. The house-made hummus with roasted carrots is garnished with roasted turmeric, feta, and gremolata. On Mondays, get tacos and $2 Tecate, and every day try an amazing milkshake, like the honey hibiscus or lavender. The tableside view of golden foothills and the glistening river can’t be beat. Ol’ Buckaroo even sources some of their farm-to-table produce from nearby farms.

Kaweah Brewing

KAWEAHBREWING.COM | @KAWEAHBREWINGCO

In this northwest Visalia spot, you'll find a good selection of craft beers and incredible food, produced by Chef Cristian Gutierrez. Popular shareables include the Harris Ranch hamburger sliders. Found in the kids menu section, you can order a few of them—a mini version of the full-sized house specialty burgers. The Meat Lover has bacon, thin-cut tri-tip, and cheddar cheese. The Blue Pig offers a balance of blue cheese and thick bacon with aioli. The house style Kaweah Burger is reminiscent of a top-rate backyard barbecue burger. The sliders are presented artfully on a wooden cutting board, and are a great way to sample and share several burger flavors.

El San Marcos

409 N WILLIS ST | @ELSANMARCOS

This Mexican restaurant just north of downtown Visalia offers highly flavorful food experiences. Choose dishes a la carte here (instead of with rice and beans) to share an experience of several different flavors. Try the enchiladas verdes or San Marcos, inspired by the San Marcos Fair harvest celebration. The San Marcos enchiladas have a lightly spicy, homemade red chili sauce (with no tomatoes) are filled with queso fresco, and are topped with potatoes, chorizo, and a sour cream drizzle. The enchiladas verdes have shredded chicken and queso fresca, topped with sour cream and garnished with pickled onion. Pair your meal with a refreshing non-alcoholic Pepinada, a cold drink made with cucumber, lime, sugar, and chamoy.