Yesterday, my wife and I had lunch at triniti. The three-course meal for $25 is a helluva deal. And on top of that, when you order the prix-fixe lunch, Chef Ryan Hildebrand donates $3 to the Houston Food Bank. Which means you're really only paying $22 for lunch, right?

triniti
2815 S. Shepherd Dr.
(713) 527-9090

Here's the menu and comments on our choices:

Featured Menu for the Month of May

Lunch

First Course

Tomato Soup - Cheddar Punks, Basil Pesto

Local Greens - Soy Mustard Vinaigrette, Mixed Radishes, Boiled Peanuts

Beets - Feta, Cauliflower, Pistachios, Strawberries

  

We skipped the local greens and boiled peanuts. My wife went for the beet salad. It was pleasant enough to eat, but visually, it was just amazing—the strawberries and beets were standing up and covered with a snowfall of cheese, like something from a Pixar movie.

I went for the tomato soup with cheddar punks (a cutesy name for a mini dinner roll stuffed with cheese). The presentation was top-notch—the piping-hot soup was poured from a small pot over a streak of very tasty basil pesto and a dehyrated pepper slice. The fresh tomato and spicy basil pesto flavors were terrific. I wished I could get a second bowl.

Second Course

Green Pasta - Carrot Pappardelle, Fava Bean, Mushroom Collection, Spring Squash, Ricotta

Melt - Turkey, Ham, Bacon, Mozzarella, Strawberry Jam, Sprouts

Flank - Arugula, Hazelnut Chimichurri, Marble Potatoes, Brie 

We skipped the turkey melt. I ordered the flank steak medium-rare. It was closer to rare, but I didn't complain. The shaved watermelon radish and candy-stripe radish slices were gorgeous, the arugula was amazingly fresh and tasted extremely peppery, and the chimichurri was spicy. At least, I think it was the chimichurri that was spicy; maybe it was the salad dressing. Something left my lips burning. The potatoes were creamy soft inside, and the hazelnuts were just sprinkled around—very hard to stab with a fork.

The housemade pappadelle was luscious, and with the squash, mushrooms and ricotta, it made an excellent lunch plate for my wife, who gets along just fine without meat, thank you very much

Third Course

Boxes - Boxed Chocolates and Macaroons

Cones - Selected Sorbets and Ice Creams

The chocolate macaroon stuffed with caramel and raspberry jam was stupendous, and the chocolate candies were tasty too. The box of chocolates made me think of Forrest Gump.

Of the three sorbets, the raspberry was the most intense. The mango sorbet was decent and the coconut was rich, but not so flavorful.

The food is all wonderfully prepared, but Chef Ryan Hildebrand's presentations take the experience to the next level. All in all, it's a pretty amazing lunch for 20-something dollars.