Hit pause at L’apostrophe
A neat new Banani café is making waves with its warm ambience, thoughtful plating and playful menu — but do its much-hyped dishes live up to the buzz?
L'apostrophe, located in Banani right in one of the area's busier food zones, is hard to miss. Inspired by the French word for the punctuation mark, the cafe aims to make its mark on Bangladesh's growing coffee culture.
Stepping inside, I immediately felt the shift from the busy streets outside to a calmer, more organised space. The interior has that warm, modern cafe vibe, with wooden tables, soft yellow lighting, and a clean, polished colour palette in soothing shades of blue and brown that makes the whole room look polished without feeling pretentious.
The decor was also kept minimal, without any unnecessary props or overwhelming patterns, which helps create a clean, organised, and inviting atmosphere for visitors.
One feature that really caught our eye is the notable mural inside the café, featuring multiple hands coming together to hold a coffee cup. Our server explained that it represents the cafe's vision of connection, community, and bringing people together over a good cup of coffee.
The seating was simple yet thoughtfully planned, with a mix of two-seaters for solo visitors or quick meetups, and slightly larger tables for friends or small groups.
After seeing it pop up on my feed multiple times, with mixed reviews, I finally decided to stop by and check it out myself. Upon our visit, we ended up ordering a few different items on the menu to understand the buzz among cafe hoppers.
Misu Amour
As soon as we stepped into the café, we decided to try the Misu Amour, a cool drink that seemed perfect for beating the heat. The waiter explained that it was Biscoff-flavoured, which immediately piqued our curiosity.
The drink arrived beautifully, topped with a thick layer of cocoa powder that added a rich aroma even before the first sip. At first sip, it almost tasted like a regular cold coffee, smooth and familiar, but as the flavour lingered, a gentle Biscoff aftertaste emerged, giving it a unique and comforting twist.
I also loved how their drink menu is interestingly segmented, making it fun to explore. For example, the Misu Amour was listed under the section "Feeling Hot? Try...", a clever way to guide visitors.
For anyone who prefers their drinks with medium sweetness, this one hits the mark perfectly.
Price: Tk361
Roasted Beef Sando
Neatly stacked and hearty, this sandwich immediately grabs your attention. The bread is lightly toasted, soft yet sturdy enough to hold all the fillings without getting soggy. Inside, the roasted beef is tender and flavourful, perfectly complemented by their house special sauce, which adds a subtle tangy kick without overpowering the meat.
Fresh greens provided a crisp contrast, while the thin layer of cheese added a creamy, savoury element that tied everything together.
The presentation is equally impressive. What could have been a simple sandwich-and-chips plate is elevated through careful plating. A dramatic swipe of sauce and the addition of bright garnishes transform the dish into something visually striking and sophisticated, making it just as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palate.
Price: Tk752
Minions
This item, by far, was the cutest and most fun item we tried from their menu. The dish consists of three mini burgers served in a cup, each topped with tiny slices of cheese — essentially, bite-sized chicken gourmet burgers.
The burger buns felt fresh, and the patties were well-seasoned, juicy, and flavorful. With each bite, the patty practically melts in your mouth, perfectly complemented by the creamy cheese. The combination of flavours and the playful presentation make it an enjoyable experience. They also serve it with tomato sauce and potato wedges on the side, which makes the dish feel a bit more complete and fun to snack on
That said, for just three mini burgers and five pieces of wedges, the price felt a little on the pricier side. Still, it's a fun, visually appealing dish that's perfect for sharing or snapping a few photos before digging in.
Price: Tk457
Beef Lasagna
We were actually the most excited for this dish because we'd heard so many good things about it. Naturally, expectations were high. While the lasagna itself was cooked well (it cut smoothly with just a fork, which is always a good sign), the overall flavour didn't quite live up to what we were hoping for.
The filling felt a bit mild, and although we couldn't pinpoint exactly what was missing, it definitely needed a little more depth and seasoning to match the hype. With a stronger, more defined flavour profile, this could easily become one of their standout dishes.
What did impress us, though, was the presentation. The way it was plated added so much visual interest that it almost looked like something straight out of a fine-dining menu.
Hence, even if the taste didn't win us over completely, the plating definitely shows effort, creativity, and attention to detail.
Price: Tk 685
Biscoff Cheese Cake
It was the clear winner among everything we tried. And honestly, the servers weren't wrong when they mentioned that the café is best known for its desserts. They also told us that their top-selling cake is the multi-layered chocolate, layered with different types of chocolate and a brownie base, followed by the Biscoff cheesecake.
Since I'm not a big fan of overly chocolatey desserts, I decided to go for the cheesecake, and it definitely didn't disappoint.
The cheesecake had that ideal balance, having a creamy, smooth texture that held its shape but still melted nicely with each bite. The flavour leaned toward a classic cream cheese profile with a pleasant sweetness, while the Biscoff crumbs at the bottom added a warm, caramelised crunch that kept each bite interesting.
Just keep in mind, the slices here are huge. After a full meal, one slice is more than enough to share. But if you're someone who loves cheesecake, you'll probably be tempted to keep it all for yourself.
Price: Tk475
