The Vegetarian and The Carnivore

Week 2: Postino | Slideshow
Week 1: Sweet O | Slideshow

After last week’s foray into the West Valley, this week finds us at a more traditional wine bar in good old Phoenix. Postino is a charming café set in the historic Arcadia Post Office.

Parking is at a premium in this neighborhood, making the valet parking ($3) a smart option. The roll-down garage-type doors that once accommodated mail trucks, now provide a charming way for the dining room to spill out into the night air of the patio.

The dimmed lighting and lush interior provide a stark contrast to last week’s entry, Sweet O, and gives Postino more of the traditional, refined lounge atmosphere that one expects from a wine bar.

In fact, the dining room décor is so swanky that patrons are not permitted to take photographs of the restaurant without permission from the owner (as the Vegetarian found out)!

When we first arrived at Postino, no tables were available (on a weeknight) so we waited at the cocktail tables on the side of the restaurant and ordered a glass of wine. With only about two dozen choices, the rotating wine list was short compared to what we found last week at Sweet O, but we both agreed that all of the selections we tried were well chosen and delightful.

The wines were reasonably priced ($8-$12) and there wasn’t a single option we didn’t enjoy.

After about ten minutes our table was ready and the difficult part began. By difficult, we mean that there were so many tasty appetizer and entrée selections we didn’t know where to begin.

We decided to try one of everything…well, almost everything. To start, the waitress brought us a complimentary serving of marinated olives, which was perfect for wetting the palate. We started with the Antipasto ($14), the NYC Grilled Cheese ($6), and the Bruschetta ($12.50).

The antipasto did not disappoint, featuring a healthy portion of cheeses, Italian meats, dried fruits, seasonal vegetables and nuts. Just enough for four, our favorites included the goat cheese and the grilled asparagus.

The NYC Grilled Cheese, a blend of three cheeses melted on freshly baked bread was tasty on its own, although the three bland dipping sauces served with the grilled cheese (pesto, yellow mustard and ketchup) were disappointing. We recommend some new sauces, pronto!

The Bruschetta is a choose-your-own-adventure of Italian specialties. There are 10 different bruschettas on the menu, of which you can choose four. We chose Brie and Apples with Fig Spread, Smoked Salmon, Prosciutto with Figs and Mascarpone, and traditional Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato and Basil.

The proscuitto selection was an odd pairing of salt and sweet, but it worked in the end. The Brie and Apples was our favorite, although none disappointed.

After ordering another round of wine, we were ready for more substantial fare. Vegetarians have several options including four salads and two paninis.

The Mediterranean Salad ($8) served up a hearty portion of fresh feta cheese and tomatoes with a delicious tzatziki dressing, and the Panzanella ($8), a bread salad served with mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette, was delicious! There are seven different panini selections ($9) that are served on your choice of ciabatta or foccacia and served with a side salad or organic chips.

The Carnivore loved the Autostrada. With sopressatta, prociutto, cappicola and two cheeses, it was meat lover’s heaven. The turkey panini was also an excellent choice served with tomatoes, provolone and fresh pesto.

Postino also lets diners “select two” with a half panini, side salad of choice or the “soup of the moment” ($9.50). The soup, potato cheddar, was thick, creamy, and tasty! Although we were stuffed by the end of dinner, it didn’t take much persuasion to pick three of the four desserts on the menu ($7 each). We tried the Warm Chocolate Torte, Traditional Tiramisu, and the Classic Vanilla Crème Brulee.

We loved the tiramisu, soaked in espresso and topped with chocolate crème. The chocolate torte was decadent; served with fresh raspberries and vanilla ice cream, but the Carnivore was sold on the crème brule, stating that it was some of the best he’s ever had.

We wanted some espresso ($2) with our dessert, but, unfortunately, the machine was broken…maybe next time!

Lastly, Postino features weekly events including pizza from LGO Pizzeria and $9 off a bottle of wine on Mondays, and live jazz with DJ Proper Villain, and Marcus Spitz on trumpet (who are excellent together) Tuesdays from 6 to 10 p.m.

We were impressed by the romantic ambiance, delicious wines and food, and yummy desserts that Postino served up, and we’re ready for round two!

Jayant and Lauren Mahajan, also known as The Carnivore and The Vegetarian.