When it comes to restaurants in Parque Lleras, only the strong survive, which makes it all the more noteworthy to highlight Triada is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Occupying the ground floor of a building which also includes Carito (a vallenato club) on the second floor and Woka Lounge on the rooftop, Triada recently updated it’s interior design to coincide with the launch of a new menu.
Last month, I invited a friend for dinner and drinks on a Friday night so I could check it out.
Triada’s new menu covers the gamut, from typical Colombian dishes to international favorites like sushi, pasta and pizza. The focus, however, is on steaks, which I’ll get to in a moment.
For a starter, I went with one of my new favorites, the burrata, which was presented with cherry tomatoes in a pesto sauce (21,900 pesos, $8.80).
It was nicely presented, and well executed. The creamy cheese center oozed out once I punctured the exterior with my fork.
Additional appetizers include ceviche, calamari, grilled octopus, nachos and mozzarella sticks.
For the health-conscious, there are six types of salads on the menu, including turkey, salmon and Mexican. The prices for salads ranged from 22,900 to 28,900 pesos ($9.20 to $11.60).
The main event, at least as far as I could tell from the menu, were the steaks.
An entire page is dedicated to presenting MásFinca Carnes, a Colombian brand of premium beef similar to Certified Angus beef in the U.S.
Options included baby beef, entrecote, chateaubriand, churrasco, ribs, and pepper steak, among others.
I ordered the full-size bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mushroom sauce, fries and salad (33,900 pesos, $13.60). I asked for them to be cooked medium, and am happy to report they came out cooked perfectly. The mushroom sauce was a flavorful accompaniment.
The only mistake I made was thinking I could eat a full-size order, as it turned out to be too much given I’d also had an appetizer.
This left me completely stuffed; it was the rare meal where I couldn’t even contemplate dessert, despite the delicious looking chocolate volcano cake (9,000 pesos, $3.60) I noticed on the menu earlier.
After dinner, we walked to the front of the restaurant to check out the new bar being manned by an Italian mixologist.
It’s my favorite feature of the new interior as it reminds me of the bars I’m familiar with back in the U.S. There were even stools so you could sit at the bar itself, something that still feels rare here.
In the mood for something new, I told the bartender I liked gin, and he recommended a White Lady with Hendrick’s gin, Cointreau, lemon and sugar. It was delicious, a cocktail I’d certainly order again.
Meanwhile, my friend was sipping on her favorite, a margarita.
The bar faces the pedestrianized street, so it’s perfect for people watching. It’s opposite La Octava, a bar I use to visit often my first six months in the city.
Drinks consumed, we headed upstairs to Woka Lounge to enjoy another round under the open sky. Those looking to dance can just as easily access Carito.
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This story was written in partnership with Triada.
Every time I visit Medellin, I make a point of stopping by Triada and having a chocolate martini. They’re not on the menu, but if you ask they will make one for you.
Delicious!