Merrifield Restaurant Trio Grill Unveils Summer Bites Menu

PHOTO: Tuna Tartare Nachos at Trio Grill/Patch photo

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Looking to try out a new restaurant in the area? Head down Lee Highway and just after crossing over 495, you’ll find Trio Grill on your right, at 8100 Lee Highway.

The first thing you will notice is a jam-packed parking lot — a good sign of a popular spot. If you can’t find a parking place, no worries, there’s valet parking.

Trio Grill is on the righthand side of a three-part business: Open Road Grill & Icehouse on the left (with a lively crowd and live music most nights) and Merrifield Wine & Beer in the middle. Open Road Grill & Icehouse has taken off as an after-work spot for residents in the Falls Church and Merrifield area.

Trio Grill is the more refined eatery, offering an inviting spot for happy hour or dinner. The restaurant is open from 4-11 p.m. The decor is inviting, with warm lighting and a variety of seating options: bar, tables, booths and outdoor patio dining. You can even enjoy a cigar after dinner in the outdoor cigar lounge. There’s a private dining room you can reserve for groups.

The enterprise is owned by MHG, Metropolitan Hospitality Group and was launched two years ago in the building that formerly housed Upscale Resale Consignment Furniture.

The restaurant has 104 Yelp reviews, with an overall rating of four stars.

We sampled some of the new summer bites menu recently unveiled by Trio Grill, including Tuna Tartare Nachos, Confit Chicken Drumsticks, Steak & Cheese, Smoked House-Made Burrata and Arancini.

The “nachos” are the perfect happy hour accompaniment, with crisp and light wonton chips, wasabi guacamole, pickled ginger cream, dried seaweed, diced raw tuna and tobiko.

We tried them with one of the new summer handcrafted cocktails: A Drink with Hemingway. The cocktail is made with Mount Gay rum, lime, Prosecco and Boston Bittahs.

Also delectable: The drumsticks, which were glazed with spicy house-made honey buffalo sauce, smoked blue cheese dressing.

Be sure to bring your appetite for the Steak & Cheese and Arancini. Steak & Cheese is a thinly shaved CAB beef, provolone cheese, caramelized onions, potato match sticks. The Arancini is a mix of fried hand-rolled risotto-filled with spicy sausage, aged provolone and fontina, marinara and basil aioli.

The Burrata is a lighter option, features arugula, basil oil, chargrilled ciabatta and tomato jam spread on sliced grilled bread.

Other new summer cocktails to try:

• Aguamelon Fresca: Espolon Blanco tequila, watermelon, agave, habanero syrup and lime).
• Trio Manhattan: Bulleit Rye whiskey, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Fee Brothers whiskey barrel-aged bitters
• Collins Mistress: Citadelle gin, lavender syrup, lime, Fever-Tree soda water

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