ZURiTO

At ZURiTO in Beacon Hill, dinner can start with a single Gilda: anchovy, olive and a pickled guindilla pepper. This Basque pintxo bar builds much of its menu around small bites, from salt-cod-stuffed piquillo peppers to little sandwiches of jamón and Manchego. Order a few, then decide how far to go. Larger plates include griddled octopus, braised beef cheek and a bone-in ribeye, while cured meats and cheeses give you plenty to pick at between drinks. Patatas bravas and the potato-and-onion tortilla offer familiar starting points if pintxos are new to you. It is a useful choice for friends who like passing plates around and trying several things over the course of an evening.