Il Postino, downtown Colorado Springs

by adrienne
We are getting a hip new hotel downtown in a few months at The Mining Exchange Building, which when it was built by Winfield Stratton was the busiest exchange in the whole country. It’s going to be really awesome. I just love that someone is restoring this beautiful old building. That doesn’t happen enough here in Colorado Springs.

But meanwhile, they’ve opened a new restaurant in the hotel, Il Postino. It’s billed as having healthy “Springs Cuisine”.   The restaurant is partly owned by Raphael Sassower who started the Warehouse Restaurant so you know it’s yummy.

Pretty interior of Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Pretty interior of Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

 They spared no expense to be able to keep and restore the original ornate tin ceilings.

Original Victorian tin ceiling, Il Postino restaurant, Colorado Springs, CO

Original Victorian tin ceiling, Il Postino restaurant, Colorado Springs, CO

Since it was the exchange building, there are many neat old safes. This one is being uses as a wine cellar now.

Old safe, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Old safe, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

 Janel and I recently went down there and had a couple of glasses of wine off their really good wine list and some appetizers.

Wine at the bar, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Wine at the bar, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

The crab cakes were really good and unlike regular crab cakes- most times they have a lot of mayo or something creamy. These were very fresh tasting and no mayo- and also no breading.

Crab cakes from Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Crab cakes from Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

In keeping with the healthy theme, these bruschetta were very light. 

Bruschetta Caprese, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Bruschetta Caprese, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Very small plate of hummus, cannellini dip, and olive tapenade with veggies, bread and crackers.

Three Dip Vegetarian Apero
Three Dip Vegetarian Apero
These were your basic shrimp, but the dipping sauce made them delish.

Rosemary Citrus Shrimp Skewers
Rosemary Citrus Shrimp Skewers

The mushroom soup was also very light and tasty.

Five Way Roasted Mushroom Soup

Five Way Roasted Mushroom Soup

Now apparently I like taking pictures of food so much that I take pictures of other people’s food.

I’m not sure what this was since it wasn’t my order!

Salad ready to go from the kitchen, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Salad ready to go from the kitchen, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Yummy looking cheeseburger from the guy next to me at the bar, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

Yummy looking cheeseburger from the guy next to me at the bar, Il Postino, Colorado Springs, CO

They have two happy hours (my fave) each day.

Daily Happy Hours: 4-6pm and 9- Midnight 
$1 off any drink, 10% off any menu item, and 50% off any bottle of wine with some exceptions. 

Plus they’re open till midnight which is really great since Mike doesn’t get off work till 11:00 and sometimes he’s hungry.

I can’t wait for the hotel to open. I think they’re going to have a couple other restaurants and bars in it, so that will be fun!