My husband and I finally got around to breaking our B52 habit and tried Apteka. After all of the amazing things that we kept hearing, we figured it was finally time.
To start - we tried the potato dumplings and the pierogis. (This will be the extent of me knowing what I was eating.) Both were super delicious; and we followed the food runner's suggestion of eating the dumplings first, while they were still hot. The pierogis had a crunchy texture on the outside, and full of flavor on the inside.
We ordered two more small plates, but what we ordered - I cannot remember what they were called, nor do I really know what I was eating. But they were also pretty delicious.
My only disappointment is that I never experienced that roll-my-eyes-in-the-back-of-my-head kind of flavor or texture (my husband also agrees). Don't get me wrong - it was good; but not at the level that I felt that I was being hyped up for. Compared to some of our other favorites: B52, Onion Maiden, and Gluten Free Goat - where every thing on the menu is orgasmic - we didn't feel that way at Apteka. I also felt that the music selection was a little too avant garde to create a comfortable atmosphere.
That being said, we will still return when we're craving some salty and earthy potatoes; especially if it's late at night. The space is wonderfully simple and feels open with a community feel. It's a great addition to the Penn Ave food scene.