As Raleigh and the NC Triangle region has grown over the past decade, they have attracted the attention of regional chains looking for a great location to establish their business. Postino (Italian for postman), a wine bar and cafe based out of Arizona is the most recent addition. With 30+ locations around the country, Postino Village District opened in the middle of summer. I’ve had the chance to visit several times and found myself very pleasantly surprised. As a wine-lover it’s impressive to see what they’ve done, read on for more details!
Postino Village District, Raleigh – Location, Interior
If you’re visiting Postino for the first time and familiar with the Village District, you’ll recognize it’s location as being the old Carolina Cafe off of Clark Avenue. Postino sits in a quiet corner next to Cava and you can usually find a parking spot in the area but it can be busy here. As you approach Postino, you’ll immediately notice a grey, low-slung building with bright yellow umbrellas in front, filling the front patio, very distinctive. Up the stairs you go and you’ll immediately hit the hostess kiosk where you’ll be quickly greeted and seated!
But one thing is for sure as you take in Postino’s decor, there is just so much to look at and they did an incredible job with the space! From the wallpaper, lighting, and furniture, the space is eclectic and comfortable with a bit of quirkiness thrown in for good measure. It’s a crazy quilt of colors and textures but it all seems to mostly work. And the space itself has some nooks and crannies. A main room with 4-tops, the booth on the sides are slightly raised and the patio wraps around to the side where there’s another roll-up garage door for fresh air. The bar in front is separated by a library shelving wall and a comfortable lounge area that lines that front of the space gives Postino another look and feel.
Postino Village District, Raleigh – Menu, Food
When it comes to food, Postino sticks to its cafe origins offering a smallish menu of snacks, bruschetta, and sandwiches. Over the course of several visits, I’ve been impressed by the quality, size, and creativity behind their offerings. The shrimp scampi features a handful of tender, plump shrimp in a garlicky oil and toasted bread rounds, very tasty. A crispy cauliflower served up with romesco sauce and raisins shows a bit of uniqueness and flavor even though the offering is somewhat simple. But you can enjoy this appetizer feeling that it’s a bit healthy.
Postino’s bruschetta is a can’t-miss, order a bruschetta board allowing to try a medley of flavors and ingredients. For $17 you get four flavors with each bruschetta sliced into four easy to eat pieces! Love the classic Italian mozzarella, tomato and basil along with the prosciutto, fig, and marscapone, yum! It all tastes quite fresh and pairs well with a glass of wine.
And if you’d like a larger meal, order up a panini stuffed with delicious goodness. The chicken with mozzarella is great, offering roasted chicken, fresh mozzarella, arugula, red onion, and tomato aioli between focaccia or ciabatta bread. A cup of beer cheese or Tuscan chicken soup makes it a satisfying meal. Their Italian beef dip with roast beef, melted brie, and caramelized onions is also excellent.
Finish up your meal with something a bit sweet, the crunchy hazelnut bar delivers chocolate and hazelnut flavors in a creamy dessert form, very tasty! And of course if you’re dining at Postino, you need to be a wine and beer lover. Their selection is solid and before 5pm, they have a Happy Happy period. A select group of wines are $6 per glass along with a couple of beer by the half-pitcher (32 ounces). Yes, I know you can’t have an official happy hour in North Carolina, all I know is that this promo is quite the deal as a wine-lover!
Postino Village District, Raleigh – Service, Conclusion
The staff at Postino is quite young and eclectic but well-trained. They greet you kindly, have remembered me on return visits, and come back to check on you during the meal. But the place is pretty popular so service can get a bit spotty at times. But overall I feel the ambiance and food here is totally worth whatever niggles you might run into with service. Postino offers a lot of value for your dining dollar and I’ve been back several times to absorb it all. Add in the great food menu and decently-priced vino and you’ve got a great new addition to the Village District dining scene. Buon appetito!
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