City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (816) 756-3227

Address: 4558 Main

Description: Fans of this popular restaurant worried when they learned Trio was moving from its mid-town location. “Things will never be the same,” they moaned. That’s true: things are better than ever. A larger space with room for private parties, a view of the Country Club Plaza from an expansive back deck, a talented chef who’s put his own stamp on the menu, and service that’s more polished yet still friendly. The only down side for regulars is that they can no longer just pop in; reservations are a must. The owners wisely kept favorites from the old menu, like the Mac Daddy (a gooey macaroni masterpiece with three gourmet cheeses, bacon, and red peppers), pistachio-crusted tilapia, and a 20-ounce KC strip. New entrees include a decadent osso bucco and New Zealand rack of lamb. Cafe Trio shares space with the swanky Starlet Lounge, named for the Hollywood actresses whose photos loom overhead and inspire several of the martinis. There’s live music five nights a week. Thankfully, as before, Trio attracts a wide variety of patrons, and they’re all welcome: the city’s most stylish gay men, straight couples from the suburbs on their way to or from the theatre, attractive young singles meeting friends after work. When not staring at your date (or flirting with that cutie across the room), you can admire the changing art provided by local talent.