Feed Back: Shrimp Enchiladas at Trio's

In our latest monthly series Feed Back, we pose a question on the Rock City Eat Facebook page. This question will typically ask for reader suggestions on what dish to eat at a specific restaurant. One of the reader responses is picked, dish is eaten, and a review is written.
First up, we feature one of Little Rock’s oldest and most iconic restaurants … Trio’s. I wanted to know what was folk’s “favorite dish at Trio’s.” There was no shortage of suggestions, but I was particularly intrigued by how many people mentioned the shrimp enchiladas. Not to sound like a jerk, but I tend to shy away from enchiladas at non-Mexican food restaurants. I’ve been burned in the past due in large part to the non-authenticity of the dish at places that don’t focus solely on the cuisine. In truth, I was hesitant to try out Trio’s shrimp enchiladas.
But when the people speak, I listen (sometimes begrudgingly).
As a well-composed plate of two shrimp-filled enchiladas and sides of black beans and rice sat in front of me, I couldn’t help but think about the importance of presentation and how it truly plays a large part in the overall eating experience. It also speaks volumes for the restaurant. Attention to detail might be the most important trait of a successful establishment. As you can see in the above picture, Trio’s not only takes pride in how the food tastes, but also certainly how it looks.
Truth be told, I enjoyed everything about the plate. While the cheese-covered rice lacked seasoning, the enchiladas and black beans definitely did not. In fact, maybe this was intentional on the restaurant’s part, as mixing the beans with the rice proved to eliminate any issue of blandness. The enchiladas themselves, covered in mildly spicy jalapeño cream and chipotle pepper sauces, provided just the right amount of heat to the dish. The shrimp inside were adequately-sized and perfectly cooked, although I thought each enchilada deserved an extra one. The hit of the plate (aside from the bay leaf that turned up in them) were those wonderfully tasty, almost addictive black beans.
In the end, you were correct … Trio’s Shrimp Enchiladas were a hit, and I wouldn’t hesitate to order them again.
Other notes: Trio’s serves up the best iced tea in town. Service was warm, friendly, and attentive throughout the meal. Restaurant was at 80% capacity at 11:35 a.m. on a Tuesday, which is wonderful to see. Trio’s is such a loved and supported place. Total cost of lunch (with tea and tip) was $21.