Press
Philadelphia City Paper June 8-14, 2006
It only takes a few special touches for a cafe to distinguish itself, like, say, a delicious dish from Catalan or a cafe con leche with marbleized foam. Apamate, a Spanish-flavored newcomer on the 1600 block of South Street, hooks you with these novelties, then lulls you into staying because they taste so good.
Rick Nichols. Philadelphia Inquire July, 2006
Welcome to the other South Street, west of Broad, home to the funky backyard garden at the Jamaican Jerk Hut and, toward Graduate Hospital, the estimable pies at Lazaro's ($2 for a giant, thin-crust slice), and, recently, a lovely storefront cafe called Pumpkin. (Ron's Ribs is still there, too, pumping out luscious smoke, but I can't help but compare it unfavorably to its predecessor, Bea Bea's Lawnside BBQ, which was my introduction to the mythic barbecue legacy that you can catch a bare whiff of, if you try, in what's left of Lawnside, N.J.)
I say let the east end of South keep its sneaker franchises and Johnny Rockets and Starbucks. This end is for truer grit. But it's not exactly gritty. Which brings me to the latest addition, a paprika-colored boite by the name of Cafe Apamate.
Best of Philly 2007: Brunch, City.
Philadelphia Magazine. August, 2007
With its lineup of affordable, flavorful and creative dishes, Euro-cool Apamate has reinvigorated the increasingly snooze-worthy Philly brunch menu — reminding us that there's more to the meal than expensive pancakes.
Craig LaBan. Philadelphia Inquire. March 2, 2008
I've dipped fresh churros into the profound darkness of Apamate's hot chocolate more than once and thought to myself: This is one of the most sublime morsels of indulgence Philadelphia has to offer.