days of wine and bruschetta

Buzzy wine bar-cafe-happy hour fave tips hat to Houston icon Howard Hughes at newest locale in The Woodlands

Postino WineCafe will not stop until it has brought its affordable happy hour and bruschetta boards to every part of Houston. The Arizona-based wine bar and restaurant will open its sixth Houston-area location on Monday, April 24 in The Woodlands.

Located in the Hughes Landing development near Whole Foods, Postino occupies a 4,000-square-foot space that features a spacious patio. Every Postino location includes an art piece that’s unique to the space. In this case, it’s an installation made of hundreds of fedoras from the ’50s and ’60s that Postino sourced from markets in Round Top. They’re a nod to Howard Hughes, the business magnate for whom the development is named.

Known for its generous happy hour that features $6 wines by-the-glass and $6, 32-ounce pitchers of beer everyday from 11 am-5 pm and lively weekend brunch, Postino has been a hit since its first Houston location opened in 2018 in the Heights. It has expanded to include locations in Montrose, Town & Country, Uptown Park, and Katy. Although a Dallas location closed earlier this year, the restaurant will add San Antonio to its roster in the months to come.

Advanced sommelier Brent Karlicek oversees the wine and beer offerings. They include 30 wines that are available by-the-glass or bottle. Postino will roll out its summer wine menu in May.

Food options include a mix of shareable snacks, cheese and charcuterie boards, and a dozen bruschettas such as Prosciutto di Parma with fig and mascarpone and "Sweet N’ Spicy Pepper Jam & Goat Cheese." It's open daily for lunch and dinner with a lively brunch served on the weekends.

“The Woodlands has been on our radar since we first opened at Heights Mercantile five years ago,” Postino co-founder Lauren Bailey said in a statement. “It’s definitely been worth the wait to find the perfect space to open within the community. The Woodlands embodies everything that excites us — a relaxed vibe connected to the beauty of the outdoors, the familial energy, its burgeoning food scene, and the cultural vibrancy of an international population.”

To celebrate the opening, Postino will donate $1 from every board sold during the first two weeks of May to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital. Customers will also receive a free glass of sparkling wine during that time.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Every Postino offers outdoor seating.

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Growing national pizza chain will bring halal pies and pastas to Katy

Vocelli Pizza/Facebook

Vocelli Pizza will open its first Houston-area location in March.

A Pittsburgh pizzeria has set its sights on Houston. Vocelli Pizza will makes it Bayou City debut next year with a location in Katy.

Scheduled to open in March 2026, the restaurant will be located at 2941 W. Grand Parkway. Although pizza is part of the restaurant’s name, the menu also includes wings, pizza rolls, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more. Specialty items include mac and cheese pizza, spinach mushroom rolls, and a chicken parmesan sub.

"We are thrilled to continue our growth into new communities that share our passion for quality, service, and authentic Italian-inspired food," Vocelli Pizza CEO Toni Bianco said in a statement. "Our expansion into Dalton and Houston reflects the strong demand for our brand, and we look forward to delivering an exceptional experience to guests in both markets."

For its expansion into Houston, Vocelli’s will debut an all-halal menu that’s designed to appeal to Houston’s diverse community.

"The team is excited to introduce Vocelli Pizza to Houston with a full halal menu," Bianco added. "There is a clear demand for high-quality Halal pizza and delivery options, and we are proud to meet that need while bringing our brand to a new and dynamic market."

Founded by Turkish immigrant Varol Ablak in 1988, Vocelli began franchising in 1993. The restaurant currently has more than 80 locations.

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