Very neat spot. Light and airy; small and quiet. Nice music. Good vegan food and unique cocktails. The staff is nice and friendly. Very relaxing read more

Apteka - Vegan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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If you've never eaten at a vegan cafe, look it up so you know what you're walking into. That being said, this place is phenomenal. Very earthy tastes and vibes emanating through your senses on every mouthwatering bite. And the best part is... that "burger" you just ate, was made from gods green earth. Meat eater or not, find me a better tasting burger and sunflower oil fries than Apteka. Little high priced but clean food. Drinks, not great. Overall excellent evening of vegan delicacies. read more

Best vegan food in this area! A relaxing casual atmosphere, with friendly, prompt servers and interesting, tasty options. We had the perogis, which came with both potato and radish filling, and a luke warm vegetable soup with potato dumplings. Both were fantastic! Good texture and unique flavor. We ordered dessert as well before finding out about a vegan bakery only a few blocks away, and the staff happily cancelled our order with no friction whatsoever. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh I'll definitely come again. read more

This place is really unique and delicious. I am a meat eater, but I like to eat as little as I can to help the environment more. This is one of the places that could convince me that I don't need to eat it at all. They have super creative dishes that are homemade and tasty. I've been here twice now and only got one thing that a small disappointment (stuffed cabbage with bulgar wheat). It's currently not on the menu, so I think they got enough feedback that it was just "meh." On the latest visit we got the pierogis, tartines, both kinds of sandwiches (Baba Jaga and Special) and the kluski slaskie. All were either very good or excellent. Pierogis were definitely the favorite of the table. The only quibble with the sandwiches were that they were messy to eat with hands (but so tasty!). So I tried to cut and eat them and it was hard to cut the bread with a knife for some reason. Our neighbors got the soup and they said it was delicious. At the end, we had the Piernik dessert which was gingerbread with prune puree in the middle. One of my friends thought it was too much prune (I think a personal preference). I did not feel the same. I that it worked well together and was a great ending to a very different eating experience. Logistics of the restaurant are a little different than normal sit down places. You have to know what you want when you walk in and go to the counter to order. Then they give you a number, you have to find a place to sit and your food is brought to you. You still have a server who refills water, clears plates and brings you a box. I'm not sure what would happen if you forgot to order something and wanted to add it. Would you have to wait in line again or could your server add something on and charge you for it? Probably because they also serve cocktails and beer so you might want to order more of those, but not sure. My recommendation is go online and look at the menu, confirm that it's still on the board when you get there and order everything at beginning. They won't bring your dessert until you ask for it which was nice. read more

Apteka - Pierogies and Baba Jaga sandwich at bottom. Tartines and Special Sandwich in the middle. Kluski slaskie at the very top. - Vegan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This place is...very interesting to say the least. The windows are covered with curtains and it was almost like walking into an underground speakeasy. It definitely has a certain vibe...from the menu, the decor, and the people dining there. I mean its a vegan place! haha but I am not a vegan nor do I really go to vegan places, but this place is an exception. It's very dimly lit, with the only light source being a candle at your table and limited seating because it does get PACKED. A lot of the times I almost forget i'm at a vegan place when eating here. The menu serves up a great number of options and it's also a good place to also get drinks. This place truly surprised me and now I find myself coming here pretty often. read more

We ended up going back here a few times while visiting Pittsburgh. My partner is vegan and loved it. It was pretty packed every time we went, which I think is a good sign. I thought the pierogi options were great and both times got an order to go to take back to the place we were staying. I thought the Cykoria I Sliwki had way too much pickled prune on the plate. The endive and beech & oyster mushrooms were good but I would have rather gotten a lot less pickled prune, a little more thyme oil and a piece of bread. Speaking of bread, the slice that came with the Golabki was great and actually would have liked a little more to dip into the roast tomato sauce. I enjoyed the cabbage and buckwheat roll and everything tasted like it went together very well. read more

This is the type of place where you want to eat slowly and savor every bite - everything is fresh, delicious and prepared with care. Attractive setting, great service. Not just for vegans! read more

All the food has a very "interesting" flavor profile. We couldn't finish our pierogies or the Special Sandwich, because everything tasted sort of funky. Alcohol is steeply overpriced as well. As someone who usually enjoys something different (vegan cuisine being no exception), I definitely will not be visiting Apteka again! read more

Amazing food but I don't even know how they stay in business bc they only serve food 2-3 nights a week. I have a gift certificate but I never get to use it bc they're always closed. read more

Verdict: Neat vegan establishment with a solid menu and refreshing drinks. +/-: + Casual, simple, hip atmosphere + Delicious food at more than reasonable prices - The service was horribly slow, table service was non-existent; our food was brought out as it was ready which ended up in us receiving one dish at a time with anywhere from ten to forty five minutes between courses. I'm down with order-at-the-counter, but then the table service should be clean and deliberate. - The staff weren't very welcoming or helpful; I wasn't sure how much or what to order and was met with some sarcasm and felt shamed after asking for some advice on our decision; after sitting down, we were told that a DJ would be coming soon and he would set up where we were sitting...we weren't asked to relocate, just asked to not be sitting there when he showed up? With such a small place and in such high demand, it didn't really make sense to me why they had a DJ taking up table space to play some low-key weirdo music. The music was cool, though. I'll definitely be back to try again and see what kinds of tastes the rest of the menu works out. read more

I had pretty much given up on ever getting to eat Eastern European food when I went vegan. If I hadn't had authentic fare in my pregan days, there was slim chance I'd get it as a vegan. Leave it to Apteka to change that. The food was amazing. Simply delicious. I made the mistake of closing out my tab just after ordering so I had to open it back up to order more! If you're visiting Pitt like I am, do yourself a favor and visit Apteka. read more

it is always such a relief to find a totally vegan menu where i can order anything at all and not have to worry! i've never had anything less than a stellar experience at this place--the service is quick and friendly and I've never waited longer than 5 minutes for my food even on a friday or saturday evening. I find myself coming back here over and over and over!! read more

I was there last week, food was great, very genuine menu, a bit pricey but worth it. will visit again

The hype is real people. Went here for dinner last night with my husband and 9 month old. The vibe is casual and cool. The decor is simple and I appreciated the selection of tunes. The staff was friendly and helpful. They have a full bar and a selection of local beers (shout out to roundabout brewery). The menu is small, which I like. We had the tartines, the salad, and the large order of pierogis. The salad and pierogis were delicious! The pierogis were simultaneously doughy and crispy and the filling was a yum twist on the traditional potato and cheese. The tartines were good but I will probably try something else next time and there will be definitely be a next time. Just a side note- my husband and I cAme here early .. Like 5pm. Not sure how kid friendly it would be much later. They didn't have high chairs. read more

The concept at Apteka is modern, fun, and sleek - vegan food at its best. Location is easy with lots of street parking on the stretch of Penn Ave across from the Allegheny Cemetary. The atmosphere was nice, welcoming, and not too crowded on a tuesday evening. A lovely patio out back and good amount of seating in a simple but stylish air. The food was fantastic. The Pierogis were excellent, all parts of them. Excellent dough, prefectly made; the mushroom variety was my favorite. Also very thoughtful and superb black bean and arugula salad, and a potato starter that was very nice. Starters are between $5-8, and salads around $10. An order of 7 Peirogis was $11. All in all, though I am not a vegan, I will come back. read more

Tried this place last night and it BLEW MY MIND. Every single thing I tried was delightful and innovative and just straight up delicious -- though it was visions of pierogi that danced in my head last night. They are amazing!! The dough is so perfect and the filling so scrumptious. The space is inviting and pleasant and the staff are all so friendly and enthusiastic. You can feel how invested everyone is in this awesome venture. Run don't walk! I live in Brooklyn or I would be here every damn day. read more

The food and drinks at Apteka was phenomenal. The menu is small but that's what makes this place special. The pierogis were flavorful and dense. The potato dumplings were surprising light yet filing. Their gin cocktail was divine. read more

Apteka - Pierogi - Vegan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This is the best meal that I've had in recent memory. I came here with two friends, and everything on the menu looked so good that we were compelled to order one of everything. And we didn't regret it. Every dish was brilliant. I especially enjoyed a cold potato, yoghurt, and lingonberry bowl and the fennel terrine. These were utterly exceptional. That said, all of the other dishes were phenomenal as well.. The food is surprisingly cheap given the quality of ingredients and preparation. I'd be pleased to get these dishes as part of a fancy schmancy tasting menu, yet I was able to get them instead in the comfortable, inviting environs of Apteka at a fraction of the price. This place is truly remarkable. I'm hope to come back soon. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh! The pierogies are the only item on the menu that I get all the time. I have tried a few other things but I'm not that adventurous when I'm hungry. Really nice staff, great drinks (a little pricey), clean, and parking is good but it's also easy to access by cycling or walking. read more

Probably the tastiest vegan food in Pittsburgh. Pierogi were the obvious highlight, the smoked potato and parsnip being especially noteworthy. We also got a giant salad full of herbs and baby kale with tasty homemade bread on the side. The food is seasoned so well you do not miss the butter! Only drawback was the difficulty in reading the menu, which is posted pretty close to the door. A few paper copies to pick and read while you wait in line to order would be helpful. read more

I visited Apetka last Wednesday with a vegetarian friend- we decided to each order a couple dishes and share everything. I ordered the 3 tartines (which were celeriac, carrot, and beet) and the pierogis. She ordered the Salatka and the Kluskie Slaskie. It was a good mix of dishes, she had raved about the burnt sunflower seed in the salad which was a really unique flavor. The tartines were simple but tasty, I really enjoyed the beet variation. While pierogies aren't my favorite food I enjoy the mushroom option topped with the creamy sauce- the side of cucumbers and beets really made the dish refreshing and lighter. The Kluskie was unlike anything I've ever had before and the toasted grains really added a nice flavor and crunch. I would highly recommend this interesting dining sensation in Bloomfield, especially to my vegan and vegetarian friends. read more

One of my favorite places in Pittsburgh! I love the perogies here! And it centers around beets which I love! There are so many fun choices, and really appreciate that I can eat everything here as a vegetarian person! read more

I went here recently with friends at prime time dinner time on the weekend. We waited maybe 30 minutes or more for seats but we are happy with the delicious cocktail and mocktails they had to offer while we waited. I would def recommend preparing for a wait if you want to eat at standard dinner time on the weekend. The wait for our food once we were seated wasn't too bad maybe around an additional 10 minutes. We ordered varied dishes, peirogies, dill soup, salad, the bread and spreads dish, and a couple other items. To me the winner was the dill soup! It was so good I would go back just for that. I wasn't a fan of the vegan bread - the other food didn't taste vegan but that heavy dirt like bread definitely did. I love having another vegan restaurant in the burgh and hope it only continues to thrive! read more

My favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh and I'm not a vegan. I have had Pierogi, Kluski Slaskie, and the Baba Jaga and I would recommend all. Definitely get an order of Piergois. You won't be disappointed. Cocktails are also good. Prices are more than reasonable. Good service. read more

Yes!!! I love this place! Reasonable prices, unique and flavorful food, tasty cocktails, and modern design. I hope they get an outdoor patio in time for summer! Don't let the fact that it's vegan scare you away--it's really worth trying for meat-eaters and veggie folks alike, assuming you're not too afraid of spice. The kanapi of 3 different toasts were all tasty, but the one with the pickles was stellar. Kind of wish I could order it a la carte. The pierogies are amazing (so glad they serve them in two different size portions), and the cabbage rolls were great with a killer, memorable tomato sauce. The entree salad (can't remember the name) was unique because of the bitter, spicy greens. I'm really looking forward to trying the sandwiches soon. A wine option or two wouldn't go amiss. Such a wonderful addition to this end of town, and like no other restaurant in Pittsburgh. read more

Very diffrent from other restaurants..i was the first one there...what is that smell i thought they were smoking cannabis they burnt sage could've fooled me. The music put you in zone too.food was very good i had pierogies and a sandwich woulda had more but i had children with me i had it to go thats not there food of choice.. ill be back with my other half.... read more

So happy that Apteka finally opened their doors. They definitely did not disappoint. Nice relaxed and minimalistic atmosphere. Pierogis were definitely the highlight. Was told that they will be rotating types of pierogis in the future. The borscht was very good, a seemingly simple broth with a nice complex flavor. They make an awesome hot pepper oil/sauce too. Everything I've tried so far has been great. Hope that they will expand their menu in the future. Make sure to try a cocktail too! read more

Apteka - Borscht and pierogis! - Vegan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been here twice now and it's been absolutely amazing each time. The quality and flavors of the food and drinks here are outstanding. I would go as far to say that it's the best food I've had in Pittsburgh in the last couple of years. I could eat here everyday, seriously. The kanapki's are perfect little bites of vegan heaven. The carrot pate is out of this world and the homemade bread is killer! The pierogi are perfection. I've also sampled the potatoes and the salatka. The salad has a ton of fresh sorrel and dill with a nice sweet vinaigrette which I liked immensely with the addition of a little sea salt. The drinks are yummy and reasonably priced. Birch water is the best non-alcoholic beverage ever! The cherry kihafa and lime is a good cocktail, not super strong but sweet and sour goodness. I had another vodka drink with burnt lemon sometimes else the first time I visited and it's lovely as well. Sitting at the bar is really nice but the tables are fine and staff comes around and checks in even though you don't really have an actually server, it's more of a fast-casual set up but you can keep a tab open for drinks and extras. The place is modern yet a little homey, very comfortable and not overly done. The only thing I don't care for is the heavy use of mass incense but it came and went. This place is must-try. I look forward to going here as often as possible. read more

Not a vegan but appreciate being vegan lite from time to time. In any event, my friends wife really wanted to try this and he asked if I wanted to meet up here. We had a table of 4 and noticed that upon arriving you order right away. We each ordered an item and a beverage and sat down towards to the back where they are building some outdoor seating! My drink was the (Vodka, black currant, vermouth, burnt lemon) which turned out to be very good. I had some food before I met up so I decided to try their Salatka z koperkiem which is a salad in case you were wondering (salad with sorrel, red mustard greens, shallot, apple, radish escabeche, and lots of dill). My friend got the Pierogi and he said it was amazing! Other drinks of the night included trying a glass of their Birch water which none of us had ever tried. It had a sweet taste but different than coconut water. Almost nutty flavored. It was also semi sweet. We all agreed that it was strangely good. My friend and I at that point decided to infuse it with vodka and other flavors at some point down the road. All in all, we had a good first experience and will be back again at some point. Tl;Dr: Vegan cafe that boasts good, creative food with inspiring cocktails. They should have the runners pick up orders from existing customers so you don't have to go back and wait in line if you want another plate or cocktail. read more

Terrific food and service. Vegan! But carnivores will also probably like it!

The food is amazing, the staff is incredible, the aesthetic is wonderful, and they make great use of the space they have. HOWEVER once it gets dark they set these small skinny candles on the tables in enormous mason jars that take up their already small tables. Love your restaurant, please reconsider your candles. read more

Apteka is stupidly good. All vegan, and really *interesting* food (+ cocktails!). The pierogis are a classic and a must-get, at least on your first time. Trust me, you will come back again. I've also tried the Kotlet Selerowy and would highly recommend. Over the summer they had grilled sunflower, which I'd never seen before but am so grateful to have been introduced to. Hopefully they'll bring it back this year! You order at the counter when you walk in and then they bring your food to your table, but it's much nicer than your standard cafe. Great spot for a date! read more

Spectacular. I'll eat anything. My kids are vegan. None of us could believe how great the food was. We ordered all four small plates and all four large plates and every single thing was terrific. read more

My sister always talks about how great this place is, so when I came home for the weekend I had to try it. And wow, it didn't disappoint. The food was delicious, presented beautifully and was a cool spin on Polish cuisine/famous Pittsburgh pierogi. We didn't have to wait, but my sister said there is usually a line so definitely try to arrive early. :) That evening the weather was nice, so we sat outside which was one of my favorite parts. I found it very decently priced for the quality of food and atmosphere. I loved the energy there and I hope to be back again! read more

Very surprised by how much I enjoyed my meal there. Not that I heard poor things about Apteka-- in fact, the opposite as my son has been saying great things about the food-- but, rather, I've never eaten at a vegan restaurant before. A couple of us had the kluski, my wife had the pierogies, someone had a sandwich. The menu is pretty limited but changes all the time-- yet we all left there very pleased with what we ate! Plus I had an interesting tequila-based cocktail that was great. Very surprised how tasty and satisfying vegan food could be (no offense meant to any vegans or vegetarians reading this). The restaurant is Eastern European, so it was nice to hear the gentleman behind the bar pronounce my Polish last name correctly-- then let me know that they do serve stinging nettle (what my name means) tea! We sat in the rear half of the restaurant which had a patio feel. A nice space to eat and talk. Had a lovely meal and look forward to my next visit there. read more

What a remarkable experience! Every dish from wine to dessert was delicious! And such friendly polite and attentive customer service.

I really like this place's gimmick if you call it that. The menu is heavily Eastern European themed. I am not vegan or vegetarian, and was fully satisfied by the menu. The plates are small and good to sample/share with friends. It's pretty easy to get a good nonalcoholic drink as well. I came on a busy night and it was slightly confusing to figure out the food ordering situation with a crowd to the door. read more

I don't get who thought reinventing the wheel on how food is ordered and received was needed. We came on a Saturday night past 8pm with a group of 4. We waited in a line that was to the door for 15 minutes or so. Once we got to the cashier we were encouraged to get food to go instead of dining in as the wait would be 40 min and people didn't seem like leaving (I wouldn't either after knowing the hurdles these people went through just to order food). Disclaimer: we were fine with a wait, we expected one but didn't expect to be met with such passive aggressive attitude that new customers didn't understand how ordering works at this special restaurant. It perplexed me that our options were to either order take out (for a group of 4?) or get a number to WAIT again at the bar area just to order your food and claim a table then WAIT again for your food. If you decide to fate your luck on waiting instead of take out then you must stay in the bar area (which had 15 people already crowding around - there was no place for us to stand so we got corralled like cattle to the corner near the front door with water carafes and glasses but no place to set them on?). It feels like they make the ordering process as onerous as possible to mask the fact that they are a busy restaurant with limited staff. As you can see from reviews here, they haven't addressed this ongoing problem. Truly disappointed as I've been following the owners ever since the pierogi nights at the Stephen foster center and was so excited to eat here after moving back to Pittsburgh. At least the food is wonderful once you get it but maybe it tastes better after fighting through the system. read more

We had high hopes for Apteka, but ended up walking away dissapointed. Their ordering method is wonky; you wait in line, place your order, get a number, then wait for a table to eventually clear up. Our party of four was strongly pushed to order out instead of waiting for a table, as the front staff assured us there were several reservations and groups ahead of us, and it would be 30-40 minutes ~ up to an hour wait before we got seated. We reluctantly agreed, and found a couple of seats at the bar we could sit at while we waited. We were immediately told that we could not sit at the bar, as that was for "sit down and waiting customers only" and that we would have to wait in the corner by the front door (no seats or tables to be had). Strike one. The place cleared out pretty quickly and we noticed several tables opening up. We asked if we could change from "take out" to "sit down" and the mnager was called out. While friendly, it seemed like we were asking for something incredibly exceptional at this point, despite showing zero animosity towards anyone there. During this time, several people walked in from the street, skipped the line at the counter, and sat down at the bar without anyone questioning them (how a bar should work), which irked us a bit, as we were JUST told we were not allowed to at the bar. Strike two. We got our table (keeping in mind we had already paid for the food at this point) and some of our party wanted to get drinks so they headed up to the bar. They were then told that the drinks have to be on the original order, and to order drinks they would have to go back through the main line (10~15 minutes of waiting), order the drinks again, and they would be brought over with the food. They made another "exception" for what should be a standard process (go to the bar, order a drink, pay for drink/start a tab) and we noted that we were not made aware of this when we originally ordered food, else we would have ordered some drinks (probably because we were getting pushed out the door with "take out" for no reason). Strike three. Food finally comes out and it is exceptionally good (per my group's reviews of the food) hence a 2 star instead of a 1 star review. However, we were missing my meal (plate of pierogies) and I was unable to eat anything else that was ordered due to a recent medical procedure. I had specifically asked for those pierogies to be with the nut-free option (and they had already been paid for way back when this misadventure first started). The bigger issue was that despite seating others (even around us), our server (the manager we spoke to earlier) completely ignored every time we tried to flag us down. There was no check up on us, no asking how the food was, nothing. I ended up eating nothing at all while there, and was debating if it was even worth the time tracking down the manager and asking for a refund for the food we never got. We eventually did on the way out, and that was that. Strike four. Apteka really perplexes me; we were not rude, snide, or otherwise deserving of the treatment we got, but some we were treated like we were not wanted there at all. Ironically, there were always a few empty tables in the place after we were seated, and I just found out that their reservations are for parties of 6 or more (we had a group of 4), so it shouldn't have interfered with our seating to begin with. Overall, the very confusing and poor service overshadows what should have been a great experience for myself, my wife, and an out-of-town couple visiting us (including one completely new to Pittsburgh; what a great experience for him!). I will definitely not be going back. read more

Beautiful, delicious, and comfortable--I always feel cozy and sated here. Environment -- casual & friendly. Place orders up front and seat yourself. The space is carefully decorated without being fussy, with fresh and dried flower arrangements accenting simple wood furniture. The lights are often dimmed in the late evening, which can read as romantic or homey, depending on your company. Food & drink -- pirogi are a favorite. I've tried several things on their ever-changing menu, and nothing has disappointed. The cocktails are always a pleasant surprise. I will say, though, I once ordered a whiskey sour without thinking about the egg involved, which makes it off-limits at a vegan bar (they were very kind to make an effort to substitute something, though). read more