Editors review Lexington’s newest vegan restaurant, Fika

January 29, 2018

Written by: Kennedy Foreman, Lauren Pennington, Isabella Collins-Paterson, Savanna Ritchie, Nina Rennard and Katelyn Collins.

Downtown Lexington is home to a myriad of restaurants and attractions that appeal to diverse audiences. With a recent surge in vegan lifestyles and plant-based diets, Lexington has added Fika Vegan Cantina to the list of restaurants with vegan options.

Fika Vegan Cantina, located on 804 N Limestone, is found directly above BROOMWAGON Coffee + Bikes. Fika is representing a healthy mind and body; they use the yoga studio in-shop to help people’s mental state and plant-based food to improve health. The name of the restaurant stands for stopping for a moment and enjoying life with good food and friends.

Fika has many cozy places where customers can read or work while enjoying their food. Photo By Kennedy Foreman.

The restaurant had a wall of mirrors for the yoga classes held there during non-business hours. The windows are open, with no shades or blinds on the back wall to allow optimal natural lighting. The ceiling was minimalistic, with exposed beams, holding hanging plants all over the studio. The atmosphere of the restaurant is raw- focusing on where the products came from and how those items were procured.

The menu was small, with only five options. One of the five was unavailable at the time, the vegan Gyro. They also offered two sides, a dessert, and on Sunday mornings, breakfast. The food choices were limited, along with the ingredients used. However, the employees were eager to explain what was in the food and how it was made.

Overall, the options met expectations and had a variety of textures. Many of the menu items were similar, two of which being Mexican with a tomato and rice base. The “meat-mix,” based in beets, was featured in every food choice. This rather soft texture combined with the crunchiness of the squash, olives, and peppers allowed people accustom to a plant-based diet to have an enjoyable experience.

Those who are typically picky when it comes to food found that while the taste was satisfactory, it was hard to get past the texture. While Fika is a great place for those seeking plant-based food, it is not for everyone. They have a very targeted market, which is felt through the employees, décor and food choices. For people who are health conscious or vegan, this would be a great place to stop and dine. If you don’t feel like you fit that description, you might want to find somewhere else.