Each week, I have the pleasure of reviewing a local Irvine business for my “Smith’s Picks” column.
From time to time, I also write a more expanded “feature” review on a local restaurant that I really enjoy. Postino Wine Cafe is my latest featured pick.
Postino Wine Cafe is located in the Park Place shopping center on Jamboree and Michelson, near the 405 freeway. I am spotlighting the cafe because I feel it offers something that isn’t too common in Irvine, an intimate “date night” type of ambiance for its patrons.
The cafe is primarily a wine bar, with a wide variety of options to choose from. Prices aren’t too bad, so wine lovers are sure to find a glass or bottle to enjoy at a reasonable price.
Postino also offers a great selection of craft beers, both on draft and by the bottle. As a beer drinker myself, I enjoy sampling a variety of beers from local Southern California breweries. (The cafe does not serve liquor.)
To pair with your drink, I recommend one of the many varieties of bruschetta that the cafe serves. From sweet and savory options like the brie, apple, & fig board to the more traditional Italian options like the mozzarella, tomato, & basil board, there’s something for just about everyone. In fact, there are more than 15 bruschetta options available. You can order up to 4 of these small bruschetta boards to enjoy (each is cut into three slices), so you can enjoy a multitude of flavor profiles.
There are also lots of delicious appetizers to choose from and delectable main dishes like freshly grilled paninis, salads, and smoked salmon. On the weekend, Postino serves brunch starting at 9am, with mimosas and tasty breakfast dishes.
One of the many tasty bruschetta boards served at the cafe
If you have a sweet tooth, the cafe offers some great options for dessert, including the creme brûlée and a salted caramel sundae.
For those who can get away before dinnertime, Postino offers Happy Hour until 5pm where any glass of wine is just $6. So you can swing by after work or before you head out to a movie for a nice glass of wine and one of the bruschetta boards at an affordable price.
My weekly “Smith’s Picks” is featured in our Thursday evening ICNV e-mail. You can subscribe here. And, be sure to follow my new “Smith’s Picks” Instagram account here.
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