Parry Tong

3565 Mt. Diablo Boulevard ~ (925) 299-8700

Downtown Lafayette’s premier architectural icon is the old post office built in 1936 by the famous “Storybook” architect, Carr Jones. The dramatic brick exterior, a soaring glass atrium and a cozy grand fireplace welcome you as you pass through the now wine-lined tunnel to the center of the building. The site has been many things in its long history, but most importantly it became Lafayette’s first fine dining establishment, Tourelle.

A young bartender, Parry Tong, landed one of his first jobs at Tourelle and stayed on as the restaurant changed hands and was renamed Postino (Italian for “Post Office”) in 1998. In 2003, Parry became the owner with a long history in the kinds of food and drink that Lafayette residents enjoy.

Postino has hosted a bevy of celebrity chefs over the years, including Iron Chef Cat Cora and TV personality Michael Chiarello. In 2007, however, Parry found an executive chef, Stewart Beatty, whose celebrity is more local as he has innovated menu favorites and given some new twists to beloved meals that appeal to guests of all ages. “My staff is my family,” says Parry and that rings true as some bartenders and wait staff have tenures of over 15 years.