L’appat Patisserie & Café
1159 Oak St, Columbus, OH, 43205
L’appat Patisserie & Café Menu
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Address :
1159 Oak St
Columbus, OH, 43205 - Phone (614) 252-6822
- Website https://www.lappatcafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Brioche C.
We arrived on a beautiful September day and found a small (3 4-tops plus 3 2-tops) but nice cafe-bakery establishment. There were 9 tarts, 2 cakes and 2 pies in the case. We sampled a fresh sweet potato tart, a praline date tart, and a spinach artichoke tart. We also tried the breakfast sandwich. Two of us had coffee, one tea. All were tasty. The coffee was good and unique. There are special dinner menus for Thursday night, I hope to be able to try those. This place offers a unique set of flavors that is welcome in a world dominated by sameness.
(4)Ashley M.
L'Appat catered my baby shower and I dont know where to begin on explaining how absolutely wonderful they were. The food was delicious, fried beignets, fresh delicious leafy salad, scrumptious tarts, filling muffins, delectable quiches and my absolute favorite Marshmallow Ice Tea! The service was amazing and my guests were raving about the food which was my absolute goal. wanted to Wow everyone.... They did just that they gave my guests the WOW factor. If you are looking for a cater who will give your guest an amazing and delicious selection of food they are a must to hire!
(5)Maryann H.
We had lunch there today. Staff was very friendly. They gave us samples of drinks to try. Very international menu. Great selections and good prices.
(4)Susan H.
This place is amazing. Very special Moroccan/French bakery that also does some savory items. We stopped there for lunch today and we were blown away by the sophistication of the food. The vegetable soup was very fresh and served with some toasted french bread. The spinach quiche was exquisite and the frittata was delicious. White table cloths and cloth napkins make the dining experience extraordinary. The sweet pastries are brilliant as well.
(5)Rob T.
Didi has done a wonderful job establishing a wonderful cafe in the olde east side. He is my go to guy for any special occasions for baked goods. To those that are upset that he can't serve alcohol you need to realize that requires an expensive liquor license, and that his business is primarily a daytime cafe.
(5)George Y.
This is a wonderful little pastry shop in Old Towne East. They had just opened, so there needs to be some refining of their processes, but the pastries we picked we enjoyed. It's been a while and so I'm sad to say i cannot remember exactly what I got, but I'm certain that there was a coconut leaf shaped tart, a carrot cake tart and a polish cheese pastry and one other. All were very tasty and what surprised us was their unique textures and flavors. My favorites were the carrot cake and polish cheese.
(4)Laura R.
Yum! I stopped in today for lunch and it was as delicious as the photos make it look! I love this tiny cafe and I can't wait to get my Valentine's Day cheesecake gift box!
(5)Matt G.
Great hole-in-the-wall cafe and date spot! The owners are so friendly and fun to talk to! Their menu changes weekly and the foods vary from quiche to tarts to stuffed pastries (and they have varying dinner options too). Prices are moderate, but totally worth the experience. If you visit, talk to DiDi. Don't be shy! I'll be back for a coffee and one of their breakfast specials when I'm in the area.
(5)Annie B.
Beautiful, delicious food in a romantic, intimate setting. We had beignets and raspberry chocolate cake for dessert. I chose the spinach/ham beignet and my friend had the plain. They are potato based, and little pillows of flavorful heaven. Served with a lovely bright side salad made up of mesclun greens, strawberries and apple it was a light, bright note that kept the fried beauty that are beignets form feeling heavy. The pastries are excruciatingly good- you can't go wrong. They had lemon marshmallow sweet tea today and it was delicious, lemon with a brûlée flavor. This is not the best choice if you are in a hurry, but it can't be beat if you have the time to spend. It's slightly pricey but worth every dime. Service is accommodating, engaging and wonderful. This is an absolute jewel of a place- you gotta try it!
(5)Jennifer H.
The food is amazing and fresh!!! Chef Didi and his team here are great! Love the rotating menu!!
(5)Charlette L.
Stopped in here for lunch with a friend. It had a nice, clean, and cozy ambiance, and the food was absolutely delicious. I had the chicken panini and beignets. Each individual ingredient in the panini was very tasty, and together, it was perfect. The beignets were dangerously addictive, served with amazing (homemade?) whipped cream and strawberry sauce. The prices were extremely reasonable (i.e. cheap), and the owner was friendly. His right arm was in a cast, so he had prepared all the food with just his left hand. (I wonder if the food could possibly be even better if he could use both hands.) I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Virginia R.
We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and were impressed with how wonderful everything in the pastry case looked! The tables are beautifully set and staff was friendly. The menu was limited, as you might expect from a small cafe, but the choices were appetizing and we easily selected two very tasty dishes. However, mine came out of the kitchen well before my husband's; long enough that my fritatta was cold by the time his omelet arrived. The food was very good, high quality and interesting. This place just needs some better organization and timing to improve. We will definitely go back to give them a second try.
(3)Susan R.
ETA 4/15/13: It's been nearly three months, and I've not received even a hint of apology from Mr. Alapini. Not even a half-assed "sorry you were offended" type of apology. He deleted everyone's Facebook comments who asked about this and seems to be pretending it never happened. I find this response unprofessional at best, that he's not willing to own up to his own bad behavior. He must not think much of his customers. So, according to owner Didier Alapini, I am a classless person with a "gorilla pallette [sic]" who should just go to Wendy's on Valentine's Day because I don't intuitively understand what makes a meal centered around chicken-or-salmon and rice (no booze) worth $60 a head. Backstory: L'appat is offering a Valentine's Day menu for $60 per guest. Not "per couple," but per guest. $60 a dinner, you figure, you're gonna get some swank food, right? The entrees listed were couscous and veg with either grilled chicken or grilled tilapia, or rice and veg with either grilled chicken or grilled salmon. I have to admit, I was head-scratching--chicken and rice for $60? Did it come with a bottle of nice champagne? A cafe a few blocks down has a menu that is $35 and includes lobster-stuffed pasta. Something seemed off. So, I asked. My comment has since been deleted and I have been blocked from commenting on their page (haha), but I said something like this: "Wow, those desserts look awesome! But I'm confused about the pricing and the entrees. Chicken and rice doesn't exactly sound fancy, y'know? Can you tell me more about what makes the dishes upscale [the word they used for their meals]? Does it come with champagne or something?" I received this message back in my private inbox from Mr Alapini (text left intact): "we understand how you feel about our Valentine day menu. However, the class of L'APPAT Patisserie and Cafe could not allow us to serve cheap food as you desire. We just find out that Wendy's is running a special for Valentine day down the street. It may be the best option. Are you one of those with gorilla pallette who do not know the meaning of good food?" (pics or it didn't happen: screencast.com/t/3oKPHfa… ) (also, it was pointed out to me that the insult originated from a review by Michael U., but not originally toward me: yelp.com/biz/l-appat-pat… ) So, I, as a potential customer, ask a restaurant where I potentially want to spend $120 on a meal that, as far as I know, doesn't include ANY ALCOHOL and seemingly no luxury ingredients, to further describe the entrees to see what makes them worth $60 a head. Instead of addressing my question, my question gets deleted and I get called classless and cheap, with a gorilla palate. (Clarification, Rob T., friend of Didier: I'm not complaining about the lack of alcohol, I'm saying that a Valentine's Day dinner with no luxury ingredients listed and no alcohol seems a tiny bit overpriced at $60.) I don't have any previous beef with Mr Alapini or anybody else at the patisserie; I'd barely had any interaction with them online, and our in-person interactions had always been friendly. In fact, I had gotten a private message from him not that long before letting me know that they were going to start carrying beignets, because I was very excited about that and had said so on their FB page. This was not the culmination of bad blood; this insult-fest was because I doubted his menu and asked him for more information. This is, apparently, the way that Mr. Alapini thinks customers deserve to be treated if they don't fall in line, or if they ask uncomfortable questions. (I think it could be rightfully argued that if you're trying to run a business, it shouldn't BE uncomfortable for you if someone asks why your product is worth what you're trying to sell it for.) So, one star for the patisserie; Mr. Alapini, you're a hell of a baker, but your ego and rudeness have put me off of your establishment forever. Pro tip: There's a big difference between customers asking for the food to be cheap, and customers asking you if your food is worth what you're trying to charge for it. Pro tip #2: If you want to charge $60 a head with no alcohol, go look at other restaurants who also do that and see how they describe THEIR food. Guarantee they're not serving me nondescript "vegetable medley." ETA: He responded to someone else's post about this incident: "You hear one side of the story.I will no longer talk about how our feeling has been hurt. We have a great respect for our guests. We welcome their comments" Aww. I hurt HIS feelings. Guess I'll go cry into my Frosty with remorse. (His side of the story would still be available to document, if he had not deleted my comment . . .)
(1)Richard P.
An appreciation for the warm and generous owners of L'appat, who officially closed the doors of their Old Towne East location in late May. But no worries, they plan on reopening in Clintonville, so keep an eye on their Facebook page if you're interested: facebook.com/pages/Lappa… When I first tried L'appat, I was won over by the tropical touches to their European-style pastries. Chaussons (French for turnover) filled with Japanese red bean, pineapple and coconut, guava; lemon-lime and fig tarts; and classics like sweet potato pie. From a technical standpoint, the pastries at L'appat didn't reach the same level of sophistication as Pistacia Vera, but I loved the constantly-changing variety and the heart put into them. But L'appat really hit its stride when they started doing dinner menus - Caribbean on Tuesdays, Pan-African on Thursdays, Seafood on Fridays. The food was inventive, nicely presented, and most importantly, tasty. A cut above more modest places like Dabakh on Morse Road, but with food that rang with as much flavor and heart. The hours were a little irregular - their posted hours had them closing at 7PM - but if you called in advance they would keep the door open for you and you could eat your meal past closing time while they prepared tomorrow's pastries in the kitchen. That's how I'll remember their Old Towne East location - my wife and I eating a meal in the empty dining room past closing time, in the glassy corner seat, as the sun began to set and washed the neighborhood in golden light. It was a great dining experience, one of the best to be had in Columbus. Here's looking forward to their next incarnation.
(5)Samantha S.
HURRY UP AND EAT HERE!!! Having lived several years in Europe, I can still say without a doubt that this is one of--if not THE--best patisserie I have ever visited. The flavors are profound. Raspberry chocolate cake, lime tarts, Mexican chocolate cookies... they're all just names until you put them in your mouth and then BOOM--it's the flavors. The husband and wife who run this sweet spot are a sincere, kind, hard-working couple. I've walked by multiple times when the shop was closed but the doors were open, and they were always happy to say hello and help me out with whatever delicacy I happened to be eyeballing. They told me that they always welcome visitors, and they have even had visitors at 2am this way! This is truly a special spot in the community and some of the best food around, so, seriously, hurry up and eat here!
(5)Gwen W.
I'm a sucker for sweets, thus I've been wanting to stop in here for a while. Quant, homey joint!! Simple yet nice decor. I was running ahead of schedule, thus decided to stop here before my doctor's appt. The gentleman that greeted me behind the pastry counter was very polite and friendly. It was nice chatting with him. At the time, they didn't have any cheesecake - what I ultimately came for (the pics look super good!). Instead, I decided to go with their Lemon Pistachio Tart. I was not wowed by this one. It didn't taste bad, don't get me wrong. The lemon flavoring was in a little blob, right in the middle of the pastry. Thus, there was a lot of pastry around it. The pistachio flavor was not very strong, either. I've had pistachio ice cream that you can taste it more. The item was flakey and good crust, but it didn't earn a place in my mental trophy case. I need to try one of their cheese cakes - the Yelp pics make me salivate every time haha!
(2)Nick B.
What a little gem! I just happen to drive by last Friday and decided to stop in and take a look and I was not disappointed. I thought I would grab a coffee and a pastry but ended up sitting down for a proper breakfast with an open faced egg sandwich with spicy tomato basil sauce. The bread was perfect and so was the sauce! I will be back soon!
(5)Corina P.
We went for brunch on a Sunday. I won't tell you what we had because menus here change frequently but rest assure that wathever you order will be delicious. There is no place quite like this in Columbus. The owners greet you upon your entrance and make you feel at home. Not only the food - international fusion- is amazing and different, but this place also contributes to build a sense community you want to be a part of it. They have faith in the revival the area is experiencing and in Columbus over all. I commend them for that. We will come back as soon as possible, so many things we want to try! Tip: Check their Facebook page as their ever changing menus are posted there :)
(5)Ellis A.
Had the best dining experience of my life at this café. The place is small, but that comes with charm. We had breakfast, then took a few pastries to go. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. May have to come back to Columbus just to eat here again.
(5)Stephanie D.
My friends and I stopped in after brunch elsewhere and loaded up on some pastries. I got a sweet potato pie, a cheese pastry (forgot what it's called), and some cookies! The sweet potato pie was good and very filling, you almost get sick of it at the end. I loved the cookies I bought, they were crispy and you could taste the different flavors. The cheese pastry was so-so.. There wasn't enough filling, it was mostly pastry.
(4)Donna O.
Two friends and I came to L'Appat for lunch and it was amazing! The menu is small, du jour, and full of colors and flavors. We were given small samples of two "iced teas" - marshmallow & chocolate raspberry. Both were subtle & the chocolate raspberry was begging to have a little rum added. I had the carrot and leek soup, and couscous salad. The soup was fresh, hot and flavorful rather than "dump ingredients in a pot & stir" or "defrost bag of frozen soup & place in heated tureen." The salad - I could wax poetic - a mix of couscous, spring lettuces, carrots, spring peas, parsley, green beans, red cabbage and this wonderful, bright, citrus-y vinaigrette. The owner came out and talked with us at length, gave us bites of a pumpkin cake he was making and generally was as charming as a Francophone can be. My tablemates had a curried chicken croissant and a chicken "brik" - a north African version of burek. There were noises of joyful eating throughout the meal, and Didi was proud to point out the lack of salt or pepper on the tables - "if the food is prepared properly, you do not need it!" - and indeed, we did not realize the lack. Head a couple blocks away from Olde Towne central (corner of Oak and Champion) and try this place out. You won't be sorry!
(4)Sarah G.
Wow, I can't say enough about this place it was delicious. For a Francophile like myself it was certainly a treasure to find a French speaking owner/chef behind all of the delectable flavors in this often Afro/Caribbean themed rotating menu, (he's from Benin, West Africa, here to get a PHD! AND run a resto he said!) The owner and chef explained that the menu rotated and today we had Carribean selections, he noted the menu was also posted on the Facebook page. I sampled the Jamaican curry chicken with dirty rice cabbage and plantains. It was delicious like someone's grandmother had made it with loving care for her family. My friend had a shrimp dish with potatoes, green beans and potatoes and a flavorful red sauce. We washed it down with refreshing cucumber tea. I will be back, this place is charming and I really liked our chef, he's a charming, kind man who takes pride in his work. I had a lovely time chatting with the owner in French and I will certainly come back here. It reminds me of some of the African cafés and patisseries I would frequent when I lived in France, I love it! I'm so happy to know this exists.
(5)Charlene A.
Amazing...I dined for the first time last night at L' appat, I can't believe that I did not know about this place. I had the Red Snapper Ratatouille...seasoned perfectly and vegetables had a wonderful crunch. Perfect! I will definitely be back.
(5)Gerry J.
Can't help but to write another review. I've been to lots of desserts shops and always in a hunt for great desserts (New York, Vegas, Boston, San Francisco, etc) and I strongly believe L'appat is one of the best. Last night, the best raspberry chocolate cake and cherry almond tart I've eaten in my life. No kidding.
(5)Loraine A.
By far the best international fare I've had outside of Latin food! The service is always exceptional as is the impeccable quality of the cuisine. The menu gets switched up every few weeks, making for an experience that's never boring. I look forward to their reopening in Clintonville.
(5)Nikki O.
Charming, friendly cafe. Food was delicious, fresh, plentiful. Prices are great. We sat at a small table with a petite vase and candle. It felt like a bistro in Paris. This was our first visit and it will not be our last. Oh, and the dessert case was full of delicious looking pastries! But our tummies were too full to try any today. Another reason to return!!
(5)Karyn M.
Stopped in here for lunch on a regular weekday with a friend. We were the only customers in the cafe at the time, which usually makes me a little uneasy whether I've made the right choice. It sits in a neighborhood that's a lil sketch and the cafe front doesn't have anything outstanding so it could be easily missed. I ordered the sweet potato tart per yelp's common things to order here and my friend ordered an african influenced dish - some chicken with veggies from the menu. I had a bite of it and it was really good. Prices from the menu were a tad expensive, but the portion seems very big. My tart was heated so it was warm and crispy - and oh so delicious. The owner had alot of tarts with tropical flavors that I'm familiar with and would love to try later on. I assume this place is busy on the weekends. From the name of the place, I was expecting one of those cutesy French cafe, and am so pleasantly surprised to see that it's actually African. I don't think I've ever been to place with what this place offers - African-influenced pastries/sweets and entrees. The motto of the owner is, "I don't serve anything that I don't consider good myself."
(5)Jessica D.
Sup DiDi and Minerva?? You have a great joint here! And one of a kind, too. DiDi was a biochemist in the Ivory Coast turned pastry chef and I for one could not be more thankful for that career move. I thoroughly enjoyed my mid afternoon pastries with my boyfriend--the chocolate date pastry and pistachio lemon tart--with a coffee. They heated our pastries to the perfect temperature and served our coffee in cute individual pots. Nice touch! I can only imagine the line out the door on weekend mornings. The place is very quaint (translate: tiny but cosy) and the pastries, delicious. DiDi said to come in the morning for the best selection, and I am sure that if you requested a certain pastry to be made available, he'd comply. He's just that kind of guy. Glad to see a place like this sprucing up old town east. Sidenote, they cater!!!
(5)Anna H.
I highly recommend coming here for a meal or to get pastries. The owner Didi and his food are wonderful. My folks live in Olde Towne East and come here a lot. My aunt, mom and I met a couple of family friends here for lunch yesterday at 11:30. We were the only customers for awhile, then two people came to occupy another table. The place is small, but there are about 7 tables. There are lovely tarts and cookies in the display cases as reasonable prices. Our party weren't super hungry, so most of us got the soup of the day, which was double potato soup, with leeks. It was delicious. It came with perfect bread pieces for dipping. Didi is very personable and enjoys chatting with his customers. The café is on the corner of Oak and Champion; it is worth seeking out.
(4)Shea H.
I finally got around to going here After hearing the recent Valentine's day fiasco reported here on yelp, I was afraid that the owner was going to be a major butt but he was actually quite nice. His wife was really sweet and gave us samples of goodies and then the infamous owner finally came out to take care of our order. We chatted a great deal about his life and his family; he was really kind. The treats were okay. I think it was a mistake on our part (me and my honey) to go near the end of the business day. You should never go to a bakery at the end of the day...at least that's my motto but stupid us were in the neighborhood and couldn't resist finally trying this place. My husband loved everything but I could pass. The whip cream that comes with the mini-bundt cake is to die for, though. I'm now trying to eat vegan so no more cream for me. Perhaps I'll see if they have vegan treats... The cafe is cute and if you can make it here during the day, I would recommend giving it a try.
(3)Le Ron C.
They now accept credit cards and have expanded their selection of items available for order. The coffee situation is pretty poor still and I hope they switch to another vendor soon as I've pretty much abandoned all hope in that area. DiDi has been experimenting with a lot of new ideas and recipes and it shows. Imagine if you could take a common French pastry and infuse it with ingredients found in it's former colonies. That's exactly what the owner is doing frequently which you can try in his many creations. Never a dull menu and always variety I'll keep coming back for more!
(5)Lynn W.
We found this place after visiting the Columbus Botanical Gardens and it was the highlight of our visit to Columbus, Ohio! Four star dining is an out-of-the-way location, and extremely affordable for the quality of food, service and ambiance. We ordered one each of the four entrees offered that week plus the soup du jour, and we were so happy we did! Everything was exquisite! Our menu was: artichoke soup chicken panini coconut couscous salad shrimp gourgeries harissa chicken wings and chocolate raspberry cake The flavors were well balanced and impeccably paired. We wanted more after each dish, and left with overfull bellies. Chef Didi was extremely personable, professional, talented and just a heck of a nice guy. I wish we lived in the local area, then I'd visit every week! If we visit the Columbus area again, then we will be certain to dine here again.
(5)Heather D.
I really can't say enough positive things about this place, you can tell when someone really loves the food they bring you, you can taste it. Not to mention that DeDe the owner/chef rocks, as well as the rest of his wonderful staff. My only wish is that they were open on Sundays, but everyone needs a day off...
(5)Brian S.
Didi is the best! I stopped by to pick up dessert for tonight and found the door locked. Started walking to my car and he called me inside. Apparently he hurt his wrist and had to close the shop for the day since he only had cookies available. So a few moments later he hands me a box of six delicious cookies and refused to take any sort of payment, no matter how hard I tried. You can tell he takes so much pride in what he does. I can't wait to go back
(5)Mike B.
L'appat is plain and simple proof. -Proof that you don't need a frufru neighborhood like german village to have an excellent patisserie. -Proof that even a block away from a pawn shop billboard, there's one of the best bakeries in Columbus. -Proof that pistacia vera isn't the only place to get super deluxe good stuff. -Proof that heaven does exist, in old town, for less than $10. The mexican chocolate spice cookie is like horchata in cookie form, one of the most unique and well executed cookies I've ever put to memory. The service is friendly, candid, and confident. Truly a gem of old town, and now my primary reason to visit the area.
(5)Paul S.
This is absolutely one of the best hidden gems Columbus has to offer. The menu changes frequently and in the about 5 times I have been here (thus far) I have never been disappointed. Didi is a very detail-oriented and passionate person, and it shows in every bite of his food! Few restaurants offer an atmosphere and gastronomic adventure as impressive as l'Appât does. A MUST try!
(5)Cherie R.
I dropped by here on a Monday afternoon STARVING. This is a rather unassuming shop in Old Towne East - but don't let that fool you. The owner is incredibly friendly and is quite willing to talk if there is time! Apparently he's working on his doctorate AND running this place, so I imagine he's usually quite busy! He's from a small country in Africa, moved to France, and then moved here. I guess he picked up a lot of his baking skills in France. Now - the baked goods. These aren't the ultra frilly highly polished baked goods you may see elsewhere, but they're GOOD. When I'm not actually trying very hard to watch what I eat, I will be back to sample more. I had the African collard greens frittata and a Greek honey cheese tart, both of which were woofed down in mere minutes. The frittata really surprised me - it really didn't look that pretty, but was the perfect mix of egg, vegetable, and the surprise bits of white sweet potato. Sweet and savory - my favorite. The lunch menu also looked interesting, but I was starving and in a hurry, but I'm very glad I stopped by.
(4)Aaron W.
Didi is awesome. I have never been able to spend less than 2 hours here, because he is always full of conversation and has his customers trying new things. The food is great. I have never been to a restaurant that is so willing to experiment with different flavors and still make them work the way L'appat does. Items like the marshmallow iced tea transform from something that sounds weird to a staple that you crave. Waiting for the food sometimes takes a while, but it is well worth it. The menu changes weekly, and there is always something new to try. For those of you on the fence about trying out L'appat, please disregard your fear of the neighborhood, nervousness about the unusual menu, and Susan R's reviews entirely. L'appat is more than a restaurant, it is an experience - please visit.
(5)Cameron C.
The food is very tasty. Clear tea was amazing. Also ordered a cup of vegetable soup with some coconut flavor and a chicken pesto panini which were both excellent. Service was on the slower side because the owner was running the only one working (and one of his arms was broken arm at the time), but he was beyond friendly and made us feel at home in his restaurant. I would definitely eat here again when I return to the area.
(5)Natalie H.
I drive by this place all the time and finally stopped in today. I ordered the "Sandwich L'africaine" which was a delightful, spicy, breakfast, cheesy egg & veggie panini. Sooo good! The owner was very nice and offered me samples of their pumpkin pie and of their cucumber strawberry lemonade and marshmallow iced tea. I definitely have to give them props for creativity. The interior was pleasant and quiet too. The food was unique and tasty
(4)Diana P.
Thought of this place after roaming around downtown and craving some dessert w/bf. We made it 15min before closing time and thankfully there were still a variety of goodies left! It was my first time here so the owner took time to explain about the menu, baked goods, etc and even gave us some samples of their unique ice tea & lemonade. We ended up getting a rustic looking chocolate raspberry cake and a sweet potato tart, to go. Don't refuse the powder sugar & raspberry syrup that goes on top of the cake--yes, it is worth the calories! We forgot to heat up the sweet potato tart in the oven before eating but it was still very yummy. It is on the pricy side since that was the only thing holding me back from getting everything behind the window. I will definitely go back and try more of the baked goodies, slowly... one by one..... =D
(4)Tan N.
Love this place. We called and made a reservation on a Thursday night after yoga and Didi had our meal that we ordered ahead already cooking when we arrived. The pan African menu was delicious! I wasn't a fan of the chickpea soup but my partner loved it. The whole fish we had was spicy and flavorful. Delicious. The chicken and couscous I had was amazing and the couscous the best I've ever had--and I've had a lot. It was so moist I couldn't believe it was couscous! He adds a lot of flavor and texture with tiny slivers of peppers or something magical. So full we had no room for dessert that night. However, we've also gone for breakfast where the portions are not quite as big and had room to try the purple yam tart which is amazing. Flaky crust, intriguingly not sweet yet savory flavor. Loved it. I was hungry still after breakfast though as the quiche, though delicious, was too small. For the price I would have rather paid a little more and gotten a side salad or something to make it a real breakfast. It was gone in three large bites. All in all though I love this place and it's worth the trip off the beaten path to get here and try something different and new as well as lovingly prepared and thoughtful. I hear they cater so I may have them do a holiday party at work.
(5)RJ N.
Didi creates amazing dishes loaded with creativity and fresh food. Easily the best value and most unique restaurant in the city. A place not to be missed in Columbus!
(5)J C.
Passed through on a business trip and Yelped this little gem. Yes the neighbor is lower income and graffiti ridden, but it is safe, and and parking is plentiful nearby. The menu changes weekly, and the desserts feature both classics and unique combination of flavors like guava and blueberry chausson and guava and curry tarte. My lunch, the date and pineapple chicken leg with kale and seasoned rice was perfectly flavored. Expect to stay a while, my meal took 25 minutes to prepare, and eating and chatting with Didi the owner took another hour. How can you go wrong with a biochemist in the kitchen? The are five or six tables at the restaurant, so you may want to call ahead.
(5)Tamara Q.
My friend insisted on taking me there during my visit to Columbus. L'appat is a charming little cafe full of little surprises. Didi, the owner, is just such a happy and authentic spirit that you feel like old friends even if it is only the first time you are meeting. The passion he has for making his delectable creations is truly inspiring, and the unique selection of pastries make it truly one of a kind bakery. I had the Asian purple sweet potato tart. It was as light as air and so delicate and delicious that I had to share it just so someone else could attest to how great it was. Given the opportunity, I will definitely stop by again for some delicious eats and a great conversation.
(5)Christina C.
What's that you say, DiDi (the owner)? You know over 1,000 pastry-like recipes and can virtually whip up anything my heart desires? Ok! Came here for the first time for a lunch meeting and was totally wowed. While the neighbors don't offer much to look at, and the space is empty and teeny-weeny, the dozens and dozens of pastries and snacks in the case made my mouth drop to the floor. So many interesting flavor combos of quiches, cookies, brownies and other things I don't know exactly what they are... Everything made my mouth water by just looking at it! We dined in so our waiter was nice enough to drop off a few samples. First the mojito lemonade (perfect for summer, but maybe not winter), then the spicy chocolate cookie. Mmmm! In addition to the many pastry options, they have a very small brunch/lunch menu that is served all day. There aren't many options, but definitely a bit hardier if you're looking for a meal. I tried the Royal Oak veggie chasson (a puff-like pastry stuffed with veggies and topped with marinara - looks like a Hot Pocket) and was really impressed. I hadn't had anything quite like it in Columbus. It was light 'n' fluffy yet savory and satisfying. The perfect lunch that doesn't weigh you down. The accompanying corn salad was also a nice surprise. Kind of like a corn-slaw almost with hints of sweetness. The presentation was even impressive. Lots of color! (Be sure to check my photo.) The owner DiDi is incredibly friendly and will go out of his way to make sure your visit is memorable. He told me a story about a woman who hoped they carried a particular type of pastry... although they didn't, he told her to come back the next day so he could try to replicate it. So she did and said it was on par with what she'd hoped so she bought the whole batch! Customer service at its finest. Now that's how you get repeat customers. He told us in addition to running this business part-time (he views this as his "hobby" since he loves it so much) he's also getting his doctorate degree in BIO CHEMISTRY at Ohio State. How this man has time to create these amazing confections is beyond me. A genius! Ask him to tell you his story. It's fascinating. I could come here everyday and still never try everything here. He plans to slowly add in new items as they become more popular. And if you're looking for a caterer, they do that, too!
(5)Paul F.
L'appat has done a marvelous job converting what was an old house into a very inviting dining room with pastry cases. Each of the tables has a candle on it and white table cloths and silverware. They looked so nice I was almost afraid of soiling the tablecloth while eating there. The service was just great! Handled by a young lady who really knew what she was doing. The owner was also there and he was quick to greet myself and any other customers that came in. I ordered a cup of vegetable soup, which was clearly homemade. It had a tomato broth and was delicious. It was served with a couple of slices of buttered toast. I also ordered an "apricot chausson". This was apricots in a puff pastry crust and was as good a pastry as I've ever had in Columbus. They're off to a great start and good things lie ahead!
(5)Kate H.
What a fantastic little place. I was drawn here after seeing the rave reviews from my fellow Yelpers. The beautiful bistro setting is at a great contrast to the surrounding neighborhood, much in the tradition of Angry Baker but perhaps even more so. The owners staff the place effortlessly, very friendly and excited about having you as a guest. Had the African Sweet Potato tart and the Apple Pear Caramel tart... Both very good, the former surprising and amazing. We also bought a chocolate cinnamon cake to go, beautifully presented. The chef is obviously well trained and passionate and it was overall a great experience. The only cons would be that it is rather pricey and somewhat affected for the location. UPDATE: the cake was fantastic.
(4)R K.
This place is a gem. Afro-French influences abound. It's definitely not in a great neighborhood, but it's worth the trek. It almost has a New Orleans feel to it with the pastries and Afro-French food in the middle of a ghetto. The food is just amazing - try the vegetarian couscous and the lemonade with coconut. The menu changes weekly, but the pastries are consistently good. Thursday nights are African nights. Tuesday nights are Caribbean.
(5)Robert C.
An eclectic shop along the lines of a corner store you'd find in Columbia heights dc or Harlem New York. Go four blocks further east than you'd feel safe in old town east and you'll find this place on a street corner that is the antithesis for the food. The tarts are tasty and with flavored like curry or sweet potatoe they titillate the taste buds. Didi, the owner always has a story and a laugh. Combine this with dinner at black creek before and you'll show you're Dublin living girl friend that you're edgy and creative
(4)Courtney R.
L'appat is one of my favorite little neighborhood spots. Charming and homey, with a simple elegance. If you try it out more than a few times, the owner will greet you by name. It's that kind of place. You can read my full review along with some of my favorite dishes on my blog: neighborfoodblog.com/201…
(4)Andrew C.
Very different menu and eclectic ingredients. High quality as well. Also fun location. That said I though their mint chocolate lemonade had too many flavors going on at the same time. My taste buds did not know what to do or think. They weren't sure if it was really good, kinda good, or bad. Pasteries as are excellent as well.
(4)Joshua H.
In an attempt to get a bit more fit, I denied myself the devout pleasures of DiDi's genius far too long. He's added, altered, and amplified his variety and flavors with his signature flare. I tried his new sweet treat, the Brazilian Sweet Potato Tart. Light but creamy, with just the right amount of South American ingredients and flavors, combined with a touch of island freshness that was too delightful to define while eating it. DiDi hasn't missed a beat, and just keeps raising his game! I'll have to be careful, or those mystery pounds will find their way back...
(5)liz l.
We have been here for brunch and dinner and also had dessert. Brunch was good, very tasty, but the offerings are a little slim. It's a tiny place, so fair enough. Dinner was awesome. First of all, we called on our way over because they close on the early side (we went for pan-African night) and they kept the place open for us and were extremely gracious about it to boot. We had soup, an Egyptian chicken dish, and a fish dish whose origins I can't remember. The chicken came with a couscous that was UNREAL. It was far and away the best I've ever had, I stole a lot of my girlfriend's dinner eating it. Fortunately, the servings are huge :) My whole fish with veggies, spicy tomato sauce, and potatoes was also delicious and I over-stuffed myself because I could not stop eating it. Dessert, which we took with us, was a Japanese sweet potato tart. SO. GOOD. Not too sweet, very flavorful, just delicious. Didi and everyone we've encountered there have been also extremely nice, the service is great, and they are just really friendly and relaxed and enthusiastic about your enjoyment of the place.
(5)Michael U.
Yeah the person that gave this jewel 2 stars obviously has the pallet of a gorilla. And the prices are very reasonable. The 8 dollar cake is more than an individual serving and looked delicious. I just couldn't have eaten that much. I went for the first time today because I like giving small business owners a chance. Trust me...he did me a favor. The food was delicious and the flavors subdued and not overwhelmed with sugar and sweet. We had lunch so I had the pesto chicken paninni. Incredible. You could taste the freshness and the individual ingredients. My friend had the egg panini. He is difficult to please and has a lot of things he doesn't care for. This won him over and he is now a huge fan. The menu changes weekly so we have decided this is our once a week spot. Didi is GREAT and you can tell he is a proud man. As well he should be. Don't be taken aback by the neighborhood. This area is being nicely changed into a great area and he's adding to that. The place is very charming with white tablecloths and everything.
(5)JENNIFER W.
Great pastries from this Patisserie! The menu changes weekly. I had a wonderful pistachio and lemon pastry. The owner is very personable.
(5)Nijole T.
I feel almost guilty to ruin Didi's (the charming owner) perfect 5 star rating. I'm sorry maybe my tastebuds are too used to the usual garb of standard american sweets, but I lived in France the last 15 years and the pastries he has to offer are not at all tickling to my tastebuds. Everything is a little strange, a little off and VERY expensive. It all has very funky out of the ordinary ingredients, alot of sour mixed with sweet. I had the friand and it something very strange to it, cloves, I don't know but it was very bitter. Also I got the pistacio tart, just not my thing, not sweet at all Also a lemon cakelet, nope I was not pleased, even though these are all things I usually enjoy. The things I DID really want to try were $8+ for a little cake and I just did not want to spend that much. The owner is great and has a reall passion for what he does, if you have very adventurous tastebuds, by all means you might love it. Me, I would rather go next door to the angry baker and eat a chocolate eclaire the size of my head.
(2)Zachary A.
After visiting France in May and then moving to Columbus for the summer, I started searching for a French-style bakery in the area. I couldn't have been more satisifed with L'appat. The rest of the reviews are spot on: L'appat has class. In an old, stand-alone brick building, L'appat's solid black awning proudly announces in white type that this is "L'appat Patisserie and Cafe." The few tables inside are draped in white, and the pastries are displayed in a shiny glass case. As I came just a few hours before closing on a Saturday, there was not a lot of variety in the pastry case. But the pastry I did get - the Brazilian Sweet Potato Pie - was perfect. The crust was as flaky as any Parisian patisserie's crust, and the sweet potato was sweet (obviously) and silky. It was like sweet potato casserole but better, and that's saying a lot. DiDi's wife took my order. She asked me how my day was going and gladly filled me a to-go cup with water and ice, as I had been walking, and it was a hot day. L'appat might not be in Paris. But with these treats, I for one couldn't be happier that it's on this side of the pond.
(5)Lori W.
The cinnamon chocolate cake was wonderful. The owners were so nice and explained all their different tarts and goodies. Curry chicken sandwich was very tasty as well. I cant wait to return to try some of their other offerings. A very nice atmosphere as well. Do not let the neighborhood scare you. Support local good people like Minerva and Didi who are proud of their food and happy to share it with everyone who ventures in the door.
(5)Andrew H.
My wife and I visited L'appat for the first time this past Saturday morning. We strolled our 12-month-old daughter from our home a few blocks away because it was a beautiful day and we wanted to walk anyway. We ordered an egg & cheese panini, a Polish Sweet Cheese pie, a lemon/blueberry tart, and a pineappl/mango tart. Everything was fantastic! We have decided that a visit to L'appat will be a regular thing for us from now on!
(5)Steve S.
Pretty fantastic. Especially for the price. Very authentic, very well made food. Will be visiting again soon!
(5)Stuffedtiger H.
I'd been meaning to check this place out since it's in my neighborhood, but I had been hesitant because my experience at past French bakeries was one of painful prices for painfully small and mediocre food. I bought a chicken panini but since it was closing time, I had to wait while they reheated the grill. No problem. I spent the next 10-15 minutes looking at the various cookies and pastries which included Greek honey tarts, guava-coconut chausson, lavender chocolate, Mexican spice chocolate, and raspberry cookies just to name a few. The panini was great--tasted much fresher than something you would get a Panera for a similar price (6.50) and by the time my order The prices for pastries range from 1.00 for a cookie to 8 bucks for some of the larger pastries. I eventually succumbed to my belly and bought a Mexican chocolate spice cookie. The place is run by a couple. Didi and Minerva. Didi the more loquacious one and Minerva the more reserved yet no less engaging. Before I left, Minerva asked if I had tried a lavender chocolate cookies before. When I told her that I hadn't, she said, "You should try one" and grabbed me one ("free, of course"). For a moment I felt as if I was transported into the Matrix when the Oracle offers Neo cookies that will make him feel better about life, and as I drove back home munching on the cookies, for a moment, I did momentarily feel as if everything was going to be alright.
(5)Seth D.
I had heard great things on Yelp(seems like all my favorite new places come from Yelp) so I stopped by with my son for some brunch. Yeah, its definitely in a run down neighborhood. Almost like a high class Oasis in a desert of dilapidation. On the inside it's got that nice old time main street feel that I just love. Pretty simple with the seating. A couple very small tables for two cramped against the wall, and one practically in the hall and two medium sized tables for 3. I wouldn't necessarily plan on sitting down during a rush. There are two display cases full of baked French goodies, some West African inspired. Many things you might recognize like the tarts, others you might not. The owner was very helpful in helping me pick something out and went out of her way to make sure I had my delicious coffee the way I wanted it. She explained that they were still catching up from a busy weekend so the cases were a bit sparse, and they were also dealing with a big order so although my son's egg and cheese sandwhich came out quickly, I had to wait a bit on my beef chausson. My son's sandwich was delicious! It was made with more of an egg souffle than just scrambled eggs, and sprinkled with a salty herb mix and warmed panini style. Waiting for my food, the owner was very nice and explained what was going on and it was worth the wait! The beef chausson wasn't quite like anything I've had, but I guess it could be described as a long croissant filled with beef and sauce. It was served with a bit of pesto and what they described as "African hot sauce" which were perfect with it. After we ate we picked out a chocolate cinnamon mini cake, which was like a big brownie for dessert later that night. I ended up back there a few hours later though so I could pick something up to show off my new find to my mom. This time I got a mini strawberry cheesecake and an African white sweet potato tart which came with a scoop of really thick whipped cream type topping. The tart was super duper spectacular. It had a great flavor and texture and it was all balanced perfectly without being too heavy, although I wasn't too sure about the whipped topping because it seemed a lot like cool whip. I wasn't as enamored with the cheesecake however because although the flavor and texture were nice, I'm really picky with cheesecake and I was a little dissapointed by how light and fluffy it was. Fast forward a couple hours and I'm being blown away by the mini chocolate cinnamon cake that's been sitting in my fridge with the whipped topping. One bite and I was in love, with both the cake and the topping. I think it's way better cold than at room temperature and tasted less like cool whip and maybe more like marshmallow cream and whipped cream. I had to use my willpower to stop from eating the whole thing, but that gave out at about 2:00 AM when I ate the rest in bed with a glass of milk. Alright, so throughout my experience with this wonderful establishment, I drifted between 3-5 stars and ended on 5. No, everything was not perfect, but here's why this is as good as it gets. First of all, it's real. These are not classicly trained bakers churning out the classics. These are people like you and me, who have loads of talent in the kitchen who are showing you and me a glimpse into how they see the world of food. Second, you really feel like you're an important part of their life when you there. No attitudes like most places who treat you like they're annoyed that you're giving them work to do. Third, they take risks and they pay off. I very rarely go to the same place multiple times, but this is the kind of place where you will be able to have something unique and different each time. Bottom line, this is the kind of small business that deserves a permanent place in our Columbus food scene and I would hate to ever see it leave, so I hope that as the revitalization of old town east continues, they are able to flourish in their pursuits!
(5)