Fika...is it any good?

[picapau]

We'll be visiting NY this weekend and will be staying around 51st and Lexington. We'll also be going to the Paris Theatre around 59th and 5th or 6th. I Heard about the coffee shop, Ficka near 59th St. Station and we're interested in trying it. Any suggestions on what's good,etc. Also, any good, inespensive places around where we're staying? By inexpensive I mean $15 per for lunch and now more than $30 per for dinner (excluding drink). Any info will be appreciated.

[moh]

Fika is definitely worth checking out. The expresso is amazing there! The crema, oh the crema... Great cappucino too. I gave myself some wicked coffee shakes because I didn't want to stop drinking...

[picapau]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to try Fika and I'll check out 51st and 2nd and 1st. I'll let everyone know how it turned out.

[roze]

If you do mean Fika it is great!! My favorite place for an espresso and a treat in the city! It's pretty reasonable too! Here's my post from my blog:

I decided to schedule a hair cut appointment for this Satudray since I knew Mr. T had to work most of the afternoon. I always get my hair cut on a weekeday and am usually so exhausted from work I just go right home after. My hair cut place is uptown around 54th street, so when I got done Saturday about 1:30 I decided to walk around uptown for a little while since I never do that anymore. If you named just about any place below 23rd street I could tell you exactly where it is....Uptown not so much. I never spend time wandering here. So I was pretty excited. I was feeling like a good cup of coffee to start out my day so I headed over to a place I had heard about last year called Fika.

Fika (prononced fee ka)bills itself as a Swedish espresso bar that's also kown for it's chocolates. Look you can almost see me in the reflection :)

Fika is quite small with only about 3 tables and a short bar to sit at. I walked in and took a look at their pasteries.

I wasn't feeling chocolate for some reason so I decided to order a vanilla cookie and a single Macchiato.

Now Mr. T and I just started a very strict budget so we can save money to actually pay off some of our debts so I was pretty happy when I was told the bill $3.25. That's pretty good! The cookie was only a dollar! Not too sabby for nyc.

So I happily grabbed a stool at the bar and sat down to enjoy my wares.

Now I haave to say that I do not know that much about coffee. Some people are really into where the beans are from, how they grinded, etc. Me? I just know what tastes good.

My favorite coffee place in the city is 9th Street Espresso. We usually end up in one of their locations every weekend. If were going to the East Village we first head over the Avenue C for an espresso or if were in the West Viallge our first stop is usually Chelsea Market for a spot.

So I was shocked when I took a sip of my Macchiato.

Why was I shocked? Because it was so AMAZING!!! I couldn't believe it! It was a little lighter than 9th street's but so perfectly balanced. I think I drank it in about 10 seconds. I feel kind of bad because I love 9th street so much but man...Fika stole my heart!

Then I tried out my cookie. The barista told me that it was very light for a cookie. I picked it up and it started to crumble...Oh no I thought. It's just really dry, but then I took a bite.

Wow! It was really light! Look at the airy holes inside.

It was kind of a cross between a cookie and a merengue. I was extremly happy with my choices! I sat at the counter grinning and just watching the city go by as I enjoyed my treats.

http://nyctastes.blogspot.com/search/...

[MMRuth]

Now I really do have to stop in, based on your description of the coffee. Have you tried the one at VQ or Bottega? That's my current favorite, so I wondered how it might compare.

[roze]

I've never tried either one, are they both on the UES? Fika is much lighter than many I've had but still maintains a deep flavor. Sorry I can't compare but happy tasting :)

[MMRuth]

Bottega is 59th between Fifth and Madison, and its sister place, VQ is East 73rd. Same coffee at both.

[MMRuth]

I think you maybe thinking of Fika, which is a Swedish coffee shop. I've not eaten here, but here's a recent report about the place:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/48372... - more discussion about it in other posts too in that thread.

The sandwiches did look very nice, and it's a great idea for near the Paris - I may do that myself this weekend - haven't thought of it. You can also have a panini at Bottega del Vino, which we do sometimes before the Paris - but it can get pricey quickly.

-----
Bottega Del Vino
7 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022

Fika
41 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019

[egit]

I'm not sure about Ficka, never heard of it.

But your best bet for more inexpensive and decent food is to walk over towards 2nd or 1st ave. In fact, you could walk across 51st street and pass a number of nice spots between 2nd and 3rd. There are okay italian, japanese, frenchish, pubby, etc along 2nd. First ave too, but there are fewer and it's a block farther for you.