99 Park Group adding Fika House Kafe to Bellevue

The group that brought you 99 Park Restaurant is adding a Nordic-inspired café to its repertoire. Fika House Kafe, a new project from 99 Park Owner Micah Pittman, will open in March at Soma Towers in Bellevue (288 106^th Ave NE, Suite 100, Bellevue) with 99 Park Executive Chef Quinton Stewart creating the limited menu and 99 Park’s mixologist and bar manager Jason Saura being the lead in crafting "unique and innovative" coffee drinks and cocktails.

Fika House Kafe will cater to those who really, really love coffee—and those who just want to explore it more on a deeper level. Think not only espresso-based drinks and cold brews, but coffee flights, pairings, siphoned coffee and coffee cocktails. To help, Slate Coffee Roasters is providing Fika with a unique blend of specialty coffee. Fika House Kafe will aim to cater to coffee connoisseurs but will also serve Washington wines and beer and small bites.

The highlight of the small food menu will likely be the Fika Waffle. Chef Quinton and Pittman have been working together to concoct an original waffle recipe which will be offered in multiple flavors in sweet and savory changing seasonally with the coffee, and topped with house made syrups.

"Fika is a Nordic term to have a coffee break often accompanied by a pastry," says Pittman. "We aim to enhance that experience.  Fika is for the connoisseur of coffee. Fika will bring principals of gastronomy and mixology into the everyday coffee drinker’s cup."

The space will have Nordic inspired interiors with clean lines, earth tones and natural wood much like 99 Park, but smaller. The café will have coffee drinks and waffles mostly for take away but space for 12 to 14 will be available for those wanting a full Fika experience. Once open in March hours will be 7 a.m. to close Monday through Sunday.

—Geri Massengale