We came here for Valentine's Day with a large party and the service wasn't the best so we planned on giving them another fair shot and boy was that the best decision.... Cafe Trio is most definitely a hidden gem! The inside was very elegant, quiet, and had great ambiance. The pianist was also a great add on to the experience. The wait staff were nicely dressed and were all super sweet. Ross, our waiter had the bar make us our own wine which was just wine and juice mixed to get to the specific taste we wanted. I note this because not a lot of restaurants will go this far to accommodate but Cafe Trio did and it was just delicious. Let me tell yall about this grilled salmon. Absolutely delicuous! It was grilled thoroughly and still kept its shape. You can tell they put a lot of attention to their dishes because I only mostly came back here for the salmon and it was even better than the first time I had it, in fact even more delicious! The gnocchi ricotta was also delicious. Soft, pillowy, and just melts in your mouth after biting into it. My husband enjoyed his pasta, which they added mushrooms to because he doesn't eat meat. At the end of the night, I had them surprise my husband with a cake and they added a candle to it so that we may commemorate our 2 years. Honestly this place is great and the food speaks for itself. They have a new menu coming out and I'm already making plans on coming back to try it out. read more

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Excellent date spot with happy hour menu-- great location off the Plaza. Live music! What more could you ask for?

Went for brunch and enjoyed the blackened salmon and the chicken fried steak. Good sized portions, very generous. The brunch potatoes were cooked inconsistently but had good flavor. The Bloody Mary I got was perfectly spicy, the old fashioned tasted watered down. The service was consistent, but did take long on check backs and took awhile to get our bill. The patio is gorgeous and even though it's close to a busy intersection you can't hear the traffic. Well priced, will try again for dinner as the night life seems enjoyable and the menu looks great read more

Happy Halloween. Best decorations ever. We had Happy Hour at the bar with $5 glasses of Pinot Noir and a Trio of Crostini, whipped ricotta and roasted tomato with balsamic, goat's cheese and warm bacon vinaigrette, sauce romesco with manchego read more

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This is a really fun and enjoyable restaurant located in a wonderful part of KC, next to Mill Creek Park and the American Century Investment complex. I consider this review a 4.5 stars. For starters, the staff - - really great and friendly people. So many helpful and happy souls. Patrick at the bar stands out. Next, the Happy Hour menu (4pm-6pm) is spectacular! Great food and drinks with significantly reduced prices. If you like dry martinis you have to try one here! I ordered a Spinach & Berry Salad with Salmon. The spinach was so fresh and the salmon filet was huge. All for under $19 on the Happy Hour menu. Cafe Trio is worth visiting. read more

Cafe Trio - The best martini ever - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I love going to this fun restaurant during the Holidays. They decorate for each one. During the winter the outside patio is covered and heated. There are bad tables here. HH last until 6pm make sure you get there for fun drinks. Sorry no pictures of my amazing beet salad with salmon. read more

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Have been eagerly waiting for our reservations tonight for this Halloween pop-up. I love Halloween and the decorations did not disappoint they are so freaking cool. I ordered me a Blackberry Martini to start off the night and I've could've had three or four more of them very good. We ordered Caesar salad I had heard a lot about their Mac Daddy mac & cheese so we ordered that. Let me say I am not much of a mac & cheese person but this mac & cheese was the bomb. After dinner we ordered dessert we had the gooey butter brownie cake if you are looking for something sweet this is your dessert. Our service was great and the ambience and decorations were very welcoming. What a fun evening we had. read more

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The good: -dirty martini was excellent -short rib along with the polenta and green beans was a perfect combo. they all matched each other so well -the featured dessert which was a peanut butter mousse thing was great The less than good: -the vibes inside just seemed weird -our waitress was kind of odd. she took our drink orders one at a time, like she'd take one and then leave and come back and then do another. read more

Cafe Trio - featured dessert - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Walked here from the Cascade hotel. Got a nice quiet booth, ordered beers and light meals. My flatbread really hit the spot and my partner's steak was perfect. Got a creme brulee for dessert, which was nice. Waitress was very friendly and helpful. Overall a great choice in an area full of chain restaurants. Would go again if I find myself in that area of KC. read more

We ate inside at the bar for happy hour. All of our choices were really good - the crabcake, the flatbread, the slider, and the short rib tacos. The drink specials are an awesome deal, especially if you are gathering for a celebration with friends. The service was what you would expect - professional. read more

10/10 if I could! Enjoyed a wonderful meal with a friend on a Tuesday (half price wine) and left full and happy! I have loved this place forever and it did not disappoint. Great good, great service! And love a piano moment. The mussels, were perfect and delicious. And the goat cheese flatbread was great! I had the salmon pasta and my friend had the seafood lasagna. Could not get enough! The White Diamond is my favorite martini there and of course enjoyed a crisp glass of wine. Finished with a s'mores bread pudding and skipped out the door. Always love the decor and looking forward to the holidays! read more

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This place was down the street from our hotel. I was starving after my flight from Seattle. We requested whatever was available for two people. We sat inside and bonus pianist was playing. Also happy hour anywhere not just sitting at the bar.the food was more than amazing, I wish I didn't get so full I only ate a piece of the fig & goat cheese pizza. DELICIOUS We told all our coworkers, they went on diff nights and loved it too read more

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Cafe Trio is located near the KC Plaza. Cafe Trio is elegantly decorated for the Christmas holiday. Live music from the piano in the dining room is a classic touch. Happy Hour menu provides a way to enjoy many menu options at a reduced cost. I highly recommend the "Frosty" beverage from the choice of Blondie drinks. Trio Crostini was very tiny vs the Trio Dip with Taters option. I enjoyed the Mushroom and Swiss burger with taters/dip. Garlic Aoili dip is amazing and I asked for a side to dip fries and put in my burger. Dessert was a brownie with vanilla ice cream and optional caramel drizzle on top. Winter Wonderland on the back side of Cafe Trio allows for a view of the beautiful KC Plaza. Parking is available for free but during Happy hours it is very cramped space. Street car can be used to park remotely and walk over to it. Service staff are so attentive to detail and knowledgeable about menu items. There is a coat rack that's not visible from dining area but it's super convenient during winter time to hang up your coat. It is located in the hallway near bathrooms. Love the epic decorations! read more

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TLDR, go for happy hour, sit on the patio, ask for Richard. The details, this place is well known for decorating for the holidays. I had to check out the Halloween decor, random hands, creepy dolls, and a giant spider and it's web weave is way through the dining room. Even outside of the holidays, the Happy Hour is Fantastic, we did 4 small plates, a few drinks and dessert. The fried salmon bites, delivered just enough salmon flavor and a sweet teriyaki, the steak fries, perfect sized for dinner for one or to share, the Mac Daddy was my favorite, KCs top rated Mac and cheese did not disappoint. The piece de resistance was Richard, he took an already fun evening to the next level. read more

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We went for our anniversary PLUS a Halloween themed pop up they had going and it was great! I have not been when it was not in theme, so I'm of no help as to what it's like normally. The waiting staff is great, the food is great and well priced for it being downtown. read more

Always a solid happy hour spot but loved the seasonal touch with the Halloween decorations this time! They even had someone on the piano mixing in some Halloween songs. Definitely recommend the cosmo to drink - did I mention it's only $7 during happy hour?! My friends got the Blondies frozen drinks & said it tastes just like Blondies in Mexico. We munched on apps of hummus & flatbread which was the perfect snack. The hummus is nice & light. The flatbread was *chefs kiss*. read more

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I know this is a local favorite, but I was not especially impressed, and have no plans to rush back. I was excited for the Monday all night happy hour on the celebrated deck, especially because the weather was unusually cool for August. I reserved a table for what I thought was going to be 6 people, but people invited friends, so our party swelled to 10. I didn't think this was a big deal, but the host couldn't accommodate the larger party. The restaurant is busy, I get it, we made it work by having the extra people sit at the bar. Patrick, the bartender, managed our food and drink orders with alacrity. Not many GF options and the menu is not marked to indicate what I can have. I thought the short rib "tostadas" were likely to be safe - 3 tortilla chips topped with meat perched on some shredded cabbage. (Why put the cabbage *under* the chip? Bizarre.) My dining companions seemed happier with their choices, one got the mussels, another the famous Mac & Cheese, another got a lovely spinach salad. Once a few of the friends had left, I joined the rest of the party at the table. Patrick brought over my bill (I had tried to catch his eye several times while I was at the bar and others were settling their bill, but he overlooked me for whatever reason). Someone else's drink had been added to my bill. I asked the waitress who had been serving the table if she could let Patrick know there was a mistake on my bill. She said there couldn't be an error because she didn't serve me. What? The error was not her fault, but I didn't in any way suggest it was. I took my bill back to the bar and had it corrected, but I was completely taken aback at her response. I brought a bunch of guests to this business and I made the best of the seating situation, and the waitress couldn't be bothered to help sort out a small error at the end of the night? I don't consider myself a diva, but there are a lot of places I could be spending my hard-earned money and I prefer to spend it where I feel like a valued customer. read more

Cafe Trio - Dirty martini - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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One of my favorite places to go around Christmas time! Decorations are beautiful and the vibe is so cozy. Server gave us great food & wine recommendations. I had the blackened grouper and my bf had the seafood lasagna. We also had the short rib arancini for an appetizer and it was one of my favorite things we had! The blackened grouper was 10/10. read more

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My second visit with friends on our 1st date out. Seating was unsatisfying!!!! Could nit reach floior and i am 6'1". Split the broasted chicken with mashed potatoes. Chicken was dry!!!!!. Even the keg and thigh was dry. Thats hard to do. Brine your chicken. I am reluctant to go back based on this disappointment. read more

Went here for their Monday All Day Happy Hour! They were super packed around 6pm - only bar seating was available when I arrived. I've been a couple times throughout the years, and the portion of food (especially the steak) has gotten smaller, but that's not super surprising. I love the enclosed patio and all the lights decorated for Christmas! It makes for a very cute, very fun place for Happy Hour. The Chocolate Blondie was a delicious drink :) read more

Cafe Trio - HH Steak Frites - New American Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Cafe Trio is one of those local restaurants that has a really intense fan base. Like ride or dies that will not stand to hear a negative word about it. So I think I had a bit too high of expectations going in. Don't get me wrong, it was a good, solid meal. Great service. I loved that there was live piano music, but it wasn't too loud. Really enjoyed my wine and the wine list in general. My friend got the tomato soup with a little grilled cheese. Super cute. And for her entree the veggie risotto which I tried a bite of and really enjoyed. The waitress encouraged me to go with the salmon angel hair pasta and it was good. With enough to take home. I've heard rave reviews about their holiday decor so I might need to come back for the holidays. read more

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Love the back deck at Cafe Trio for the holidays. Schedule early as the tables go quickly! Super fun to do a HH and watch the sun set and the plaza lights come on! There are heaters in the deck and they do clear tenting and so it's very comfortable and so beautiful! read more

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I've loved & supported this restaurant since they opened & even worked at the first location 14 years ago. Friday, we had a reservation for 5:00, & almost all of us had situations that made us late. The host haughtily reprimanded us & told us they needed the table by seven. We apologized for being late & said of course to kick us out whenever they needed to. As it turned out, the restaurant wasn't even busy with lots of empty tables, so they only needed a two top. Our server was kind enough to move it away from our table for the 7:00 reservation & we stayed at our table. Unfortunately, it was the same table number for their check. The server said the checks got a little messed up because of it & came back to verify what we had. But when my credit card was run, I noticed I had 2 extra drinks on my credit card receip. No big deal, mistakes happen & our server was kind in spite of us being late. I nicely asked about the 2 extra drinks, then the manager came to the table very accusatory, insinuating that we did drink them. When I tried to explain that maybe they just belonged to the two top that was separated from us at 7:00, the manager got irritated & said that was our fault because we were late...so my girlfriend just paid the $24, for 2 drinks she didn't drink, because she just wanted to be done with it. This was not the servers's fault & yes, we were late, but the manage's attitude was off-putting, as we weren't complaining, just trying to figure out which tab they belonged. I felt humiliated in front of my friends because I didn't want to pay $24 for drinks I didn't drink, & would be embarrassed to show my face in there again. I guess maybe that's what they were going for. ‍ Anyway, I still left the same tip I would have on the bigger amount, so at least they couldn't complain about that. read more

This place was adorable. The food was so good, and the service was great! We had a table for 6 and enjoyed the holiday decor, pianist, and variety of choices. The pork chop was phenomenal! Great place to look at the plaza lights and grab a drink and a bite to eat. Highly recommend! read more

This was our first visit --beautiful day and great space to dine outside. Entire restaurant decorated for the season--will be interested to see the winter holidays! Food expertly prepared; extensive drink options. Left with happy taste-buds!! Only reason star lost.....as I walked to powder room, noticed every table outside of our server's area with a basket of bread ..... something we were not offered --does one have to request this? Otherwise a wonderful Visty--plan to return. read more

We were staying near St. Luke's hospital and found Cafe Trio on Yelp. It was walking distance from our hotel so we had carry out. It happened to be half price wine night so waiting at the bar was a pleasure. The piano playing was another nice addition. The food was excellent, so good I went back the next night! The place has a nice local restaurant feel. Didn't get to the patio but it looked inviting too. read more

I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the host. Rude guy, a real turnoff, and could have spoiled the whole experience for us, but the food is amazing. Good-sized portions and quality ingredients and taste. The atmosphere is nice whether inside or on their enjoyable patio. I will be back (despite the host). read more

Elegant and relaxed dining just a short walk from the Kansas City Marriott. They had an outdoor area, but we enjoyed an inside table. Very nice service and excellent food. The wine was also very good. Highly recommend read more

Enjoyed a fantastic happy hour at Cafe Trio. Came in around 4:30pm and we got a table right away. The room didn't start picking up until around 5, and we were greeted by some lively piano soon thereafter. The happy hour deals drew us in, drink specials were reasonable ($7 martinis, $6 wine by the glass, etc.), and there were tons of delicious food options. Ordered a couple rounds of drinks, a caesar, side of mashed potatoes, and burger w/ fries to share. Everything was filling, tasted great, and well-priced. They also made one of the best extra dirty martinis with blue cheese olives Service and ambiance were a 10/10. read more

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This was my first time here in what feels like years! We didn't have a reservation and showed up around 7:45pm the hostess said there was nothing available or we could sit at the bar. We opened up their reservation system and saw there was a reservation for 8:15 but she refused to seat us for that even when we said we'd wait for it. A few moments later spots opened up at the bar. The hostess was completely rude and acted like our party was a burden after offering us to sit there. After being set the hostess and one of the bar tenders were whispering, chatting it up about something but with that being said we proceeded to sit at the bar and wait a good 15+ minutes for anyone to even acknowledge our presence. After 20 minutes or so the other bartender greeted us and offered us drinks. The other bar tender came around finally asking for our drink order, though we had already ordered. We had serval drinks, which were good! We started with short rib arancini, personally packed everything- bland. We also ordered the Mac and cheese, short rib, salmon, loaded mashed potatoes, and corn risotto. Short rib was tender, mashed potatoes were nice! Risotto was alright. The vegetables with the salmon were great. The Mac and cheese was a large portion. Overall, fine food with less than impressive service. read more

Not a bad meal but for the price it was not a standout. Service was friendly but aloof: she got the job done but nothing special. Nice outdoor seating but we were inside, which is dark and where a piano player drowns out most conversation. The best thing was the happy hour menu of small plates. We ordered starters of the shrimp flatbread, muscles, fried chicken livers, and hummus. The flat bread and livers were outstanding, absolutely the best thing we had. Tasty, piping hot, fresh, and well executed. The muscles were also good but the hummus, however, was bland and stogey...simply not good. As to mains, the seafood lasagna just did not work: too heavy and too much going on. And my friends were not thrilled by their choices: scallops (which were ok but the sides did not work) or the salmon with angel hair pasta (salmon was dry and overcooked). Very well executed cocktails, but otherwise not worth going out of your way in a city filled with great restaurants. read more

Cafe Trio is a favorite spot for happy hour in the plaza area. Their happy hour drinks and bites are fairly priced. The mac daddy is delicious and is a pretty good sized portion! The last time we visited, we sat outside on the patio. The outdoor patio has plenty of shade, a nice breeze, and a wonderful view of the park. The servers are always friendly and on top of their game. If you're not sure what you're wanting to eat or drink, ask their advice, they've never steered me wrong! read more

Definite five star experience. I have been living under a rock on some places and Cafe Trio is one gem I just haven't visited yet. Love this place- it's quaint, with a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere and Candace at the piano adds an extra touch of class with her great selection of jazz and other favorites from the diners. Somebody went all out and decorated the place for Halloween- so cool. The food is delicious and prepared so well from the curated menu. I ordered the grilled salmon on angel hair pasta and it was delish. The tomato soup and mini grilled cheese is tasty. Others had the filet and scallops and commented favorably on that dish. Our server took good care of our table and helped us with wine selections and the menu. I'll definitely be back! read more

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It had been quite a few years since we had been in, but we stopped by during happy hour while restaurant week was going on. The Christmas decorations were fantastic. There was a piano player and he was wonderful. The service was great, and the food was too! read more

We're back again for the Halloween experience at Cafe Trio. The decor once again has blown us away. They also had a fall menu that included drinks, appetizer, salad, and entree. The icing on the cake was the gooey chocolate butter cake with caramel drizzle and vanilla ice cream. You've outdone yourself again Cafe Trio! read more

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Still the same lovely spot. HOWEVER, we went last night and arrived to a huge disappointment. We did not know this KC standard was under new ownership, with a NEW MENU. Ugh. Was so looking forward to seafood lasagna, but it's been removed from the menu! What?! Unfortunately, the new menu did not impress and we left after we finished our cocktail. I'm sad to say that Cafe Trio is officially off our list now. The server said she has heard several diners lament that the menu changed and seafood lasagna is gone. Pro tip: don't remove an iconic dish from the menu, even if ownership changes! read more

I have read numerous reviews of this restaurant and have always wanted to stop by.. I finally had that opportunity last night. I absolutely love the atmosphere and dynamic of this place. Lighting was very intimate and personal and the live music was the perfect touch. The Short Rib Arancini is a MUST try - it's a twist on your traditional dish, short rib was very flavorful and melts in your mouth, the fried outside pairs perfectly.. the overall texture was on point. I could have 10 if these if I could. The Grilled Salmon was also very very good - the salmon was the highlight of this dish, I think I could've gone without the angel hair pasta as it doesn't really pair well with the salmon. I think they could've gone more traditional with rice and vegetables but nevertheless, still good. I ordered the sweet cream risotto as a side and this was just okay. My boyfriend ordered the Hanger Steak and I think I liked this entree much more than mine. Steak was good and cooked perfectly!! Vegetables were good, mashed potatoes were some of the best i've ever had. The Mac Daddy is amazing! MUST try! I'm not sure it's the best in KC, but it is definitely in the top 3 on my list. If you are looking for a nice restaurant for a date night, birthday, anniversary, or any kind of celebration.. this is the place to be. Prices are very reasonable, food is very good, and the vibes are great! read more

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I have been wanting to check out this place during Holiday time and it did not disappoint. I got plenty of pictures of the atmosphere but of course forgot to take pictures of the food. For appetizer, started with Aracini. For dinner, I had salmon miso. The food was incredible and service was top notch. I definitely will be going back to the Cafe Trip. read more

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The really good: 1. Despite having made a reservation on the outside deck, since it was about 103 degrees in the shade when we arrived, they didn't hesitate to get us a table inside. Then they quickly moved us to a quiet booth since one diner wears hearing aids, which can't really shut out enough background noise when there is live entertainment. 2. Our server was cheerful, accommodating, and very patient with our many questions and requests. 3. There are good, inexpensive items on the Happy Hour menu, and decent drink prices. The not-so-good: 1. The Happy Hour burger and fries were SUPER salty, and the fries were limp. 2. There were several glitches and misunderstandings by our server in preparing our bills. 3. All but one of 7 total items one the dessert menu that is listed as "chocolate" (maybe 4) is actually made with white chocolate, which is really only cocoa butter and dairy milk, usually with sugar and vanilla thrown in. As chocolate aficionado "Dame Cacao" says: "There are no cocoa solids or chocolate liquor in white chocolate; it's all pressed cocoa butter." And THAT is NOT chocolate to any "real" chocolate lover! read more

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Really quaint environment. Near country club plaza so a great location. We went there for a business dinner on a Wednesday night and it was bustling but not crazy. Everyone loved their food. I had the seafood lasagna which was delicious and not at all heavy. Another companion had the short rib entree... good but pretty fatty. Another had the salmon roulade which he said was very good as well. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable and helpful. Very pleasant experience! Try the mushroom appetizer.... It was delicious! We forgot to take pictures! Sorry! read more