I’m a big fan of small restaurants. Their intimacy and round–the–clock crowd creates an illusion of exclusivity. You feel like you’ve stumbled on something hidden and special in the restaurant industry. In a country that glorifies The Cheesecake Factory, you can’t beat that feeling. Tria ranks high atop Philly’s list of popular and à la mode dining experiences—like Parc and Barbuzzo.
These restaurants reflect Philadelphia at its finest: Amazing food at affordable prices, at least compared to their counterparts in New York. The Fitler Square location swaps the sandwiches or flatbreads featured at the other three locations around Center City for real entrees. Tria doesn’t take reservations, so just show up and relax till a table opens up, and you’re good to go. Prepare yourself for an upscale dining experience that doesn’t require breaking out the ties and heels... or the bank, which is our favorite kind.
We would have ordered the entire menu if we could but, forced to make a decision, we opted for ordering two things from each category and came up with the perfect four course meal for anyone dining at Tria in the future. First, embrace the wine and cheese bar vibes and treat yourself to a glass or two. They’ve placed the cheese pairings into categories like stoic, stinky or approachable, but if you’re still undecided just ask the waiter and grab–bag it. One of our pairings came with a chocolate fig spread so incredible it will forever ruin plain cheese for us. Don’t hesitate to come here solely for a wine and cheese experience, you’ll still walk away satisfied and happy.
When picking from the “snack” list, you have to order the absurdly amazing Truffled Egg Toast with fontina fontal ($6.5) (but really, did you expect anything else from bread covered in cheese, an egg yolk and truffle oil?). Don’t hesitate to order double–truffle: Have the Truffled Mushroom with Fontina Bruschetta next ($5) even if you don’t like mushrooms (I hate them, and it was arguably my favorite dish).
For the salad course be sure to try the crazy fresh Heirloom Tomatoes with Maplebrook Farm burrata cheese, olives, croutons and zucchini verde ($13) or the ever–comforting Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese arugula option ($9).
The Campanelle Pasta with spinach–pistachio pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes and Capra Sarda goat cheese ($15) main course was easily the best pesto pasta I’ve had in my life. Or, as long as the starters haven’t filled your mushroom quota, choose the Black Pepper Tagliatelle with Kennett Square mushrooms ($14) and enjoy the ride to heaven.
If you somehow still have room, the desserts won’t let you down. For chocolate people, the Flourless Torta with espresso custard and blackberries ($7) is the way to go. However, even Milton S. Hershey would find love in the Semolina Cake with white chocolate mousse ($6.5) or the Meyer Lemon Cheesecake with whipped honey crèma ($6.5).
While Tria certainly lived up to its trendy reputation, some of the dishes were overdressed and underwhelming, while others kind of boring. That said, nothing on a menu will be for everyone, but anyone can come to Tria Fitler Square and leave with a massive food baby, comfortable wine buzz and happy tastebuds.
Location: 2227 Pine Street
@triaphilly
TL;DR: Just a short walk over the South Street Bridge, Tria Fitler Square is worth its weight in cheese.
Don’t Miss: Anything with the word truffle, trying a weird cheese and the pasta dishes.
Skip: The Calamari snack ($6.5), or the Apple Tree Goat Cheese Bruschetta ($4.5)
Price: $$-$$$ depending on if you go for a full meal or just wine and small dishes.
