During a recent dinner at Frasca Food and Wine, I ordered a slice of fig tart before I ordered my appetizer and entrée. My point is this: I plan for dessert. Even so, there are evenings when a single forkful (instead of a full plate) would do me just fine. Therein lies the genius of Beast & Bottle‘s Bites section. The idea behind the mini sweets came from the restaurant’s pastry chef Andrea Wight, who says she rarely orders dessert because she’s usually too full from dinner. Of course, one-bite treats are nothing new (hello, truffles and petit fours) but the way Beast & Bottle presents them is.

When Wight noticed diners ordering multiple bites (the menu offers three at a time), she began thinking of them as a themed collection. “Andrea decided to make all three cohesive tastes, or variations on a taste,” executive chef and co-owner Paul Reilly says. The motif has shifted from chocolate, to cherry, and—as of last week—to apple.

The new lineup (pictured) includes an apple tartlet with brown butter ice cream and candied sage; candied apples with house-made cracker jacks and a popcorn purée; and a Robiola cheese custard, apple chips, and house-made grape nuts.

Best of all, the bites are just $2 to $3 apiece ($8 for all three). Choose just one or indulge in all three, and you’re still out less than the price of the average dessert. Plus, you won’t walk away too full.

719 E. 17th Ave., 303-623-3223

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Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.