The Battle of the Bruschetta (pronounced broo-SKEH-tah) takes place at all sixteen Postino locations, including three in Denver as well as Boulder and Highlands Ranch (another will soon open in Westminster). The bracket-style competition unfolds over six weeks and three rounds, with two bruschetta options going head-to-head in each “series.”
Guests can taste both, then vote for their favorite via QR code or on the Postino website. The winning bruschetta of each round will be served at all Postino locations from August 1 through August 15, with the final winner revealed on the restaurant’s Instagram page. More than 32,000 votes have been cast since the promotion began in 2023.
With round 1 now underway, we’ve put together this handy voter’s guide to help navigate your own taste-and-tally options.
Round 1 (June 15–30)
This is an “Anchovy vs Anchovy” battle, featuring a twist on a Caesar salad against a Spanish-inspired Boquerones.
Chicken Caesar Chop
- What they say: Baby gem lettuce, grilled chicken, parmigiano-reggiano, garlic dressing on toast.
- What we say: Lettuce on toast — period. No anchovy punch, no garlicky aioli zing, no salty parm bite. Feels more like a green salad delivery system than a true Caesar.
- What they say: Mascarpone, crushed tomato mix, fried capers, diced anchovy, lemon zest, cracked black pepper.
- What we say: Mostly tomato, with only a whisper of caper brine or anchovy salinity at the very end. The bread soaks up the mix, but never lets the briny hero shine.
Round 2 (July 1–14)
Think of this round as “remix vs remix” with classic standards like bagel and lox going up against the supreme pizza, each getting a slight twist into the bruschetta format.
Supreme
- What they say: Stracciatella, Italian sausage, Ezzo pepperoni cups, red & yellow bell peppers, Castelvetrano olives, roasted onions, parmigiano-reggiano, parsley.
- What we say: All the joy of a Supreme pizza — minus the slick grease. Red peppers over green (always the right call), balanced sausage and pepperoni, melty cheese, just enough onion sweetness. But calling that cheese stracciatella is a bit of a stretch.
- What they say: Whipped cream cheese, smoked salmon, everything bagel seasoning, fried capers, pickled onions, dill.
- What we say: A swaggering salmon showcase. The smoky fish leads, while the cream cheese, seasoning, briny capers, tangy pickled onion, and feathery dill all fall in line. A textbook home run.
Round 3 (July 15–31)
The final round channels dessert in this “sweet vs sweet” faceoff, with the sweet potato keeping one foot in the savory camp and a cannoli twist going full decadent.
Hot Honey Sweet Potato
- What they say: Ricotta, caramelized sweet potatoes, thyme, parmigiano-reggiano, hot honey.
- What we say: Hot honey hits a sweet-heat sweet spot, and the exterior of the yam is nicely caramelized. But the potato layer is paper-thin and the honey overwhelms before you taste enough sweet potato flesh.
- What they say: Cherry cannoli filling, dried cherries, waffle cone crumbles, powdered sugar, chocolate chip shavings.
- What we say: Tastes like a classic cannoli filling—almond/anise notes front and center, chocolate chips in tow—but little cherry character. Still, it edged out the Sweet Potato in our head-to-head.
Our Overall Pick: Everything Lox
From its smoky salmon flourish to those perfectly picked-onion pops, Everything Lox is our clear champion.
But of course, the final call is yours.
Postino Wine Cafe has three locations in metro Denver — in Baker, LoHi and on on Colorado Boulevard — as well as Boulder and Highlands Ranch. Learn more at postinowinecafe.com.
