Overview
Even if you're not escaping Melbourne's chill with a Euro-summer holiday this year, a new opening is set to bring all the Italian vibes to St Kilda, slinging pizza, pasta and Eurocentric cocktails out of one of the area's iconic venues.
The white brick facade of the Post Office Hotel, or the 'Posty', is now home to The Postina, a new eatery from the hospitality group behind House of Lulu White and The Hamptons Bakery.
With executive chef James Turno (Grossi Florentino, The European) at the kitchen's helm, The Postina's family-style menu is a celebration of all things Italian. For those who live by the crust, there's a mammoth lineup of traditional pizza toppings, as well as the less-than-traditional 'McDowells big Mick sauce' for pizza dipping.
Handmade pasta options include a pappardelle with slow-braised confit duck and porcini ragu, and a pumpkin Cappelletti with sage brown butter, toasted hazelnut and gorgonzola. For those of a veggie persuasion, there are enough fresh bites to keep everyone happy, including vegan pizza options and sides like shaved cabbage with preserved lemon, and heirloom tomatoes with burrata and black olive crumb.
Eurocentric spritzes and cocktails will have aperitivo hour transporting you in holiday mode in no time, along with a wine list of imported Italian wines from regions like Chianti, Puglia and Campania and "Italian-inspired" drops from the Margaret River, Yarra Valley and Riverland. Also Italian-inspired is the hotel's refurbishment, which includes a new light-filled (and plant-filled) al fresco dining area and an intimate, wooden interior decor.
A range of daily food and be specials will get you through to the weekend in good spirits, including a Tuesday 'Marg Duo' — $12 margarita pizzas and $12 margarita cocktails. For needing to escape a mid-week hump, Wednesday's 'Pasta Vino' special gets you a plate of handmade pasta and a glass of house wine for only $22, while $7 Malfy gin and tonics and $11 negronis, pornstar martinis and margaritas on Sundays will ease those Sunday scaries in style.
The Postina can be found at 304-306 St Kilda Road, St Kilda, and is open Tuesday - Thursday, 2pm until late and Friday - Sunday, 12pm until late.