Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar: The Place to go for what Ails You

by Tom Linehan

I was initially drawn to this relatively new cafe in the neighborhood from comments posted to the Allandale Listserve. One post said it has “great atmosphere, great wine, great food, great music, and friendly staff!” Another said, “It is just a neat little place and I would like to see it make it.”

Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar offers a select choice of loose leaf teas, coffee and espresso that is roasted locally by Owl Tree Roasting, wines, and a variety of paninis, soups, and salads in a space that reminds me of a small European cafe. The locally owned restaurant at 4800 Burnet Rd in Rosedale Village next to Breath and Body Yoga, opened in October 2009. It is jointly owned by Chris Albert (see above photo) and Niraj Medhiratta, two friends who met in college and who independently dreamed of opening a restaurant. It is apparent when you enter Apothecary that the two partners put a lot of thought into to creating the right ambiance. Chris describes it as having a real cozy feel with Morrocan, Asian, Indian, and European influences.

In the morning, Apothecary serves coffee and espresso along with breakfast tacos from Consuelo's down the street, and croissants and muffins from local bakers. They have lunch specials that typically include paninis with a salad or soup. In the evening, Apothecary transitions to a wine bar with a broad selection of wines and a full menu of paninis, salads, cheese plates, and appetizers.

I visited on a Sunday afternoon and found the place to have a cozy feel indeed. It is not readily noticed when driving by Rosedale Village so you have to be looking for it. I asked Chris how they came up with the name. When I first saw it, I thought it was a new type of pharmacy. He said: “We decided that we wanted to provide a wide array of products to those who came to frequent our cafe. Hence, the Apothecary idea was born and our unofficial slogan became "the cure for what ails you".

The north central location surrounded by neighborhoods that support locally-owned businesses is an ideal location for them. Increasingly, there is more dining and entertainment activity in this part of the city and they want to a part of it.

I can certainly attest to their coffee. I had the fortune of trying it on a previous visit and highly recommend it. Apothecary is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. They typically have live acoustic music in the evenings. They also have happy hour specials. Check it out. If your are having a day where things aren't going particularly well for you, stop in to the Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar. It may have just what you need.

Comments

[Mary Jean Matus]

My first visit to the Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar made it an instant favorite. It's a perfect addition to the neighborhood!