How to enjoy Postino Wine Café without ordering wine

Last fall, Arizona-based Postino Wine Café opened its first southeastern location right here in Buckhead. Since then, locals have fallen in love with this spot for its relaxed atmosphere, its umbrella-lined patio and of course, its palatable wine list.

However, if you tend to abstain from alcohol, you might be relieved to find out that the name of Postino Wine Café is a little misleading. Although the restaurant prides itself on its carefully curated wine selection, this cute café has a mouthwatering menu that’s perfect for a casual lunch date with friends.

Due to the success of Postino Buckhead, the franchise announced that a second Atlanta location would be opening its doors in early 2023. In January, another umbrella-lined Postino patio was erected right next to the 1050 Brickworks office and retail space in West Midtown.

If you’re looking for a new favorite restaurant in Atlanta while you’re still riding out that Dry January wave, Postino has you covered. Here are some of the best menu items to order at Postino Wine Café, and none of them are wine.

Prickly Pear Lemonade

This lemonade is anything but prickly! This fun beverage was recommended by a waitress at Postino in West Midtown, who claimed that it was her favorite lemonade on the menu. All of Postino’s lemonades are made in-house, but this one is infused with Arizona’s strangest fruit, the prickly pear. The Prickly Pear Lemonade is sweet with just a hint of sour, and it has a picture-perfect pink-to-magenta ombre effect that your Instagram followers are sure to swipe up on.

Blackberry Smash

The Blackberry Smash is another delicious beverage option on the menu at Postino Wine Café. When you take a sip of this house made lemonade, you’ll quickly notice a punch of green tea paired with a succulent blackberry flavor. This drink is essential if you need a little caffeine boost to get you through the rest of your day.

Bruschetta Board

One menu category that Postino prides itself on are their boards. Although the franchise is best known for its charcuterie board options, the bruschetta boards allow for much more variety and customization for you and your guests. There are 12 starkly different yet equally delicious bruschetta options to choose from — but the Brie, Apple, and Fig Spread reigns supreme. The fig flavor is mild, but it blends the strong apple and brie flavors together in an unforgettable way.

Postino’s Warm Artichoke Spread is another must-order bruschetta for your table. This spread has a light artichoke taste with an incredibly fluffy texture that even your pickiest eaters will enjoy. But if you’re craving something a little sweeter with a slight crunch, the Ricotta, Dates and Pistachio bruschetta is a great option as well. The possibilities with Postino’s Bruschetta Boards are endless!

Brussels Sprouts Salad

If you’re someone that doesn’t shy away from bold flavors, this dish was made for you! The Brussels Sprouts Salad at Postino is a hearty blend of kale, brussels sprouts, manchego, bacon, spicy marcona almonds and dried cherries, tossed in a light lemon manchego dressing. The spice from the almonds combined with the richness of the dried cherries really elevates this salad into something unique.

But if the Brussels Sprouts Salad is a little too intense for your table, opt for the Raspberry Chicken Salad instead. It uses similar ingredients but focuses more on that light sweetness from the raspberry vinaigrette rather than bold spice. Either way, Postino Wine Café has plenty of salad options on the menu to suit your tastebuds. 

Having a tough time deciding which delicious dish to order for lunch? The “Select Two” menu option at Postino provides the best of both worlds. Ordering half a panini with a Brussels Sprouts or Rasberry Chicken Salad is a great way to maximize your Postino experience!

Chicken and Mozzarella Panini (on gluten-free bread)

Let’s be real: some gluten-free menu options out there taste more like sandpaper than they do bread. However, at Postino, the gluten-free bread is equally as impressive as the ciabatta and the focaccia! If you need to order a gluten-free substitute for your table, your friends will hardly be able to tell a difference. 

Regardless of your bread preferences, the Chicken and Mozzarella Panini is a versatile favorite that tastes amazing on all three. This panini is made with roasted chicken, fresh mozzarella, arugula and red onion, with a kick of Postino’s spicy sun-dried tomato aioli to tie everything together.

Whether you’re consuming alcohol or not, Postino Wine Café is one of the best spots to spend your happy hour. Postino West Midtown is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit Postino’s website or give them a follow at @postinowinecafe on Instagram.