Starters. The opening act. The first hit of flavor that sets the tone for everything that follows. You can learn a lot about a place by the way they approach that first bite. Sometimes it’s a whisper—a delicate tease of what’s to come. Other times, it’s a bold slap to the taste buds, a statement that says, “You’re not ready for this, but here it comes anyway.” Starters are more than just appetizers; they’re the beginning of a conversation between the kitchen and the diner, a promise that if this is good, what comes next is going to blow your mind.