Trino Steakhouse — Local services in West Chicago Township

A Surprise, a Delight, and Yet—Exactly What I Expected from Chef Sandoval

From the moment I walked into Trino, I knew we were in for something special. But honestly… I wasn’t that surprised. I had the immense pleasure of meeting @ChefSand years ago during his Entree Sueños pop-up at Soho House, and since then, I’ve followed his incredible culinary evolution through Diego and now to the stunning debut of Trino.

Joined by one of my favorite fellow food-lovers, @mlshuffet, we settled in for what became an unforgettable evening. We kicked things off at the bar with Abraham, who immediately set the tone with a Mezcal Espresso Martini and his fiery take on a Fire & Brimstone. Both were absolute showstoppers—balanced, inventive, and dangerously drinkable. Abraham: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Then came the food. Pro tip: order everything and share; you won’t regret it. We began with the Congrejo Tostada, and I genuinely believe Chef has outdone himself. As a longtime devotee of his Tuna Tostada, I wasn’t prepared to be so thoroughly blown away. The crab melted on the tongue, the tostada was light and crisp, and the flavor balance? Unmatched. I joked with the team on the way out that I may need a Tostada punch card at this point.

Next up: the Caesar Salad, which deserves its own spotlight. Imagine perfectly tender anchovies, crisp romaine, fennel, and a kiss of fresh dill that danced, not dominated, on the palate. It was smart, fresh, and beautifully executed.

And yes, we had the dinner rolls—because how could you not? Each bite of the warm, airy dough with that rich Tatemada and Epazote butter was pure joy. Miche and I found ourselves sneaking little bites of the butters, then saving some to pair with our steak.

Speaking of steak… Julianna, our phenomenal server, guided us toward the Bavette Wagyu, paired with Chef’s signature Cherry-churri sauce. Cooked to a perfect medium rare, the steak arrived beautifully sliced, with a char that made each bite a symphony of textures and flavor. Paired with the sauce, or simply with salt and that butter, every bite was a revelation. The sides? Equally impressive. The Papa del Dia, Chef’s inspired take on a Potato Dauphinoise, was a buttery, thyme-laced dream with paper-thin layers that melted in your mouth. Be sure to ask about the Potato Program, you’ll want to know what’s on deck each night.

And then... the Duck Fat Refried Beans. I honestly can’t even. Just enough heat, beautifully offset by the richness of the duck fat. Deep, comforting, elevated. An absolute must-order.

At this point, we were full. Full-full. But when the dessert menu arrived, we couldn’t resist. And thank goodness, because the Tres Leches Tiramisu was life-altering. Light, creamy, and utterly indulgent. I may never stop thinking about it.

Trino is more than just a steakhouse. It’s a showcase of Chef Stephen Sandoval’s immense talent, blending bold Latin flavors with fine dining precision. The space, the team, the menu—it’s all firing on every cylinder.

This place is a triumph. And I have no doubt it’s only the...

Let’s cut to the chase. Dinner at Trino was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Parents of young kids will appreciate this. We finally got a rare sitter and were craving an incredible meal. On those rare date nights, the pressure is on. You do not want to risk a new spot and end up wishing you stuck with your tried and true favorites. The Trino menu had caught my eye, and I am glad we went for it.

It was so good that we cannot stop talking about it.

Menu highlights: • The tostada was amazing. My wife actually thought about ordering a second one.

• Dry aged ribeye was legit. Too many places oversell “dry aged,” but this one was the real thing. Perfectly done and on par with my favorite at Boefhaus.

• Lobster Mexicaine was outstanding. The sauce was so rich and flavorful I started dipping everything in it. Lobster was cooked perfectly.

• The Mash was rich, flavorful, and had a unique touch that made it stand out.

• The Bordelaise sauce was suggested by our waitress. The steak was strong on its own but this sauce elevated it even further. Great recommendation.

Service was exceptional from start to finish. Our waitress and the whole team were warm, attentive, and spot on.

Bottom line: Trino is a fantastic addition to Randolph Street and instantly became one of our new go to spots. If you love really good food, it is absolutely worth...

If I could rate this 10 stars across the board, I would. This is hands down one of the best restaurants my husband and I have ever eaten at. The food was incredibly well balanced and unique. Must tries are the wagu with the cherry churri and the dried aged ribeye with the huitlacoche bordelaise. With the flakey salt, it just melts in your mouth and is a dream. You also HAVE to get the trumpet mushrooms…I will be dreaming about them for forever. They honestly tasted like steak and paired with the corn sauce…I wish I could have more right now. For apps, the lamb empanadas were toasty and homey with a great little spice to them. Fantastic. Followed by the crab tostada, was a perfect balance of acid and herbs before moving into mains. All that said…the food was just so amazing and I cannot rave about it enough.

Now the service was just as amazing as our food. They were super quick, extremely friendly, knew the menu and what pairs well like the back of their hand (shoutout to Fernando), and made our 1st wedding anniversary unforgettable and so special for us (literally brought us some extras to try which were so delicious and sweet of them to do). We will definitely be back and this is a MUST TRY if you love amazing flavors and a great...