Trio

Now of course, while we had guests from Michigan, we couldn't stay in and cook every night.  We had to show off some of our favorite Cincinnati finds!  First up was dinner at Trio: a casual fine dining bistro in Kenwood, Ohio.  It has been a favorite of locals for 20 years, and Alex and I were introduced to it by a cousin and aunt of his when he first moved here.  I have eaten there several times and never had a bad meal.

Unfortunately, Alex had to work late this night and couldn't join us, but this gave the girls an opportunity to share a bottle of wine, loads of appetizers, and call it dinner.  Something I always enjoy for its variety.  After some discussion, we decided on the Maryland Crab Cake, Lettuce Wraps, Tomato Caprese Salad, and Wild Mushroom Flatbread.

This delight contained jumbo lump crab, fried eggplant, pineapple-mango salsa, chipotle remoulade, and guacamole, topped with sprouts.

Clearly Trio's chefs have presentation mastered.  And it tasted as good as it looked.  Crab cake can be mushy and a bit fishy, but this was neither.   A mild fish taste with just enough crunch to be satisfying.   Make sure to top your bite with some of the salsa and scoop up a bit of the tangy chipotle sauce!

I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of the lettuce wraps.  I am a huge fan of P.F. Chang's version of this dish and have never found one that quite measured up.  Again presented beautifully, this lived up to expectations.  The lettuce was cool and crisp. The filling was warm and just spicy enough.  The sweet chili sauce drizzled over the top added just the right amount of sweet and tang for the taste buds.  And for those liking an extra kick, there was a bit of ginger on the side.

The tomato caprese salad was divine.  Everything was chilled just right.  I hate lukewarm mozzarella but likewise hate frozen tomatoes and this dish escaped both of those pitfalls in equal measure.  The 10 year balsamic vinaigrette was a little sweet, a little tart, and a little different than your average.  I would only like to see a bit more basil or slightly larger leaves.

And finally, the wild mushroom flatbread.  The one food Alex really will not eat, without exception, is mushrooms.  This makes me truly sad, and I almost always order mushrooms when out to eat because I can't cook them at home.  This item is not currently on their online menu, so I can't describe it completely accurately here.  But as you can see, it was loaded with green veggies, capers, and several kinds of cheese in addition to the mushrooms.  The flatbread was crispy, the cheese was gooey but not sticky, the mushrooms were perfectly flavored, and the greens added just enough crispness to the dish.  It was an absolutely perfect mushroom dining experience.

And to give the restaurant its full due, not only was the food delicious and perfectly presented, but the service was impeccable.   Drink orders were taken and filled promptly.  When our server got a little backed up, another server jumped right in so that we wouldn't have to wait.  If you've ever done an appetizer dinner, you know that the table can quickly become crowded with the extra plates and movement.  Not here.  Once she knew our intention, the server quickly offered to bring out the appetizers in courses.  I had never quite thought of doing it that way, but it was perfect, allowing us to savor each selection, digest between courses, and never feel crowded or cramped at the table.  They also didn't bat an eye when we asked for a meatloaf dinner to go with our check (poor Alex had to get something out of this experience) and brought it steaming hot with a side salad and extra bread right before we walked out the door.

This is a must-eat Cincinnati experience!