Jumping into to foray here, but I'm not sure it has anything to do with the dining plan. We have eaten at Spoodles with and without the dining plan, and think it is one of the few restaurants that has the annoying shared plate charge. You can split an appetizer or dessert with no problem, but the entree has a $5 extra plate charge. I think we got through the last time by ordering a soup OOP and then not asking to split the meal. (used the extra plate under the soup

Don't try to buck the system, just like to eat a variety of meals!