Amori Burger (TV hostess of Op die Spyskaart) is the comfort-food creator at Trio Café in Greenside. She loves to use spice combinations and understands perfectly what creates interesting tastes, says Eat Out critic Marie-Lais Emond.

A photo posted by Trio café (@trio_greenside) on Jul 6, 2016 at 12:00am PDT

Food

While a lot like a bistro in style, the restaurant also offers coffees and breakfasts, all made from scratch here on the premises. Treat yourself with banana bread and real peanut butter or flapjacks with toasted apple, tahini, honey and fresh thyme. There are also fabulous poached eggs under Hollandaise and served on a Spanish hash of fried potato, peppers and very good bacon. There’s always a fine visual spread and you never feel short-changed.



Lunches are the main event and can be eaten at any time, even into the night. The beef burger sports a great patty, wonderfully textured and perfectly grilled, with crisped bacon, molten cheddar, avo, winning onion rings and chips. The deliciously juicy and rewarding steak is seared and served with an SA favourite of charred, caramelised and chilli-dusted pineapple and homemade pickled beets. The steak salad is equally beautiful.

One of the dishes at Trio Café. Photo by Lisa Skinner / Skinnderella.

Vegetarians should be happy with items like Amori’s famous flatbreads (often ordered by other chefs to serve in their own restaurants), piled with goat’s cheese, homemade pickles and the best beetroot hummus imaginable. There are Portuguese, Indian and Mexican-inspired ways with these fine flatbreads, but the favourite has to be the option with spiced lamb kebab, tzatziki, chermoula and a slaw with ginger, mint and fresh greens.



Desserts (which change daily) might take the form of delicious cake with beautifully cut fruit, herbed honey and floral yoghurt or aromatic baked pudding.

A photo posted by Trio café (@trio_greenside) on Sep 9, 2016 at 6:48am PDT

Drinks

Trio often offers a seasonal special of summer spritz, cool cocktail or simple limoncello over ice, which you see everyone sipping on the pavement area. Amori likes to have her wine list flexible; she loves adding interesting new names like Babylonstoren Chardonnay and Edgebaston The Berry Box. There are interesting craft beers, too. For teetotallers there’s a huge selection, including healthy smoothies and milkshakes in flavours like chocolate and cinnamon, and peanut butter and espresso. The teas come served with toasted almonds or beautiful herbs and the cappuccinos are so good that there must be some magical secret behind them.

The lovely staff at Trio Café. Photo by Lisa Skinner / Skinnderella.

Service

The Trio family of staff has been here, resplendent in their leather aprons, through all the changes. They’re a charming, confident crew and Amori is an amazing hostess.

A photo posted by Trio café (@trio_greenside) on Apr 18, 2016 at 2:12am PDT

Ambience

Trio is very warm and comforting, inside and out. Amori is a great stylist: Wooden furniture glows against the black-and-white checkered floor reminiscent of lovely country kitchens.

And…

Trio caters for private parties too. The downstairs bar with its extended area is often used for great evening events.

Have you visited Trio Café in Greenside? Write a review and we will pledge a meal to a hungry child through Stop Hunger Now SA. 

Eat Out critics dine anonymously and pay for their meals in full. Read our editorial policy here.