FIKA was a very pleasant surprise, though I feel a bit embarrassed I didn't know it was on the grounds of the American Swedish Institute. I had been driving around the area trying to spot a good lunch place before seeing an exhibit, and came up dry. So I was relieved to see it when I entered the Nelson Center. Seating and service were prompt but not rushed. Looking over the menu I spotted the names of several family favorites, though the salads sounded really good too, but maybe next time. I decided I had to do a Swedish Meatball comparison (my mother's maiden name was Nelson). The small plate was very artfully arranged and I saw right away they would not be much like my mom's! And that was fine, they are both excellent in their own way. These contain pork and are not served in gravy, but on top of potato puree, and the whole combination was delicious. I like that the tables are spaced fairly far apart; the atmosphere is casual but classy at the same time. It was a sunny fall day so I got to soak up the natural light and admire the inflated Yule goat on the patio. read more

FIKA - Swedish Meatballs - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Never been here before. Loved it. It has a super clean feeling to it and I encountered very friendly and chill staff who obviously believe in this place. Our server was great and suggested sharing a bottle of Summer Sangria for $20 which was just perfect. He also suggested the heirloom tomato salad and the smoked Mackerel and don't forget the Seed Crackers. Our server made sure that we enjoyed our lunch in time before a lecture at the Institute by noon. Mansion and gift store are also wonderful. What a wonderful day. read more

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We just stopped in for pastries, not a full meal. We were asked to sit in an adjoining room that was bright white with spaced out tables and seats. It had its own water dispenser. The cinnamon bun and cardamom bun were fantastic--still warm, even! My husband had a coffee as well and said it was good. read more

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Servers were so knowledgeable and friendly!!! Food was excellent and drinks delicious! read more

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This is a great place for authentic Swedish food and drinks! Yes they have wine, beer and cocktails! staff are friendly and fast. It has a casual and contemporary atmosphere that's ideal for a date or a simple get together with friends. You should try the Swedish meatballs, they are tasty! read more

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Stopped here for a bite after walking through the amazing mansion. Got seated fairly quickly, but unfortunately it went downhill from there. Took 10 minutes for a glass of water to be brought to the table, which was after my neighbors who arrived before I did. Ordered a drink and dinner only to wait and wait and wait. The dinner came out but my drink had not. Ten minutes later, the drink came out and had a fruit fly in it. Another five minutes to replace it. I never expect something to be comped but this would have been a great opportunity for them. Oh -the wait staff did bring me some sort of pastry that was not fresh whatsoever. Bad experience, but I will try again if I get back. read more

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Don't miss the Swedish meatballs. Why aren't lingonberries everywhere? Even the mustard was a knockout. Tony, the excellent waiter, helped guide me through the "small plates" segment as I was unclear on the size. (The prices are not small but the flavors are outstanding and the dishes are quite Instagram-friendly). I got the awesome open-faced salmon sandwich, featuring a notable supporting performance by beets. It seems there are rotating coffee specials; today there was the delightful "Hot Swede" with cardamom syrup. read more

A lovely, open space inside the American Swedish Institute, FIKA is a pleasant spot for lunch with excellent service. I had the Gravalax for lunch which had sushi-grade salmon and a cup of coffee. Although the Gravlax is their second most popular dish (Swedish meatballs would be their #1 entree), it was an elegant and delicious lunch (though a bit pricey). Due to a mild food allergy (sesame seeds and tree nuts), I asked the server if the bread in the platter could be replaced. She asked the chef about the food allergy and promptly replaced the bread which was delightful! Another plus of FIKA in this location is a strong sense of community (I observed many locals here getting together on a Saturday afternoon to chat over lunch). Would very much recommend this place if you're planning to visit the ASI. read more

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I had plans to have lunch at Fika Cafe for months - and was finally able to do so on my fourth visit to Minneapolis/Saint Paul two weeks ago from California. I was there on Halloween and eager to sample their unique menu. The dining room was virtually empty - a far cry from my first visit last October when I toured the American Swedish Institute and Turnblad Mansion. I enjoyed the simple but delicious house salad and open-face salmon sandwich. So fresh and wholesome! The minimalist design of the dining room is a winner as well. read more

FIKA - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

LOVED my meal at FIKA! I had the lingenberry cream soda, which was so unique and tasty! I also had an amazing plate of Swedish meatballs. Everything was fabulous and great quality! read more

We've been here several times through the years and it is always a gamble. Food is consistently "ok" and overpriced. Service can range from none at all to a transitional phase where it seems they are babysitting an entirely new crew and berating them at the same time. Today, when we walked in to ASI, it smelled as if something was burning. We decided not to sit in the restaurant and endure this. I ordered at the counter and commented on the offensive odor, and the aloof server stated that it could be that they are cooking a stock. He also kept running his fingers through thinning, long, messy hair, so that was a little concerning as well. We ordered semla from the bakery case and noticed that they were topped with whipped cream, yet presented and served at room temperature, so I'd be a little concerned with the food safety here. We tossed them in the trash when we got home. I still recall the odor of something like cheese burning on a griddle. I don't think we'll give this place another chance. read more

A great fit for the ASI. We tried the Orange Blossom Cream soda. It was okay at first but as the ice melted it was too watery. That was the only issue. We had the following. The Gravlax was excellent with lemon egg yolk and great Danish Rye. They should act another slice of Rye. The Cardamom Bread Pudding was also really good. Gravlax Cured Egg Yolk , Horseradish Crème Fraîche , Cucumber , Red Onion , Danish Rye Cardamom Bread Pudding Caramel Sauce , Whipped Cream Service by Tony was excellent. read more

FIKA - Cardamom Bread Pudding - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I cannot believe I have not been eating here more often - what an absolute treasure and some of the best food I've enjoyed recently in Minneapolis. Tony was our server and he made our afternoon so relaxing and fun. He made us feel welcome and special - he was able to really help us make good choices about what to order and talked about several great items on the menu. We decided to share a couple of things so that we could taste more dishes, and I'm so glad we did! The half Haus Salad was very generous, bright greens and the lightest and brightest dressing you can imagine - loved! We had the Swedish meatballs and the Rock Bass entrees, and while the meatballs were pretty fantastic, the fish was out of this world. Seared perfectly with crispy skin, very thinly sliced fennel with pomegranate and a creamy base - so many textures and colors, it was a delight to eat. Don't miss this dish!! We finished with the bread pudding which was warm and rich and buttery and was a lovely finish with some hot coffee to end our meal. Easy, free parking in the lot and bright open sunlight pouring in - definitely 5 stars! read more

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I went back in November. I want an exceptional place to be my first review of the year. We each got the iced tea, perfect. Soups are excellent here even though I forget what it was. Basil enjoyed his meat dumplings. I loved the gravlax. Everything is so delicate and I loved the thin sliced lox. The point bread, delicious with the beets and caviar. I took home pear almond cake while Basil downed the bread pudding right there. I had a Swedish coffee here once and they even gave me heavy cream on request. It's a really strong coffee. Portions are not large. Don't be shocked when you get the bill cause no one seems to care. They love the experience. It's hard to resist the bakery case. read more

Discovered this gem for Sunday brunch. It doesn't have the traditional brunch menu but it's a good option. I sat outside and it was such a calm ambience. I don't think I would have liked to sit inside so this will definitely be a warm weather staple. Bummed I only just found it! Okay on to the food. Its Swedish themed -obvi it's next to the American Swedish insitute- there were open faced sandwiches and vegetable forward dishes. I got the Swedish meatballs which were PHENOM! I also got the Patty Pan Squash - a Grönsaker as I learned. I got mine with salmon but it can come without. I enjoyed this as well! I didn't try these but the rest of the party got the Braised Pork SMÖRGASAR, Toast Skagen - these are open face sandwiches- also tried were the Potato cake. General consensus was everything was good! For drinkies. If you love bloody Mary's. You should definitely get the bloody Swede. I personally hate beets so I didn't enjoy it but it smelt and looked Yummyy so try this if you like. I got the whiskey sour with Lingonbwrry juice. I think it was just okay. Very subtle but pretty enjoyable for 1pm. I also had a latte. They offer vanilla and cardamom. I was a rebel and mixed both and it was delicious!! Ended with the Spiced apple cake which was a special. IT WAS DELICIOUS. 10/10. Please put this on your regular menus Okay I took one star away because the portion sizes are ridiculous for the price paid. Yes it was well cooked and all and mostly tasted great but the portion sizes should have been illegal. You definitely need two or three plates to be full. And at $17-$24 a plate can get insane Also the service was a bit slow but not like an hour wait long so it was only mildly irritating. Honestly the only thing I didn't love was the portion sizes. TLDR: yummy interesting dishes. Sitting outside is a must. Great cocktails. Pricy dishes for small portions. read more

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I would give Fika a 3.5. A LITTLE SLICE OF SCANDINAVIA We stopped by Fika for lunch (Inside the 'American Swedish Institute') while taking a break from a nearby art museum, a 15 minute walk away. We thought it would be fun to experience a slice of Scandinavia while vacationing in Minneapolis. PRICEY, LIMITED, BUT GOOD QUALITY Fika was on the expensive side and choices were somewhat limited. They were out of the entrée that I wanted and only had one dessert out of several offered. Service was slightly slow despite them not being very busy. MINIMAL AND MINISCULE One of us ate soup with bread and the other an open faced sandwich, both of which were good quality, although don't expect 'American' sized portions! The decor is very minimal and clinical, as you might expect for a Scandinavian café. I found the atmosphere a little lackluster, but maybe that would be different on a busier day. Afterwards, we enjoyed looking in the gift shop which is part of the American Swedish Institute. Overall, a slightly disappointing visit, but the food we ate was very good. See my photos attached to this review for more details. Was this review helpful? read more

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My partner and I recently spent two nights in Minneapolis. I pre-ordered four rolls (two cardamom and two cinnamon) from FIKA. Unbeknownst to me, the American Swedish Institute and, hence, FIKA were closed on the day I was supposed to pick up the rolls (Juneteenth). Therefore, Mandy, FIKA's operations manager, contacted me via e-mail to make alternative arrangements. The rolls were wonderful. The cardamom rolls were especially enjoyable because you rarely find that spice in American baked goods. read more

FIKA - Cinnamon and cardamom rolls - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Why on earth would you sell me a coffee drink as I'm clearly entering the institute and not mention in I need to finish it or throw it away in the 50 yard walk to the mansion entrance. Seems slimy at worst and just incompetent at best. Plenty stylish but the chai latte was very so so and chai forward which is a personal preference thing I guess. read more

FIKA - Very stylish just dumb set up and service. - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

After visiting the American Swedish Institute, we decided to stop in and have a light snack. We ordered the Swedish meatballs to split on site. Ordered the Cardamom Bread Pudding to take home for later. We weren't expecting a big sized portion. However, there were only four meatballs. The cost was $19.99, and the meatballs were average tasting. The bread pudding portion was also extremely small. For $11.99, it tasted good but had no cardamom flavor. The ambiance was light and relaxing, a nice way to end a visit to ASI. read more

FIKA - Swedish meatballs - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cute restaurant that is part of the American Swedish Institute. They have inside and outside seating available. And no, you dont have to pay the entry fee for the museum even though it looks like a very nice museum. Plenty of parking in private lot. Menu consists of various open face sandwiches (braised pork, shrimp and egg, havarti and egg), small plates (swedish meatballs, gravalox, salmon), salads and soup. Food was delicious! The atmosphere was relaxing. All in all i definitely recommend because it was just something different and a positive experience. read more

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The food & drinks are amazing! The service from the waiter was also great, however, the hostess was frazzled & not very organized. She would notify 5-6 parties at a time that their tables were ready which caused chaos. The line was crazy when we arrived; we took the tour & returned. There was no line BUT we still had to wait over an HOUR (we were told ~35-45 mins) for a table. I would recommend getting your ticket, checking in for the restaurant, doing the tour & then eating. They will take your name & phone # & text you when your table is ready. read more

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I was looking forward to visiting this restaurant, die to its great reputation! It dis not disappoint The salmon was recommended to me and it was great!! I also got the soup of the day, Cauliflower potato. It appeared to have bacon bits on top and that was the perfect addition. I also tried 2 desserts- the bread pudding and caramel apple cake. Both were good, but I did prefer the caramel apple cake. Overall, an excellent meal that exceeded my expectations! read more

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My last review of Fika is 8 years old and I felt an update was due. I was back at the American Swedish Institute for their Christmas program which is a must see and my wife and I had a late lunch or early dinner at Fika. The Swedish meatballs have received rave reviews and justifiably so. You get four nice sized meatballs served on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes served with lingonberries and a small portion of micro sliced cucumbers. Upscale comfort food. It was delicious. We also had the bread pudding for desert. I can't remember eating better bread pudding! Service was excellent. We were there on a Sunday afternoon and they were busy but we only had to wait about 10 minutes. They close at 4 pm and stop seating at 3 so plan accordingly. The ambiance is informal. We were there on Sunday and even though they have a large lot parking was a challenge. Definitely recommend Fika. read more

I had never had a cardamom roll before, I wasn't expecting much. I would have to say I am a huge fan and sad that I only ordered one. I may have to come back just for another roll! It had wonderful flavor, perfect texture was not dodgy and all around delicious read more

My first visit here was a cocktail on the patio. It was so lovely. With views of the mansion and patio gardens its hard to believe you are that close to downtown Minneapolis. I chose Water Under the Bridge for my drink and it was so artistically done. From the separation of liquids to the flower bloom as a garnish, it was almost too beautiful to drink but glad I dove in because it was equally refreshing and delicious. I hope to come back for food in the near future. Very artsy vibe. read more

FIKA - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I recently got to enjoy brunch at the Fika Cafe, which is located at the American Swedish Institute. We got to sit in the shade on the patio with a great view of the Mansion there. I sat down and enjoyed and incredible Vanilla Latte, which would've been worth the visit alone! For brunch I ordered the Braised pork and also got to try some of their Swedish meatballs. Both dishes were excellent! To go with my brunch meal, I ordered the Bloody Swede. Which was a Bloody Mary made with beet juice. I don't normally like Bloody Mary's but this one was excellent and also worth the visit alone. We got a delicious apple desert which was a special, which I also really enjoyed. There was some issues with food coming out from the kitchen and we had to ask for some of our items, but the food, ambiance and drinks is definitely worth a stop. Especially if you have never been to the institute before. I can't wait to go back! read more

FIKA - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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When the cafe is open, it's impossible to walk into the ASI without swooning over the scent of freshly baked goods. I went, planning to visit the museum (and did!), but got sidetracked and am SO glad I was. Their chef captures and makes the most of seasonal produce. Their bakers understand the art of the breakfast pastry. And if you love cardamom, you may never leave. Go ahead and try one of their specials. I walked out with a rhubarb Tres Leches cake that was to die for, along with a perfect decaf miel. Mmm. So great. read more

FIKA - Rhubarb Tres Leches - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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My friend and I had lunch at FIKA before visiting the American Swedish Institute, and it was a really good lunch! We had some cocktails (it was a Sunday, so it was technically brunch)! I had their Bloody Swede (aquavit, beet brine, and bloody mix), and my friend had their Lingonberry Whiskey Sour (bourbon, simple syrup, lemon, lingonberry). We loved the drinks we ordered (I would absolutely drink the Bloody Swede again). We shared the Swedish meatballs small plate (potato puree, cucumber, lingonberry, mustard, and dill oil), which I liked, but I couldn't have done without or with less of the potato puree for a small plate. I had the salmon smorgasar (salmon, beet, creamy mustard, and watercress on Danish rye), and my friend had the slow-cooked pork shoulder (braised red cabbage, sweet dill mustard, and crispy shallot on Danish rye). We enjoyed both. (Smorgasar are open-faced sandwiches by the way.) The outside seating was lovely (there is inside seating also but it feels a little like a museum café, whereas the outside seating was really special)! The service was good, too. Overall, a great place for lunch whether you're visiting the American Swedish Institute or not! read more

Consistently great. The only minor occasional hiccup is the service can be slow at times, but the food is fantastic and the location at the American Swedish Institute (which always a fun to visit) is amazing. I've had the salmon a couple of times and it is perfect. This last visit I branched out and had the squash dish and it was so yum. Some mint was in there and it was so so good. I almost always have the bread pudding for dessert as well. If you have not eaten here you should (and then visit the museum!) - it is easily the best restaurant in a museum in the Twin Cities, and one of the best museum restaurants in the country, in my opinion. read more

Came on my food tour to try the Swedish meatballs. Everything that accompanied them felt elevated and intricate (Juniper spiced, potato purée, cucumber, lingonberry, mustard sauce). The weakest component was oddly the meatballs that were just a touch dry. Amazing blends of flavors though. Glad I tried them at the cafe inside the Swedish institute! read more

FIKA - Swedish meatballs - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I didn't have super high expectations for this place since it's in a museum-ish place but I ended up being very impressed! We ordered all three of their salads and a cocktail and they were all great! read more

FIKA - Smashing pumpkins - Modern European Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Met a friend for a fun lunch get together and was pleasantly surprised by how good my lunch was. Initially I wasn't sure as the menu online looked a bit scarce, but they had really good food. My friend has the walleye cake special which looked good and the cardamom bread pudding. I ordered the rock shrimp sandwich which was open face and delicious. Nice size shrimp bites with a wonderful sauce, dill, a ton of onions (thank god I had plenty of breath mints) and other garnish. It was surprisingly good. Lovely atmosphere, great catch up and a great time! Service was good. read more

Delicious open-faced sandwiches with shrimp or salmon. Attentive and friendly service. Although the setting is rather cafeteria-like, the food is good and it was fun to tour the American Swedish Institute read more

We came to take advantage of their play area in basement reservation. Afterwards it was lunchtime so had soup/salad and grilled cheese sandwich for son. Overall, nicely done and better than trying to get lunch at MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art) which is all prepackaged meals. We especially liked the soup and the leafy salad was crunchy and fresh. Our son loved his sandwich but could only eat half. Staff was nice to get box for us to bring home. read more

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Great food! It helps not to be very hungry when you go, as the portions are somewhat small.

Fika is the cafe at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. I went before the pandemic. It was so popular, and there was a long wait. They very quickly ran out of their cardamom buns, which was a little annoying why they didn't make more of something so popular. The bun was nice enough, but I really liked the cookies. I also had their bread and butter. People really dress up to go here. read more

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Had a lovely late lunch here, shortly after we arrived. Our server, Tina was so helpful and friendly. Everything looked so good, but decided on the Gravlax w/ creamy potato, green bean, snap pea, radish and soft egg- wow! So wonderful. Then the Swedish Meatballs, with a potato purée, cucumber, lingonberry, mustard sauce and dill - some of the best I've had. We were there over "happy hour" - $1 off cocktails and glasses of wine, and 1/2 off bottles of wine. I tried The Princess- and it was light and refreshing: Aquavit, St. Germaine, Absinthe, pineapple and lemon. They even have a couple new vegan items that sound great: a mushroom toast and peach and burrata on Danish rye w/ arugula pesto and sunflower seeds. Great spot for some gourmet bites before checking out the museum! read more

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*** 3,900th review *** On my most recent trip to Minneapolis, the ASI was a must visit. Luckily, Tim M. and I were hungry enough to snag a meal here, and we were really blown away. In full disclosure, one of us has a Swedish background, so there were some favorites we were drawn to right away, and it was hard to choose what to get. Ultimately we both got open-face sandwiches, the fried cod and the short rib. They were a little more different than gravlax or meatballs. Admittedly, we were kind of surprised by how long it took to get our food since the restaurant wasn't too full, but it was worth the wait. They were probably the most beautiful sandwich I've ever had the pleasure of eating. My cod had a magic yellow sauce and amazing textures with greens and the lightly-fried fish. The short rib was equally amazing and tender. Absolutely delicious with every bite. We're still talking about these sandwiches. As a beer maven, I was surprised there were no Scandinavian beers, but the selection was solid. They even have a "surprise $6 beer" menu, which I'm very curious about its popularity as there was a range of beers in the list. The cocktail menu is very nice and seasonal. read more

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Having a great time. Popped into the American Swedish institute. It's pretty nice and quaint. But the little restaurant was very nice and the food. Is amazing. The Halloumi and Tomato salad is winners. Swedish Meat balls and salmon is great also read more

Glad I got to try it. Beautiful restaurant- clean, simple, elegant. Maybe had my hopes and expectations were just slight too high given all the 5/5 reviews. The Swedish meatballs were definitely solid though maybe would have traded 1 more meatball for slightly less mustard (very tasty mustard but quite the pile for only 4 meatballs!). The Arctic char was overall good but found the almond cake a bit lacking. Would come here again with friends or to also see the ASI, but not sure would be my first pick to return given so many great dining options in the area. A side note - I really liked the museum gift shop at ASI! Was a pleasant way to pass some time while meeting a friend. read more

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