Dinner at TRUAGO – Trenton, Michigan
My husband and I went out for dinner tonight at TRUAGO in Trenton, Michigan (Downriver area).
Let me tell you — the BEST part about this place is the customer service. It pops out immediately as soon as you walk through the door.
We were greeted by Carrie. She welcomed us as the hostess, but her personality and magnetic presence honestly gave an aura of ownership. I love seeing that. When employees feel like they have a real stake in the company, it shows in the way they treat customers and make people feel welcome.
The handoff to our server was also very professional. It felt like, “You’re not in my hands anymore, but I’m passing you off to the best person to make sure the rest of your visit is great.”
Our server’s name was Theresa — a beautiful woman who was very well kept, neat, and just all around pleasant. Now I know that in today’s world complimenting someone’s looks can sometimes be frowned upon, but let’s be honest — there’s something about having your attractive food served by an attractive person! 😂
The menu at TRUAGO.
Starters
For starters we ordered:
Grilled shrimp
Shrimp scampi
Oysters Rockefeller
All three were delicious.
They did tell me their Rockefeller oysters are normally served raw, and I’m not the biggest fan of raw oysters, so they cooked mine a little longer than their usual char. I really appreciated that accommodation and they came out wonderful.
Shrimp Scampi
Broiled Shrimp
Oysters Rockefeller
The French Onion Soup (the only real miss)
I was a little disappointed with the French onion soup.
French onion soup is my go-to. Whenever it’s on a menu, I want to try it.
The first bowl came out cold and the cheese was still sitting there in the same block it started as. It wasn’t crispy and didn’t stretch — which is honestly the best part of French onion soup.
They took it back to try again. When it came back, it was extremely hot, the crouton had soaked up almost all the broth, and the cheese was over-charred. It felt like going from one extreme to the other.
I couldn’t imagine a chef being in the kitchen at that moment because I personally don’t think a chef would have let that leave the kitchen. Maybe he stepped away for a moment — who knows.
The 1st French Onion Soup (cold)
The Redemption
Thankfully, the rest of the food easily redeemed the soup.
Apparently the chef returned. 😄
My husband (Shon) ordered a medium-well ribeye with blue cheese crust. It actually came out closer to medium, but we didn’t send it back because it was incredibly flavorful.
I had never tried steak with blue cheese before, but my tastebuds are definitely more expanded now. Sometimes we just have to open our minds and receive what the Lord has for us.
He also ordered Brussels sprouts, but I didn’t try them because — in my heart — no one cooks Brussels sprouts better than I do. I’ve been disappointed too many times eating them anywhere but my own kitchen! He tore them up though. There were no complaints.
Ribeye steak with blue cheese crust and loaded baked potato.
Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions and bacon.
The Dish I Really Came For
I originally came for the King Crab legs that are still listed on the menu. Unfortunately, according to a regular customer, they haven’t actually had them in the kitchen for at least a year.
That’s a tough mental blow when you’ve been thinking about a dish for months, walk in ready to order it, and then find out it’s been discontinued — not just temporarily out, but gone.
Hopefully management updates the menu soon so that doesn’t keep happening to customers.
What I Ordered Instead
I ended up ordering the crab-stuffed flounder, drizzled with lobster cream sauce.
Let me just say… imagine me putting my fingers to my lips and making the chef’s kiss sound. That dish was excellent. Cooked perfectly.
We also added an 8 oz South African lobster tail.
It was decent, but honestly not worth the $55 price tag per tail. Not because of the size — but because the flavor was a little dull and the texture was slightly dry.
Crab stuffed flounder with lobster cream sauce…. You can actually see the burnt soup in the background (2nd round of soup) 😔
South African lobster tail.
Overall Experience
Despite a few hit-or-miss items, I would definitely go back and try other things that looked interesting on the menu.
The customer service alone is enough reason for another visit.
The atmosphere, drinks, and staff were all great. There were a few bumps along the way, but nothing that makes me want to give up on the place. I’m actually encouraged to come back and see what else they offer.
Our total bill came to $280 before tip, but our waitress did such a great job that tipping was honestly the least stressful part of the night.
My Final Thoughts
Customer service can make or break a restaurant experience. TRUAGO’s staff made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in, and that goes a long way.
I’ll definitely be back.
Quick Rating
Food: 7.5/10
Service: 10/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Would I return? Yes.