Postino WineCafé popped open its welcoming patio umbrellas and rolling up its garage-style doors at the Bowl at Ballantyne, on Friday, July 19. Designed for how people dine today, the restaurant will also offer a robust to-go, delivery, and catering experience, regardless of size or venue. The Ballantyne wine cafe will be Postino’s first concept “in flight” in North Carolina.
As part of the grand opening festivities, the first 100 people who dined at Postino on opening day received a complimentary bottle of bubbles and a $50 gift card to be used on a future visit.
“Becoming a part of the Queen City’s vibrant community has always been on our bucket list and we are ecstatic to join the incredible lineup of iconic restaurants and retail at the Bowl. This opening reflects not only Charlotte’s growth but also our own expansion journey,” said Lauren Bailey, Upward Projects’ CEO and co-founder of the restaurant group behind Postino in a statement. “The wine cafe will be the new go-to spot in the suburbs of Uptown for countless special occasions like pre-concert drinks, a romantic date night, after-work cocktails, or just a mid-week snack. We are ready to rock and roll and can’t wait to win over the hearts of Charlotteans – one glass of wine and bruschetta board at a time.”
The menu at the Bowl will change seasonally but will always include a bountiful selection of bruschetta, charcuterie boards, from-scratch soups, fresh salads, and panini sandwiches. Postino’s 12 bruschetta offerings pair with a glass of wine with varieties such as brie & apple with fig spread; smoked salmon with pesto; sweet n’ spicy pepper jam with goat cheese and more. For the taste testers, the menu offers shareable bites, also known as “Snacky Things,” like crispy cauliflower; butter poached shrimp scampi; sweet potato wedges; and more.
Known for its award-winning wine program, Postino serves an ever-changing selection of boutique wines from all over the world handpicked by Vice President of Beverage and advanced sommelier Brent Karlicek – including more than 30 varietals by the glass and exclusive winemaker collabs. Beers on tap, include selections from local breweries such as Resident Culture, Fullsteam, Ponysaurus and Wicked Weed. Plus, Postino will be offering their lineup of classic cocktails, including an Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martini and Prickly Pear Mezcal Margarita, among others.
Postino Ballantyne is designed in line with its funky, sophisticated, and vintage flare, but keeping the Charlotte guest experience top of mind. Each concept’s unique design pays tribute to its local community and the city’s history, with custom art walls serving as a unique focal point. In this case, the wine cafe’s design draws inspiration from the community’s past life as a golf course, featuring an on-par 300-square-foot green-inspired mural. The concept also celebrates its rad musical roots and neighbor, the Amp, with a 600-square-foot art wall clad with over 400 multi-colored retro headphones. Every corner of the indoor-outdoor space has been thoughtfully hand-selected for Ballantyne, with the furniture and decor sourced from local vintage store, Charlotte Vintage.
A cornerstone of the brand is giving back to the communities in which it operates. For this opening, the restaurant and wine bar has partnered with Charlotte Pride Band, whose mission is to create an open, inviting environment for musicians of all ability levels while promoting the value and respect of LGBTQIA+ people through quality musical performances. During the month of August, the Charlotte wine cafe will donate $1 from each bruschetta board purchased to the Charlotte Pride Band. There will also be live performances from Charlotte Pride Band at the restaurant (dates forthcoming).
Postino is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays; 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Every Monday and Tuesday, guests can enjoy the restaurant’s “Board & Bottle,” during which a bottle of wine and bruschetta board can be enjoyed for $25.
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