The Story
Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski opened Apteka in 2016 in the heart of Bloomfield, Pittsburgh's historic Polish neighborhood. The concept was radical and brilliant: vegan Eastern European food served in a candlelit space with an outstanding natural wine and craft cocktail program.
The name means 'pharmacy' in Polish, and the restaurant occupies a former apothecary on Liberty Avenue. Dishes like pierogi with sauerkraut and mushroom, beet tartare, and smoked carrot lox draw from the neighborhood's immigrant heritage while pushing it in entirely new directions.
Apteka earned a spot on Bon Appetit's list of America's Best New Restaurants and has been featured in the New York Times, cementing its status as one of the most original restaurants in the country.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Apteka's genius is rooted in its location. Bloomfield is Little Italy meets old Poland, and the restaurant honors that heritage while reinterpreting it for a new generation. It is deeply respectful of tradition and completely unafraid to break from it.
The restaurant also represents Pittsburgh's creative economy at its best: ambitious artists and chefs choosing the city because the cost of entry is low enough to take real creative risks.