Trio… Still Awesome, After Near Eleven Years!

By Anna Reisman

Can you believe it, eleven years already? Yes, indeed, that’s how long it’s been since this superb 5-star restaurant, bar, café, opened its doors in Puerto Vallarta.
I remember when I first visited Trio, in December ’97. We were six very picky Canadians, there to celebrate a relative’s special birthday. And ever since then, I must say that every single one of my visits to Trio has been special.
For those who don’t know me, I come from Montreal, Canada, the city with the largest French community outside of France; the city known as one of the top five gastronomical meccas in North America. I’ve been spoiled, true, but when I say that Trio is special, I’m not being biased.
Around seven years ago, Trio was one of the first restaurants in town to be honored by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences with the prestigious, highly coveted Five Star Diamond Award.
Now, this isn’t just any award. The Academy is a trust founded by professionals in the hotel industry on a world level that also includes frequent travelers. Members are anonymous evaluators and inspectors, and their evaluations are done without the knowledge of the establishments. In 2001, there were only 5 restaurants in all of Mexico to be awarded this prize, Trio being the fifth!
Getting back to the here and now: Trio is still one of the most consistently excellent restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. German-born Bernhard Güth and Swede Ulf Henriksson are the chefs / co-owners whose combined expertise -gained after years of working in some of the world’s best restaurants- has resulted in the continued success of their joint ventures.
Trio is what it is because it has never wavered from the most important objectives of a top-level eatery: to provide astounding, unforgettable, truly masterly food - flavors, textures, ingredients, cooking methods, simplicity, complexity, presentation...
Trio is a cosmopolitan, casual yet elegant, multi-leveled restaurant with tropical greenery, colorful paintings by some of Vallarta’s best artists, a hand-carved mahogany bar decorated with frescoes* and Tiffany-style windows reflecting an unmistakable Southern European, Mediterranean feel.
Bernhard and Ulf renew and refresh the place on a regular basis. This year, the restaurant acquired its “face lift” thanks to artist extraordinaire José Baldi who refreshed Trio’s fresco “logo” by the bar, and added others along the other walls, thus enhancing the Roman atmosphere of the main floor dining room (the second level, closed during the rainy season, is decorated in ancient Greek motifs). If you want to check out the work of this talented man whose frescoes, murals and paintings can be admired throughout Mexico, in the U.S. and in Singapore, you might want to visit his web site at www.josebaldi.com.mx
Getting back to the matter of food, I should point out that when one goes to Trio, it is not to eat, it is to dine - regardless of the season. Aside from the tried and true, favorites of the restaurant’s clientele, the summer menu also contains a number of new additions such as an artichoke soup with roasted pine nuts, and braised baby goat from El Tuito on grilled Italian vegetables, with a chile guajillo sauce.
All I can say in closing is, if you truly enjoy the delicate delights of fine Mediterranean food and the finest imported wines, decadent, delicious desserts, plus impeccable service, then don’t hesitate: pamper your senses and treat yourself to an evening at Trio.
Trio is conveniently located downtown at 264 Guerrero Street. Reservations: 222-2196.