Tria Cafe - Rittenhouse Square

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

This review pertains to the original location on 18th and Sansom.

Although Tria is very small and often hard to get a table, they have an excellent selection of bottles and drafts, the food is excellent and the service is very good. This place is all about fermentation with a nice selection of artisan cheeses, wine and beer. Their ber list is not very extensive but everything on it is of very high quality and they often get very rare selections. The last time I was there they had Pliny the Elder and Stone Double Bastard Brady Barrel Aged on tap and the time before that bottles of Russian River Temptation. Their prices are a bit high but I still highly recommend this place.

11-26-2008 07:38:41 | More by corby112

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I'm a philly beer geek who doesn't get out much anymore, but have always wanted to check this place out, so I wondered in last evening and had a great experience. The atmosphere is casual but still had a good vibe going on. The bartender(s) were knowledgable on there beers, among some of the best I've seen in Philly. The selection was excellent, both on bottle and on tap. The only negative I have to say about the place that they were out of one of the items I wanted (Ommegang Rouge). Service was good. Food appeared to be focused around lighter fare such as appetizers though I didn't partake in any. Prices were reasonable especially when considering the selection and quality. I will definately aim to head back to Tria in the future.

11-12-2008 13:37:20 | More by philbe311

DaveHS

California

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

A runner up for the best beer spot in Philly.
Lots of limited draughts and bottles that you rarely see on the east coast. The food is also very good. Staff is extremely helpful, and always seem to know what's going on. Back when I worked at The Foodery, I used to come here all the time. They usually gave me the industry 10%, if not more, which I always appreciated.
Their brewing classes sometimes feature people like Vinnie from Russian River, so you know they're not messing around.
Tria now has two locations in Philadelphia. Enjoy!

09-16-2008 09:56:56 | More by DaveHS

Seanibus

California

4.18/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$$

The food is merely OK, but the real reason to go is the fascinating selection of beers, wines, and cheeses. Each is laid out in a well-thought out and well described menu. The selections change constantly, but you will always find something on the list to tempt you or to educate your palate. The beers are adventurous (where else will ever you see Victory's Rauschbeir on tap, for example) and the selection shows the owners have a deep knowledge and appreciation of really fine beer. The downside is that the restaurant is small and cramped, so it can be a challenge to find a seat sometimes.

08-13-2008 13:38:17 | More by Seanibus

jim102864

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$$

A small cafe that I'd read about on BA. Very clean, contemporary feel. Not at all what you'll get in the two other Belgian bars in town. Narrow space with a short bar seating maybe six. Roughly a dozen or so Belgian bottles and a mix of about six Belgian and micro taps. Their focus is clearly on minimal stocks of quality beer and cheese. No other food to be had here. Very much a niche bar that could only survive in an upscale area in a big city like Philly. Go there with deep pockets. Nice spot if you've got the time before dinner for a few drinks. Very efficient and friendly service. Nice Itlain meat/cheese combo. Can't precisely recall what type of meat and cheese I tried, but both tasted great. A tad too trendy and 20-something-yuppie for my taste, but still worth a visit and perhaps a repeat visit for me.

05-14-2008 11:37:20 | More by jim102864

Boppar

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +16%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

I could got to Tria every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.

A: The thing I really liked about the atmosphere is that despite its being a posh, upscale dining place in Rittenhouse Square, it is thoroughly bereft of pretension. The waitstaff are incredible, the menus are clever and quirky (and restaurant that describes certain beers as "profound" and certain cheeses as "stoic" is a solid place in my book).

Q: Incredible. The beer, cheese, food, and wine are all simpl incredible.

Ser: Flawless.

Sel: Their menu currently lists 27 beers, with a new weekly selection every Sunday.

F: Orgasmic.

Overall value is really good. Yes, you'll end up paying more here than you would somewhere else, but the thing is, it's worth every penny. When I consider how much I'd be willing to pay for this experience versus what I actually did, it's a bargain in my book.

04-20-2008 16:28:35 | More by Boppar

MarcGetty

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

As some of the other reviews have stated, Tria may not seem like a good beer place on the first visit. This is far from reality, Tria is definitely a good beer place.

I've been to Tria's Rittenhouse Square location a number of times and it keeps getting better each time I go. While the beer list is far from huge, it is ever-changing and very broad. The selection is not limited to local craft brews either, there is a fine mix of international beers to try.

If an experienced BA goes out and finds only 20 beers, they are often disappointed. However, if one, two, or even three of the beers are unknown to that BA, what is the difference if they have 20 beers to choose from to 200?

On my last visit I found HaandBryggeriet's Norwegian Wood, a superb, complex, and rare brew that I have come to love. What more can a BA ask for then to find exciting new beer unknown to them previously?

The food is very good as well. From excellent cheeses, to mixed plates, to the truly outrageously good banana goat's milk caramel and mascarpone panino desert. I'm a very picky eater and have yet to be disappointed with the food at Tria.

Lastly, the staff is above average to great. They are both knowledgeable and friendly.

Tria is definitely worth a try or two!

03-16-2008 23:40:27 | More by MarcGetty

GJ40

North Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

A friend took me here and at first it struck me as too much of a wine bar. But after a second trip, I realized that while wine and cheese might be their specialties, they do beer very well.

On my last visit, I had a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA on draft and a Schneider Aventinus in the bottle. Both were outstanding. They had a unique pour for the Aventinus which caught our attention and delivered a very nice head. I've been caught up in hops for several years but I'm now catching up with some styles I'd put aside. The Aventinus, a wheat dopplebock, really helped me to remember what I've been missing.

Don't let the wine and cheese fool you. Tria knows beer too.

01-16-2008 03:48:22 | More by GJ40

sinistrsam

Maryland

4/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

I had dinner and drinks here with a friend and was surprised to find a pretty decent beer menu. Lots of belgians as well as locals.
The decor is a little modern for my liking but the chill lighting and close but not clostrophobic feel gave it a comfortable feeling; the place I can see myself coming after a long day to unwind with a drink. The food was excellent (try the gorgonzola and fig bruscetta) and although the beer was pricy, the selection was good and the staff was knowledgable, eager to help and prompt with the service. Overall a great experience.

11-12-2007 14:43:24 | More by sinistrsam

bosco7

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

I really did not enjoy the atmosphere of this place. Too trendy and cramped. I do however love the concept of the place: Beer, Wine, and Cheese. All things fermentation! There are other items such as sandwiches, bruchetta, and desserts as well.

Beer menu is pretty amazing (for a restaurant) with stuff from all over the US and the world. About 20 beers on the menu. I had De Ranke XX Bitter and DFH 90. Cheese menu is equally amazing.

Food prices are cheap but portions are also pretty small. The appeal: Bring a date and have a good beer at the same time.

10-27-2007 16:25:00 | More by bosco7