Postino Central — Restaurant in Phoenix

So I'm Torn ? We got to the Restaurant and their was a small line, but they where super busy ! We get to the host stand and the gentleman tells us it's about a 25 wait ? But I can get you in probably in 15. We sign up for txt alert and say we will wait in the car. No big deal ! Well.... We started to push the 45 min mark ! Then the 55 min mark ! We go to speak with the host and he gets with a manager and they put us on the edge of a 6 top outside of a Technically closed table due to Covid. Which is totally fine ! Server approaches and unfortunately it's another Scan Code Menu Restaurant ? So he has no tools available to him to do his job ? And is dependent upon us to know how to do it ! We order drinks and a Pub Board. A few minutes later a what I can only imagine is a Food Runner comes up to us and says, "Hey you guys gonna get some food beer and get this going or what?" A bit off putting ? But I tell him we have already ordered and been waiting awhile and kinda want to take it slow ? He says, "Hey whatever" and walks away ? Why did he approach the table ? Got our food and drinks enjoying the moment, 10 mins go by and he approaches again ! This is in-between our servers visits which by the way he was amazing ! This food runner says, "So you guys gonna order entree's?" I told him we haven't looked yet? Just enjoying our drinks ? He says, " Ya it's a rush around here so?" .... Later our server comes and we order Food ! Let me be the first to say this Food is Amazing ! Totally worth the wait ! So we get our check.... $70 no big deal.... Give the cash get our change and it seems off ? We get a copy of the receipt and it's for another table ? A 4 top with a $142 bill ? So I get up and go to where I assume servers and management our ? We figure it all out ! No big deal.... But I'm akwardly in the door frame ? And this same food runner says,"I can't be here I have to wear a mask and I need to move or sit down".... So I get firm with the young gent.... Tell him I'm with his Management and he should not interrupt.... In this moment of new receipts fixed change and tips ? He some how comes back again and says, "Hey ! Why don't you have your Mask on like I asked you to do!" 😡😡 I tell him I'm having a discussion about a $142 Bill Error and he needs to Step Off ! Let's Pause.... Why didn't his Management Team Coach him then and their ? Why did my Mask matter 7 feet away from my Table ? Why was this KiD so Aggressive ! Finally another employee walks behind me and says, "Hey Move!" Last Straw ! I turn and give the Death Glare ! He says, "Oh Sry ! I thought you worked here!" On my way back to the table ? I thought this Servers tip should not be affected by others Behavior ! It wasn't fair to Him.... So the Food Is Amazing ! But the Employees Need To Chill ! I get it it's Busy ! Ya ? We all know it ! But keep your Composure ! Stay Professional ! At All Times ! I'll give you guys another Go ! Fingers...

Hubs and I hit up Postino recently and it was a bit of a mixed bag, TBH.

First off, the drinks! I'm not usually an Old Fashioned person, but their Smoked Old Fashioned was surprisingly good – super smooth and kinda sweet (they use Buffalo Trace, Johnnie Walker Black, honey, and citrus). My hubs got the Tre Cucumber (vodka, limoncello, cucumber, honey) and loved it, but it was a little too cucumber-y for me. BUT the Prickly Pear Margarita? OMG. Loved it. Had this cool smoky thing going on and wasn't overly sweet. Definitely get that!

We shared the Bruschetta Board. Some hits, some misses. The brie, apple, and fig was kinda meh – mostly just tasted apple, and the pieces were huge. The sweet 'n spicy pepper jam with goat cheese? Now THAT was tasty! Sweet with a little kick and a nice burn at the end, plus the goat cheese was a good counterpoint. The French onion? Not my jam at all. The burrata, bacon, and arugula (no tomato on ours) was okay, smoky flavor was there, bread was crunchy, but overall kinda "eh." Maybe the tomato would've helped.

For the main event, we split the West Coaster Panini (got it on focaccia with a side salad). The salad was your basic romaine, tomato, feta, oil and vinegar. The sandwich? Just alright. The ham tasted like regular lunch meat and that's all I could really taste on my half. The garlic aioli was nice, the arugula gave it a good bitter bite, and the avocado was super ripe. But the Calabria chili and pickled onion? Didn't really notice 'em. It was basically a ham sandwich. Also, they called it a panini, but it looked like they just grilled the bread and then slapped everything in – no real panini press action.

Now, the service? Freakin' awesome. Our server Morgan was a rockstar – answered all our questions and even brought me a sample of the orange wine when I asked about it. Another person, Katelyn, who helped us was also super friendly.

Bottom line: Cool cocktails (especially that prickly pear marg!), some tasty apps, some not-so-much, and a pretty average sandwich. BUT the service was top-notch. Might go back for drinks and apps, but maybe skip the...

Tré Cucumber Helix vodka, Caravella Limoncello, cucumber, honey Very light, refreshing, very cucumber forward, I wasn't sure about the Limoncello/cucumber combo but it works

Prickly pear Margarita 400 Conejos Mezcal, triple sec, prickly pear, lime, orange peel slice I've always had a tense relationship with prickly pear; sometimes it's appealing and tastes good, other times, not so much This is one of those times The drink itself is salty, the other flavors are present but not pronounced

Bruschetta Board Brie, Apple, fig spread The apple slices are in my opinion too large and talk over the rest of the ingredients

Sweet n spicy pepper jam, goat cheese The jam is a perfect mix of sweet and heat

French onion Tastes good, like a good soup, but it's kinda messy

Burrata, bacon, arugula The bacon is so flavorful but it doesn't overpower the burrata, the arugula adds a nice subtle bite of spice

West Coaster Panini Smoked ham, smashed avocado, arugula, roasted garlic aioli, pickled red onion, Calabrian chili, feta cheese Given how many delicious things I've eaten at Postino, this was fairly underwhelming, the ham was plentiful but not flavorful, the chilies and onion were essentially non existent, the avocado was both the most pronounced and most delicious components The sandwich came with a simple salad with feta which a nice palette cleanser

We sat on the patio, which was lovely, if a bit chilly, but our server, Morgan, was very attentive, and there were other staff, including Katelyn, who helped my wife with wine choices

I haven't been here for 15 years, and while the sandwich wasn't great, the bruschetta didn't disappoint, and I would return...