Communal dining couldn’t be hotter right now. Prix-fixe menus, shared tables, family-style servings and encouraged sharing are the preferred path of some of the newest and trendiest restaurants in San Francisco. It’s also a great way for diners to get a taste of several menu items during one seating, and it’s perfect for group meals. Here are few local favorites.

The Progress
1525 FILLMORE STREET
One of the the most talked-about new restaurants in town, Progress puts an emphasis on family style with dishes that read like poetry poetry on the menu that are served to the center of the table, for all to taste and nibble. The list of the items is long. Pick 6, and pay 65$ per person.

Lazy Bear
3416 19TH STREET
Bוuzzed-about and sought-after, Lazy Bear is currently the toast of the town. The guests are seated along two communal tables, and a menu of 12 creative dishes is served, each course explained by the chef and staff. Items may include grilled lettuce soup, Guinea hen with lobster and mushrooms and other out-of the world creations, for $100-$150 per person.

Haven
44 WEBSTER STREET, OAKLAND
Oakland hotspot Haven offers a great deal with its $49 for 3 courses and $65 for 5 courses communal meal, along with a-la-carte options. The compact menu includes a selection of breads, pate and cheeses, a choice of entrée, vegetarian sides and dessert, and provides a low-key opportunity to explore the trend.

Flour + Water
2401 HARRISON STREET
The restaurant that changed the rules of pizza and pasta serves a communal pasta tastings dinner for $70 per person, with an additional $50 for wine pairings. Menu highlights include sweetbread raviolini and halibut and squid ink tortellini.

Beso Bistronomia
4058 A 18TH STREET
A recent addition to the Mission District, Beso features a tapas menu, designed to order in abundance and share. Toast points with delicious condiments, salads and charcuterie are reasonably priced and allow for a colorful, diverse shared meal.

Mourad
140 NEW MONTGOMERY STREET
The tasting menu at Mourad Lahlou’s new signature restaurant is perfect for a shared feast, In fact, Moroccan cuisine is communal in its very core. Salads, oysters, lamb shoulder and couscous come together in a $150 tasting menu you can share, which includes dessert and a traditional dried fruits and nuts plate. Great for a family celebration.

Photo courtesy of Lazy Bear