Welcome Postino

Heights wine lovers rejoice: Hot new cafe with lengthy happy hour opens next week

Heights-area wine lovers are about to have a new favorite hangout spot.

Postino Wine Cafe, the all-day wine bar and restaurant from Arizona-based restaurant group Upward Projects, announced April 3 that it will open at the Heights Mercantile mixed-use development on April 11. The company's first Texas location will open only six months after Postino co-founder Lauren Bailey revealed the company's plans to CultureMap.

Unlike a wine bar that's only open at night, Postino is open all day, starting at 11 am during the week and 9 am on weekends. That gives it all-day utility that's more like a coffee shop than a wine bar. The restaurant's fans are as likely to use it as a place to study for law school exams over a glass of wine — just $5 every day from 11 am to 5 pm — as they are to meet there at night for a dinner date.

The wine list, which is curated by Advanced Sommelier Brent Karlicek, features 30 selections by the glass and another 40 or so by the bottle. In addition, 30 beer selections will blend Texas craft selections from breweries like St Arnold, Live Oak, and 8th Wonder with a range of options from California, Colorado, Oregon, and New York. Those beverages are paired with a range of food selections, including cheese and charcuterie boards, 12 different types of bruschetta, salads, and panini.

“We love producers that make wines that are fresh, food-friendly, and not over extracted,” said Karlicek in a statement. “We want our guests to make connections with the sensory enjoyment and intellectual stimulation that food and beverage can provide.”

Part of the concept's success also stems from its creative use of historic buildings. The restaurant's name comes from its first location in an old post office, and the Houston location will be housed in a warehouse that once belonged to Pappas Restaurants. Design elements include vintage light fixtures, Feders pendants from the '50s, a vintage Murano glass chandelier, and an open kitchen.

"There is so much to love about this city — and the Heights in particular — with its eclectic and communal feel," Bailey added. "Every time we step foot in Houston, it grips us more, and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it."

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Postino Wine Cafe; 642 Yale St.; 346-223-1111; Monday through Thursday 11 am to 11 pm, Friday 11 am to 12 am, Saturday 9 am to 12 am, Sunday 9 am to 10 pm.

Postino arrives in the Heights on April 11.

Courtesy photo

Postino arrives in the Heights on April 11.

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an offer he couldn't refuse

Exclusive: Killen's Barbecue will soon shutter in The Woodlands

Killen's barbecue meat platter with sides

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

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Fans of Killen’s Barbecue’s location in The Woodlands have a days to make one last visit. The restaurant will close this Sunday, December 7, chef-owner Ronnie Killen tells CultureMap.

Open since 2021, Killen says that he’s in final negotiations to sell the location at 8800 Six Pines Dr. to Whataburger for a new location of the iconic Texas fast food restaurant. Neither the original location of Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland nor its Cypress location are affected by the closure of The Woodlands and will remain open.

“Whataburger made me a deal I couldn’t pass up. It would take 10 years to do that kind of revenue,” Killen writes in a text, adding that the company recently made a significant payment to keep the deal’s window open through the end of the year.

He added that the costs to operate the restaurant have gone up significantly. As one example, a cord of wood cost $175 when he opened the first Killen’s Barbecue in 2013. It costs $475 now, he writes.

If the deal falls through, Killen states that he could look for a new buyer or convert the restaurant into a second location of Killen’s Burger, the retro-styled burger joint he operates in Pearland.

The restaurant’s closure had been expected since February, when Killen sold The Woodlands’ location of Killen's Steakhouse. At the time, Killen said he also planned to find a buyer for his barbecue joint in the bustling suburb. He cited the driving distance from Pearland to The Woodlands as one reason he chose to divest both locations. He still operates Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland, comfort food restaurant Killen's near the Heights, Killen's Burger, and three other locations of Killen's Barbecue.

As it approaches its 13th anniversary in the spring, Killen’s Barbecue remains a vital part of Houston’s barbecue scene. The restaurant recently earned an honorable mention from Texas Monthly and holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. In July, it opened a new location at Hobby Airport.

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