Name: Trio
Address: Guerrero 264, Centro
Telephone: 322-222-2196
Website: www.triopv.com (Reservations can be made online)
E-mail: trio@triopv.com
Hours: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. daily
Type of food: International/Mediterranian
What I’d heard about it beforehand: I had always heard amazing things about Trio - so much so, I had to eat it to believe it. I've had several "foodie" friends recommend it as one of their favorite restaurants in town. I've been to Trio twice in the last month: once for a beautiful meal over Mother's Day weekend, and just the other night during Restaurant Week. A lot of people mention places I should go, but once I get there, it just doesn't live up to my expectations. My first meal there was, without a doubt, the best food I've had in Vallarta in the past two years, so I'll share a little bit about both experiences.
Atmosphere: Trio is classically beautiful inside. The space is warm and airy, with scenes of Tuscany (or another very pretty place with Cypresses) and hand-picked art on many of the walls. The windows in the front of the restaurant are kept open, so diners can look out onto Guerrero and chat, and farther into the restaurant natural light comes in from upstairs. I've already bookmarked it mentally as a place where I'd like to take my parents when they come to visit - it's beautiful enough to stand out as someplace special and classic enough to make anyone comfortable. I mention the art also because, when you look around, you can tell that someone has thought about it versus going to a decorator and letting them have the run of the place. On my second visit I found myself staring again at an enormous oil landscape, and I think some of the paintings had been re-arranged since my last visit just a few weeks prior. In short, it was a far cry from many places I visit that feel so impersonal.
Service: We had excellent and attentive service both times we visited Trio. During Restaurant Week, service was a bit slower, but we were made to feel very comfortable and were constantly attended to by a steady stream of waiters topping off our drinks, replacing silverware, etc. The waiters even have Trio vests, and insisted on bringing our table a tiny version of a coat rack for our bags. Feel free to order in English, Spanish, or Spanglish.
Drinks: Because we visited on a weeknight, I had an iced tea for $40, and my friend had a glass of the house and claimed it was delicious (it was around $80/glass). There's a beautiful bar when you walk in, and an extensive selection of wines.
Dress Code: Trio is more of an upscale place - use that dress or pair of khakis you packed. As I mentioned, this would be the perfect place to take someone for a romantic date or special occasion.
Price Range: $$$$-$$$$$
My order: I wouldn't normally mention the bread and butter, but during the beginning of the meal that's what usually comes, right? On cue, a warm basket of bread and butter came, but along with the butter was a this great peanut/cream cheese spread. It was a little bit spicy, with a hint of garlic, and made me ignore the butter completely. We were at Trio towards the end of Restaurant Week, where there is a three course menu with three choices for $299. Determined to try something new, I chose to start with the Parmesan Risotto with Barbecued Rabbit Loin. It's not that I particularly love rabbit; it's more the novelty of it. How often does one have such a chance? The risotto was mild and cheesy, and the rabbit was in a sweet barbecue sauce on top. I wish I could say rabbit tastes like chicken, but it doesn't, really. It doesn't taste like any other specific meat, but it was very lean, and I wouldn't say it was gamey or anything like that. Honestly, I could have stopped eating and taken a nap after that. Next, I had the Paella a Pepe y Pepo with shrimp, fish, chicken, and a whole lot of other things in it. Underneath it all was a bed of rice and half curry sauce (but not spicy), and half fresh tomato sauce. I especially enjoyed the fish fillet - it has a lemon-salt crust on it that was wonderful. I couldn't finish the rest, and it probably didn't help when my friend pointed out to me that, by this point, I had eaten approximately eight different meats (counting sea foods). I was so full that I thought about taking my dessert home, but I'm so glad I didn't...it was my favorite part of the meal. I had the most incredible "Warm Chocolate Cake with Pecan & Vanilla Ice Cream," but it wasn't just a cake. It was about the size of an inverted ramekin, and had a nice little crust with soft cake inside and a gooey chocolate filling (there's a really pretty picture of it on Trio's website). It would have been fabulous without the ice cream, but that just made it better. So, so good - I've been dreaming of it ever since.
My companion had the Grilled Vegetable Antipasti with Goat Cheese (fresh grilled veggies with a lovely olive/basil pesto) that another of my friends raved about, the Grilled Chicken Breast with Huitlachoche Ragout, and the Caramelized Mango Crepe, which she said was also incredible. Our only query into her meal was about the Ragout...I didn't remember the name of the dish until I reviewed my notes to write you now. Thanks to the wonders of Google, I now know that the dark sauce on the chicken we didn't quite understand (in color, texture, flavor, etc.) that Huitlachoche is actually an ancient Mexican delicacy derived from a type of corn fungus (also referred to as "corn smut"). A lot of people compare it to truffles. If I was anywhere else, I would have been wary (Did I mention it kind of looks like dirt and would not be mistaken for olives?), but at Trio, you can tell that everything is fresh and prepared with extreme care, so...it was one of those occasions where you eat it...then Google it at home. Go figure; I had thought eating rabbit was kind of cool, when I was actually eating the food of the Aztecs.
The Good… Trio is a wonderful place. Between the two meals I've had there in the last month, I'd have to say again it's some of the best food in Vallarta. You can tell it's fresh, you can tell it's the real thing - and that makes a huge difference. I also just like the place - the service is great, it's beautiful inside, and I was reminded that going to a restaurant is a treat, like when you were little (or at least when I was little).
The Bad… There isn't much I would change about Trio, though it is pricey for my Vallartense budget. For what you're eating though, it's a bargain compared to anywhere else...and it's worth it. Two people eating a nice dinner, without alcohol, was around $1,000 pesos including a tip. Since I'll probably only be able to go as a big treat, I will return for coffee and that amazing cake until a special occasion justifies the expense (Like...that it's Tuesday? A lunar equinox? Anything?).
…& the Hungry… I would love to try the Chef's Four-Course Menu ($480) and try a bunch of different things. Looking over the menu (http://www.triopv.com/files/trio-menu-eng2.pdf), everything sounds great, but especially the Rack of Lamb and the Mushroom Crusted Sea Bass. When I was there earlier, I had a wonderful fillet and the Tomato Soup with Gorgonzola Ravioli and Ginger, and it's another thing I'm still dreaming about.
Should you spend your hard-earned peso? GO. Save your pesos, and invite me to come, too!
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