houston | going poscol.

they say the third time's a charm, but in golden boy marco wiles' case so were his first (da marco) and second (dolce vita). now, claiming even more bustling westheimer real estate, is vinoteca poscol, a wine bar with equally grand cru noshes from the same winning blood line.

spend your moonlighting hours in the former café montrose spot and this time do it italian style, which means wine-in-hand. poscol is the main street (westheimer road, if you will) of udine in the fruili region of italy where wiles grew up. and he has def fashioned this spot with an authentic italian neighborhood wine bar feel, the space is a sea of dark woods from the floors to the sturdy tables and chairs. behind the cool white marble bar is a fancy cuvinet dispensing twelve italian wines by the glass and four beer taps including moretti and peroni. the marble stops at a drool-inducing display of cheeses ready for your plate including four imported pecorinos and the creamy, mushroomy robiola bosina. the wine list is all italian to complement the northern italy inspired menu. if you can pry your hands off the stemware for a second, you'll love the salumi, paper-thin veal lengua and porchetta small plates to share. or get your carb on with fried house made spaghetti or valpolicella and reggiano risotto. still not sated? nine different types of panini are also sure to please, especially the duck confit with radicchio and citrus mostarda.

it's totally worth the wiles. vinoteca poscol. 1609 westheimer road. near mandell. 713.529.2797. now open.