What could be jollier than spooning a yummy chocolate mud cake while listening to Christmas carols? Fika – Swedish for coffee break – is the place to be for those of you who want to get in the mood for Christmas before Santa falls down your chimney. Thanks to its wooden decor it may resemble a sauna but it is a gem of a restaurant/café decorated with quirky items such as an artificial turf kangaroo sipping a cup of tea.
Once you’re inside you feel like you have taken shelter in a hut after a long walk in the wilds of Sweden. You can warm yourself with a selection of schnapps (beware, they may be small but not as innocent) or choose from the wine list, which offers a good variety without confusing you with French château names. The prices range from £14.10 to £24.20 for a bottle. They also have a good selection of beers and Rekorderlig ciders.
Now the question is what to eat in a Swedish restaurant? From what Ikea has taught us you can’t go wrong with the Swedish meatballs; it’s true but there is more to Sweden than its meatballs. I recommend the Beef plankstek (£14.90), which is served on a wooden board nicely decorated with mashed potatoes. If you insist on a more traditional choice just go for the Köttbullar (£9.95); they live up to their name! They have options for fish lovers and vegetarians as well. The
salmon in Lax planka (£13.50) comes from Billingsgate, which is the UK’s biggest inland fish market. If you eat “nothing with a face” then the Vegi planka (£11.50) is just the right food for you.
Make sure you have space for the dessert because Kladdkaka deluxe (£3.90) is heavenly. I couldn’t dare to try the waffle stack after dinner but next time I’m going there just for this killer dessert and will report back.
This Brick Lane restaurant is great for romantic meals with candle light, spending a lazy Sunday afternoon reading or small size parties. Now, you can also book your Christmas party at Fika for £29 for a three course set menu.
For everything else check this out: http://www.fikalondon.com/
161a Brick Lane,
Shoreditch, London, E1 6SB
T: 02076132013
