Uncorking Good Times
Postino WineCafe welcomes all to The Bowl at Ballantyne™
By Michelle Boudin | Photos by Shrimp & Grisettes
This is not your grandmother’s wine bar. Even calling it a wine bar doesn’t really do Postino WineCafe justice. Co-founder and CEO Lauren Bailey prefers to say the latest addition to The Bowl at Ballantyne™ is a hybrid — an eclectic mix of a restaurant and wine bar where anything goes and everyone is welcome.
“It’s in some ways whatever you want it to be. For some people, we’re a happy hour spot. For other people, we’re a first date place. And for other people, we’re lunch, dinner, celebrate your special moment or host a baby shower,” Bailey says of the chain that started in Phoenix back in 2001. The Ballantyne location is No. 26 and the first in the Carolinas.
Jeremiah Gregory, the senior general manager of The Bowl, is thrilled to have Postino planting roots here.
“Having Postino select The Bowl at Ballantyne for its first North Carolina location is a testament to our strong community. It showcases the growing appeal and vibrancy of the Ballantyne area, highlighting The Bowl as a prime destination for unique and high-quality dining experiences.”
Bailey says bringing her baby to Ballantyne was an easy choice. “We toured that market, and we just loved the community. When we went out there, and we met the developer of The Bowl and walked outside, I remember thinking, this is going to be really cool. I’m a huge fan of live music, so the amphitheater sold me big time.”
Postino is all about comfort with a cool factor. The 5,213-square-foot space has room for 198 seats, including a spacious 56-seat outdoor patio.
“We don’t have a lot of rules; if you want to come in and have a drink and not order food, great. If you want to get food and no drink (that’s fine too). We’re not a typical restaurant in that way.”
The one rule they do live by is ensuring the wine list is original, approachable and affordable. Wines by the glass are just $6 during the day, seven days a week, and the selection constantly changes. And there’s a reason.
“We really wanted to instill that European lifestyle of having a glass of wine with lunch, and we try to make that easy for people.” That European lifestyle also extends to the food menu, where everything is meant to be shared.
Bailey says Postino is best known for its bruschetta — so much so that the chefs at Postinos across the country compete annually in the “Battle of the Bruschetta” with each chef submitting topping ideas. The regular menu offers 12 different toppings.