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Vegan
Beer/Wine
European
Polish
Central and Eastern European cuisine focused restaurant and bar, opened here Feb 2016. Had sprouted from a monthly pop-up called Pierogi Night. Contact via email for reservations and questions: aptekapgh@gmail.com. Open Fri-Sun 5:00pm-10:00pm.
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4606 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, 15224
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- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 18 Jun 2025 by xinemachine
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Added by chk49 on 12 Apr 2016
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114 Reviews
First Review by jswiss
SharonR
Points +3464
Rich Eastern European Foods - Edit
This restaurant is a whole experience. They're only open Friday through Sunday, so I think everybody and their mother tries to get in those 3 days.
Read moreDespite the appearance (and food) of an upscale restaurant, there's no dedicated server per table. You order up front and they really take their time (if you need it) to walk you through the menu, the wines to pair with it, and so on. This has pros and cons. If you happen to get a slow group in front of you, you're in for a whole lot of waiting (the couple in front of us took about 20 minutes, which I'm assuming and hoping it's not the norm). The pro is that if you want to add anything at any point, you don't have to wait to catch the waiters attention, and when you want to pay the check, you're good to come up too.
Food: it's HEAVY. Central/Eastern European foods. Lots of cream and fried bread. I say this as a lover of these things. Just order accordingly. We got the fried bread, pierogis, nettle soup (as our "healthy" option"), Zakaski (a platter with several pickled vegetables, lentils, smoked parsnip), and cake. I'm not a dessert person, so ymmv, the cake was good, but everything else was better.
greenbluegray
Great review!
Read moreGuest
VeganMusicMan
Points +391
Wow. Wow. Wow. - Edit
Apteka. WOW. So awesome to find a vegan restaurant that not only has great food, but feels so special. We showed up 15 minutes before opening and there were already 20 people in front of us. And everybody was excited to eat there. We had the house made black pepper soda, celery seed soda, Zakąski (pickle plate), Szparagi (asparagus sautéed in black pepper, vin, mint, lemon, onion), Smażone Pierogi (a variety of pierogi), Kotlet Selerowy (celeriac cutlet), and Żytnie Ciasto z Powidlami (rye flour cake with oat crème, plum, apricot). Everything was amazing, we were stoked with each serving. Everything wonderfully spiced, sublime condiments, and more. If you’re in Pittsburgh, we really recommend this place!
Read moreGuest
ponchoswindow
Points +849
Had everything- want everything again. - Edit
I went several months ago and haven’t stopped thinking about how good the dessert was. My table split several small dishes and we each had our own entree (mine was the best). Not sure what I ate, sorry. Regardless, we each left feeling full and satisfied. Satisfied in the way where you’ve had all the right flavors and portions of healthy foods in your diet and it all tasted perfect.
Read moreGuest
MelissaNoe
Points +33
Don't question it just GO - Edit
The food was AMAZING!! Pierogis were phenomenal and the best dish to me by far was called Langos. A fried bread with some sort of deliciousness in the middle.
Read moreGuest
BorderlineSavage
Points +60
Amazing! - Edit
Absolutely fantastic! The food is delicious, and the drinks are also excellent. Don’t sleep on the desserts - we ordered a couple and shared them and they were a perfect ending to the meal. Service is outstanding.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Wonderful service, Beautiful presentation.
Guest
hrn126
Points +615
one of my all time favorites - Edit
stopped here my first time in pittsburgh and fell in love so much that i decided to move here. this place is incredible. i would eat here every day if i could.
Read moreGuest
moshow
Points +86
Best thing about Pittsburgh! - Edit
Casual dining with quick turnovers but magically serve the prime dishes. From beginning to end, everything is fresh and full of surprising flavors. Vegan Comfort food never tasted so good. Reasonable portions too. Foraged leaf tea-sumac was great and they make there own sour cherry cordial.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-20
Pros: Casual , Freshness , Desserts are life-changing
Cons: Wish I lived closer
Guest
TheresaJGD
Points +142
Great all around - Edit
We ate so well (and so much) we nearly couldn’t walk out! Don’t be afraid to sit out back in the cozy tent area. Heaters made it comfortable. Totally recommend the bark tea, pickle plate, golden borscht, and everything else we ordered. We loved the ice cream ball for dessert. (How do you get the seeds onto the ball?) Staff were so friendly and calm. I attribute it to 🌱’
Read morePros: Exploring new flavors, Calm, friendly, organized staff, The care you can taste in the food
Guest
amorgb
Points +18
Love! - Edit
Wonderful food & environment! The celeriac schnitzel is amazing!
Read morePros: Sałatka Polska, Nalewki, Poppyseed cream pączki
Guest
BDuffy
Points +20
100% vegan restaurant and loved it. - Edit
Cool concept with how you are seated and how you order. Unique inside - loved it. Food was delicious, staff was nice and super efficient. Would go here again and again.
Read moreGuest
BobKennedy2019
Points +48
Great food - Edit
Great creative food. Been there many times and can’t wait to get back.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-06-20
Pros: All vegan-all the time
Guest
Eidolon
Points +505
My Pittsburgh Favorite - Edit
I wish I had got to dine in, but was able to get pick up twice which also seemed to be quite the feat. I hadn’t had a lot of this cuisine prior to changing my lifestyle, but I ordered a lot of the offerings during my visit to the city and it was all fantastic and comforting. #Veganuary
Read morePros: Fantastic food, Great customer service, Quaint restaurant
Cons: Place is wicked popular for good reason and small, Was difficult getting a spot even for take out
Guest
EvaliseDexter
Points +521
Never disappoints - Edit
Ive been here atleast 5 times and it is by far my favorite restaurant in pittsburgh!! Extremely long wait times to get in though. There is usually a line out the door.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-01-03
Cobwebs64
To be seated, or for your food?
Read moreEvaliseDexter
@cobwebs64 to be seated
Read moreGuest
daalai
Points +2303
Delicious but pricey - Edit
Excellent food and I will definitely be returning. This is a high end restaurant. The portions were smaller and more expensive, but it was still worth it. We ordered the pierogis and kluski slaskie. Must go place in Pittsburgh!!
Read moreGuest
gwild
Points +1610
Made from scratch - Edit
This place was so delicious we went a few times on our trip to Pittsburg. New York Times named them as one of the top 50 restaurants in the US and I can understand why. We had the Smazone Pierogies $18 and the Kluski Slaskie $18 and both were outstanding! The fresh dill paired perfectly with the potato in the Kluski Slaski. The pierogies were far better than any we’ve had before.
Read moreAnother day we tried the Kotlet Ziemniaczany, a stuffed potato and buckwheat patty which was surrounded with a generous serving of cooked greens.
Everything was freshly made from scratch.
There was a line down the street to get in but it was worth the wait.
Once you make it in the door you order at the front and take a number to a table. Then they bring your food out. There were still crowds of people outside waiting to get in when we left.
Updated from previous review on 2023-07-22
Pros: Outstanding flavor, Fresh made from scratch
Cons: Huge lines to get in
Guest
foon
Points +1573
Best meal ever? - Edit
Everything here is amazing—especially the weird sounding stuff. Let go and go nuts.
Read moreGuest
GoodNewsVeg
Points +458
Good for Eastern European Food - Edit
Excited to try this place while we were in Pgh for a night. Given all of the hype (national!), our expectations were high. Eastern European food is not our favorite, but as vegans, how could we resist? Rated as one of the Best Restaurants in the U.S. by the NYT last year. We were hoping it would wow us. The food was good, especially the sauces (better than "real" sour cream) and slaws and bread. The staff was friendly, competent, and efficient at moving a lot of people through and keeping them happy. The vibe was groovy. No reservations -- we showed up to stand in line at 4:30 pm for a 5 pm opening. If you are dying for potatoes and pierogis and fried food, definitely worth the wait. If not, it's a fine one-time experience. Cocktails were good. We were told the desserts were amazing, but after all the potatoes and pierogis and fried food, we just couldn't do it.
Read moreGuest
lulumcc
Points +209
Amazing - Edit
Delicious, unique food. The line was long but well worth it and the restaurant is very organized in regards to waits and quick service too
Read moreGuest
johnfaison
Points +38
Best ever - Edit
Pretty much the perfect restaurant, fair price too
Read moreGuest
schadana15
Points +89
Just Amazing - Edit
One of the very best vegan restaurants I have ever been to. If it’s an experience and offers really unique blend of flavors, so savory yet so sweet and just something you do not get a lot in typical vegan restaurants. Absolute recommendation, I will be back!!
Read moreI also really liked the look of the restaurant!
Pros: Delicious food, Unique , Great interior aesthetic
Cons: Sometimes there’s a little wait
Guest
Oliviathevegan
Points +151
Unique experience - Edit
Great food with a cafe style ordering system. On Friday - Sunday you can get their full menu of food and order it up at the bar. You will be able to keep a tan open to order more food at any time. The service is incredible and food is cooked and served very quickly. Menu is Eastern European style. I had pickle soup, a polish delicacy and it wasn’t overpowering. My favorite dish was the fried potatoes pancakes and small plate of the sprout salad!
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Amazing service , Beautiful interior
Guest
gavinislame
Points +128
Top 50 in the US for a reason - Edit
Delicious, any vegan must go.
Read moreCons: Can get very busy because of how good it is
Guest
ahimsa4ever
Points +271
My favorite vegan restaurant - Edit
There are no words-you must try their delicious vegan food that is heavily influenced by the cuisines of Central, Eastern and even Southeastern Europe. Amazing restaurant, food and service are impeccable and you will enjoy the atmosphere of this special restaurant. I still miss it so much!
Read moreGuest
ndines
Points +833
Incredible food, don’t miss Apteka!! - Edit
Wow. What a feast we had at Apteka. Eating here was like taking your tastebuds on a classy, Eastern European vacation. I would eat here every day if I lived that type of luxury. Don’t sleep on Apteka! Do, however, be prepared for a length wait without a reservation. It’s well worth it though
Read morePros: Incredible food
Cons: Most likely a lengthy wait without a reservation
Guest
fluttercat
Points +389
Worth the wait! - Edit
We unfortunately could not make reservations for two and took our chances on a walk-in basis. It was very busy but the staff were incredibly attentive and welcoming and allowed us to order wine while we waited for a table. Our meals were flavorful - everything we tried was fantastic. I'm from out of state, but will definitely add this to my list of places to return to when in Pittsburgh!
Read moreGuest
guitargabe
Points +578
Amazing, creative Polish dishes - Edit
I grew up in a super slavic part of Central PA, and this place really sends me back to some of the flavors of my youth but in a perfected way. Every course, cocktails included, blew me away. I’ll be coming here every Pittsburgh trip from now on.
Read morePros: Absolutely amazing food, Great cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, Cool ambiance
Cons: Can have a long wait (90 mins this time)
Guest
warose91
Points +32
Unbelievable food - Edit
The food is so incredible. Nothing like any other vegan food I've had and every dish (I tried about 5) is amazing. The atmosphere is also great.
Read moreGuest
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