At Postino, drinking wine at lunch is not a crime—a philosophy you can take with you in the form of a bumper sticker at all of its locations. Phoenicians have been die-hard fans of Postino WineCafe’s beloved bruschetta boards for decades, and after years of having to fly to enjoy their incredible menu, Californians finally have their first location. Located in Irvine at Park Place, Postino WineCafe will quickly become one of your go-to spots for brunch, lunch and dinner.
As you walk up to the restaurant, you’re greeted by Postino Park Place’s giant, signature yellow letters, and you can choose to sit on their large patio or in their vibrant yet cozy dining room. Postino is the kind of place that is suitable for every occasion. As longtime Postino regulars at its other locations, we’ve enjoyed countless relaxing, romantic date nights, the happiest of happy hours, girls’ nights, boozy brunches and even baby showers at the brand’s outposts in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and, now, in Irvine.
As if you needed another reason to enjoy a drink in the afternoon, Postino Park Place offers glasses of wine and beer by the pitcher for only $6 every day until 5 p.m. Wine enthusiasts will rejoice at the chance to take it a step further by joining Postino’s sacred Wine Cult where you can enjoy four of its hand-picked red and whites wines every quarter, plus additional freebies and discounts. We’ve tried a variety of the sparkling, white and red wines, and we’ve never been disappointed.
One of the best things about Postino Park Place is the variety; everything on the menu can be enjoyed as an appetizer, meal or as shared plates. Some of our preferred Snacky Things are the tender and flavorful meatballs complemented by tart goat cheese and the delightfully crispy cauliflower in a romesco sauce. Before we get to the iconic bruschetta boards, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the veggie, charcuterie, cheese and European-style boards. They are full of delectable ingredients that deserve a try during one of your visits.
If heaven is a place on Earth, it’s when you’re sitting in front of a Postino’s bruschetta board. Each board comes with four servings; perched on top of a thick piece of bread, each ingredient is delicately layered to create perfectly balanced combinations. While we love them all, we do have a few favorites to get you started: Brie, Apple & Fig Spread; Prosciutto Di Parma, Fig & Mascarpone; Warm Artichoke Spread; Smoked Salmon & Pesto; Burrata, Bacon, Arugula & Tomato; and Ricotta, Dates & Pistachio
Take note! On Monday and Tuesdays after 8 p.m., diners can enjoy a bottle of wine and a board of bruschetta for only $25.
If enjoying a panini on your visit, your server will ask you a very important question: ciabatta or focaccia? There really isn’t a wrong answer, but your server will likely recommend their preference depending on which option you select. During our first visit to Postino Park Place, we ordered the West Coaster, made with smoked ham, smashed avocado, arugula, roasted garlic aioli, pickled red onion, Calabrian chili and feta cheese on focaccia. Each ingredient works in harmony to provide the perfect bite.
Don’t forget to leave a little room for Postino’s sweet treats. Your sweet tooth will be satisfied with their chocolate bouchon (warm chocolate ganache on top of a soft cake with a side of ice cream) or the salty and sticky caramel sundae, made with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate-covered corn nuts and a pretzel stick topped with warm salted caramel.
Postino Park Place is open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 9 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about Postino, visit www.postinowinecafe.com.
2981 Michelson Dr., Ste E
Irvine, CA 92612