Sips and snacks: Rotisserie meats in National City

State of play: From the team behind Normal Heights' Bica, which has quickly become a beloved neighborhood haunt, Butcher's Plate offers simple, slow-cooked meat that's delicately seasoned but big on flavor.

What we ordered: We visited on their opening weekend and put ourselves at the mercy of the staff, asking what we couldn't afford to miss.

• The herb chicken was too good to maintain table manners; I quickly ditched the silverware and ate every shred of meat off the bone.
• The porchetta sandwich was just as good, with fresh French bread to sop up the juices of the moist pork roast.
• Seasonal veggies, seasoned perfectly, were so good that we ordered more to take home for dinner.

Zoom out: If you haven't made it to National City's food hall yet, make sure to check it out. Butcher's Plate is just one of the stellar options.