Björk Cafe & Bistro

As a life-long vegetarian and one who is allergic to tofu and soy, it is a constant battle for me to find any sort of dish that is hearty, delicious and doesn’t make me feel sick to my stomach. However, let me just say now that I have discovered this gem I can whole-heartedly state to others in the same predicament, look no further than Björk Café and Bistro at the Scandinavian Center right in the heart of NYC. My Mother has been raving about the place for years, Swedish by decent she often attends concerts there then follows by having a meal of meatballs at the Café. Also, side beat here, this isn’t just for vegetarians, my Mom who has been consuming Swedish food since she was a child eats the traditional meat ones and professes her love just as much as I do at their flavorful-savory balls of joy. But, I digress back to the message at hand and my experience- despite my lineage it must be noted that I never really understood the whole meatball thing. That was until I tried these vegetarian meatballs and now let me just say they are on my “death row” food list. Balls of mixed veg that feel hearty, but with the right consistency of what a meatball should be. A bit chewy, yet with a toothsome-tasty bite that comes in a hot skillet bathing in a sea of mushroom gravy. Two heaping sides of mashed potatoes, lingonberry and a small heap of cucumber salad make this the Swedish dish of the year. So warm and comforting, yet you don’t leave with a belly bomb rather a feeling of satisfaction that your satiated your hunger and body with great, healthy ingredients that are not only delicious but good for you too. Not to be missed either, is their infamous princess cake. Another Swedish delicacy I ordered one specifically for my sister’s birthday with many a friend asking me, “why on EARTH would you get your sister a green cake for her birthday?!?!” All were immediately silenced once they sampled the light as air confectionary at her birthday party. My phone continuing to beep more than a drug dealer’s pager on New Year’s Eve for days later with friends raving about it and still does to this day. Ulrika (the head chef) and her team just know how to do it right. This wondrous establishment isn’t just for those from Scandinavia, it’s for anyone looking for great quality food at a reasonable price all throughout the day. Lastly, they are perhaps the kindest kitchen team I have ever come across. As a former food blogger and culinary consultant and marketer, never have I experienced such gracious generosity as I did recently with Björk Café. I sent them an off-handed emailing thinking nothing of it, describing how my family and I were holed up in Long Island during the holidays which was a difficult time for us and how we so missed having their traditional food. Meant more as a compliment then anything else, yet no sooner had I sent the email did my inbox ping with a reply that they would only be more than happy to find a way to deliver us a meal. Keeping in mind that this is at the height of their busiest time of year, with yule boards and the Santa Lucia festival. Even still, they made and took the time to carefully wrap, package and send three orders of their vegetarian meatball meals to me and my family in Long Island. I have never in my life been so touched by the gesture or the food. At a relatively painful time for us, the savory aromas and fond memory-inducing fare brought sweet moments of joy and reflection. It is true what they say, “"Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It's about honesty. It's about identity." - Louise Fresco. This could not be truer for Björk Café, head chef Ulrika and her wondrous staff. If you ever find yourself in the area, right on Park Ave. in NYC stop in for a meal that will not only leave you gastronomically satisfied but with a true sense of hygge like a warm hug from a long-lost Norsemen gnome of a grandparent.

First time trying Scandinavian cuisine and it was spectacular. Didn’t know what to order so I got the herring platter which is a staple in Scandinavian cuisine. Interesting contrast of flavors and the apple cake was also great . Good service

I had a lovely lunch here! Very peaceful Scandinavian experience. If you don’t like pickled fish, would just suggest getting the Swedish meatballs. The princess cake was also lovely. I liked the fish pie part of the smorgasbord plate.

When I'm in New York I always like to visit this Café/Bistro to enjoy delicious and well presented Scandinavian specialties. 👍😊 I especially like going there during the festive December/Xmas season where, like on today's visit, I order the Glögg, mulled wine that is yummy ( that is also available without alcohol) with some delicious open smoked salmon or shrimp sandwich, the herring plate ... or something a bit more substantial like the Icelandic Cod! 👍😋👍 The service is really friendly & professional and the prices competitive. 😊

Our Saturday dinner at Björk Cafe & Bistro reminded us of our favorite dining experiences in Norway and Denmark. The regional food is authentic and delicious, with brilliantly fresh ingredients, and delicate, straightforward flavor. The savory waffle with fresh shrimp was particularly delicious, but the lentil soup and my wife's herring plate were also on point. Our server, Adrian, seems genuinely to love his job and the food he serves. For good food in Manhattan, the prices are shockingly modest. We will come back every time we're in New York. Highly recommend. Our new favorite.

Found this place by chance and were pleasantly surprised: stuff is very friendly and helpful. Food is interesting, some dishes are very scandinavian traditional. We had great time and really enjoyed the food. Will most likely be back

July 2024 - I sadly have to update my review to say I got pretty severe food poisoning from my lunch here. I was so excited to come back and check out he gallery and try more of their food today since my first visit back in March (see review below). This time I ordered the Bjork salmon duet (smoked salmon and salmon tartar) and got soooo sick afterwards. The tartar did taste a little odd but I chalked it up to not being used to the flavor. I have been throwing up for half a day now, sadly. And I'm certain it was food from here because I late absolutely nothing else today. The service was still lovely and I loved the ambiance, the two shops, and the gallery. I am open to giving the restaurant another shot but maybe will stay away from anything raw next time. My date's cauliflower soup with roe was fantastic. March 2024 - Full marks on food, service, and atmosphere!!! I'm so happy there's finally a Scandinavian restaurant that isn't a $300 tasting menu. The restaurant is situated in a cultural center so you eat while surrounded by beautiful art and craft goods. Special highlights were the arctic char, short rib, and apple cake dessert. I would give the fish meatballs a pass. All the flavors and preparations were both interesting and fresh - I would happily eat here multiple times a week to try everything. Our server was incredibly thoughtful, professional, and attentive. We came in during a crowded hour and were seated in the very center of the restaurant. As people left, our server came by to ask us if we'd like to switch to a more quiet, comfortable spot. So thoughtful!! It def would have been more work for him. We declined but were very grateful for the offer.

Love the swedish meatballs with the lingenberry 😋 as well as the gravlax and the herring. The food is absolutely delicious!

Good Scandinavian food can be hard to find in the US (well, outside the IKEA restaurant at least), so I was very excited to give Björk a try after reading a lovely review article about it recently. My friend and I had reservations for 7pm on a weekday; when we got there, it was almost entirely empty (maybe 3-4 other tables). I was not expecting it to be a cafe in the lobby (of Scandinavia House?). There was also a gift shop, closed when we were there, and some other floors with lots of event spaces, I think. Everything on the menu looked sooo delicious, it took us forever to choose! I ultimately went with the classic meatballs (beef) for my meal, and my friend ordered the potato waffle (raggmunks våffla) with gravlax and honey mustard. All the food was sooo delicious! The meatballs were so flavourful and tender, and the potatoes + gravy were soft, fluffy, and not too heavy (sauce also wonderful with the meatballs). The lingonberry jam was excellent - not too sweet, like some that I've had in the US before - and the pickled cucumbers were SO authentic, the crispy sourness pairing perfectly with the sweeter jam and savoury beef. I tried a little bit of my friend's waffle as well, and it was equally fantastic. The salmon had a lovely fresh and clean presence, and the honey mustard, while strong, didn't overpower the flavours of the waffle and the salmon at all. The waffle itself was light and airy, and honestly everything just fit together so nicely. Also, they give some free bread, if you ask for it. It's nothing too spectacular but good to lightly whet your appetite while waiting for your dishes to come. Price point was a bit higher than expected, but honestly for this quality and authenticity? I think worth every cent. I can't wait to come back soon; there's so many things - the smørrebrød, herring plate, more potato waffles, and of course their dagens lunch specials - that I'm so excited to try!

I had the $85 per person pre fixe Thanksgiving Dinner at Cafe Bjork, and I chose the Swedish Meatballs option over the traditional American Turkey dinner, as my main entree. I was quite disappointed; the meatballs were extremely dense, and the sauce was made, as far as I could tell, without cream, and not accompanied by noodles, but by pretty unremarkable mashed potatoes. Overall, my diner was not what I expected. My friend, however, had a nice big Turkey leg that she enjoyed, and our appetizers, and the minuscule sampling of various desserts (in particular the Crème brûlée) were good. I should also mention that I tasted lingonberries for the very first time, and enjoyed them. The service was exceptional - attentive and friendly; the ambience was attractive for a cafeteria.

What a fun and exciting find! The service was great and it's located next to a tiny Scandinavian market. It feels like an elevated ikea if I may say so haha. I ordered the Narragansett beer which was tasty then a potato and leek soup as well as the Swedish meatballs. The soup could have used a bit more salt but it went well with the breads provided and I recognize the seasonings might be specific to that of the culture. The Swedish meatballs were delish! This meal hit the spot. Looking forward to trying the herring next time.

Met a friend for lunch. I've wanted to try this restaurant for a while, because I love herring and it features prominently on the menu. She doesn't care for herring, it she loves gravlax, also a big deal here. We both chose to order the open sandwiches, $9.00 each, and the menu suggests 2 or 3 per person. She ordered two gravlax; I tried one gravlax and one "gentleman's choice." That's a rather unusual name for a sliced hard boiled egg (actually maybe 1/3 of one egg) beneath 3 small strips of herring with some chopped red onion on top. Each slice of a good dark brown bread is about 2x2. The toppings are fresh and high quality. But it's really rather a small lunch, 2 open-faced sandwiches. You get rolls and a delicious little ball of butter included. I did eat mine. My friend ordered a decaf that she said was excellent and I had a cup of mint tea. Total was rather pricey for the quantity of food, but both food and the service were top notch. All staff with whom we interacted were friendly and professional.

Björk is truly a gem if you're looking for Scandinavian food. From the moment you arrive, owner Ulrika greets you and makes sure you have a wonderful experience. Start with classic appetizers ranging from Skagen, Gentleman's Delight, and Gravlax to an assortment of herring. For main course, you can't go wrong with Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries, Scandinavian Hash Pytt I Panna, and amazingly prepared fish dishes. To end a wonderful meal, try exceptional homemade desserts and cookies. Yum! The whole experience is truly unique, with Ulrika and her staff going over and beyond. This is a restaurant we love to return to over and over. Absolutely recommend!

Back in January 1985, I had the good fortune to reside and school in Kobenhavn (Copenhagen), capital of Danmark (Denmark) and over the next 3 plus years, given the chance, experience Nordic Cuisine. And who could not resist Smorgasbord (along with Carlsberg or Tuborg beer). Traditional Swedish Smorgasbord comprises both hot and cold offerings, with bread, cheese and butter being accompanied by cold fish portions such as eel, herring and salmon as well as dashes of additional meat and veg. All in all a visual delight to feast on. Variations of the Smorgasbord are unique to Scandinavian countries, Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as other nations. After thirty something years had the chance to renew my memories of Copenhagen by dining at Bjork Cafe and Bistro inside of Scandinavia House near Grand Central Station on cool January Saturday late morning. And who better to introduce Nordic cuisine to than my wife, impatiently waiting to taste something extraordinary. Walking in 20 minutes early we had the chance to explore clothing, jewelry, and collectibles at the Shop at Scandinavia House. At 11 am, we were graciously seated by Kirsten Marie, whom we had begun engaging in conversation few minutes before. Goes without saying she made the lunch experience double delight. Best way to slow start is with a strong house coffee and a Cappuccino accompanied by a Crispy Swedish Waffle. And thereafter you have to go for what catches your eye. Fish & Shellfish Bisque, 3 Egg Farmer's Omelette, Frankfutrer Sausage (nestled on top of two swirls of mashed potatoes, topped off with crispy onions, pickled cucumbers and mustard), and their version of Smorgasbord (Pickled Herring, Herb Herring, Mustard, Red Beet Salad, Meatballs, Lingonberries, Picked Cucumber, Cheese and Boiled Potatoes). Perfect combo for two persons, just enough, food made with care, served with care that makes for a lovely Saturday lunch. Bjork Cafe and Bistro may not be for everyone, but give it a try, My wife was impressed and thankful for the experience. Lets keep it at that.

Delicious traditional Swedish food! We had fabulous gravlax, skagen toast, herring, pytt i panna, and meatballs! Overall friendly ambience and tremendous hospitality!

Super interesting place! Food was very different from what we'd expected but good nonetheless. Our meal started with complimentary apps, which was a very nice touch. My friend had the Chicken Curry Fricasse, which was a served with salad, bread, and coffee. This was nothing like the usual curry served at Thai/Indian/Japanese places and was more like a soup!? I got the Brisket with Root Veggies. I'd never had brisket cooked this way (poached?), but it was surprisingly tender. The veggies, however, were a tad hard/undercooked. The Elderflower Margarita was pretty light and refreshing. The set-up and vibe were semi-restaurant and semi-cafe, but service was more on the formal side.

Happy to see that another fantastic Scandinavian restaurant remains in this space! Dinner tonight with my boys for my bday and none of the courses disappointed any of us! Feeding a wide range from 7 to 40 somethings, we were all really happy with every dish that came out of their kitchen. Must order ALL of the open face sandwiches: they were all delicious but surprisingly my kids faves were the gentleman's delight: egg salad with chopped pickled Herring, the gravlox one and the chunks of pickled Herring on top of sliced boiled egg. Every night they have a special dish on offer and tonight's happened to be cod with an egg sauce, more like a soft scramble on top of the cod, a really great combo. The swedish meatballs were perfectly balanced, the braised pork was very tender and the sausages on top of mashed potatoes with all the fixings wrappers in potato crepe was a perfect combo. A generous slices of their delicious princess cake, chocolate cake, and almond cake concluded our meal perfectly. We will definitely be back for more!

This cafe is cozy and comfortable. I was excited to try the food but was not particularly impressed. The better dish was the brisket, while the potato waffle and bread both felt stale. I love arctic char but the fish wasn't cooked to its full potential for me. Service was also slow (though we think that there was a fire in the kitchen, as we smelled smoke).

The Scandinavia house is such a special place and now the first floor dining space has come back to life after COVID and it's natural social distancing makes for a tranquil and delicious dining experience. Ate: Small portion of seafood soup Chocolate cake mint tea Total: $29 before tip Lovely seeded bread comes with creamy rich soup. The soft roll is perfection and all served with Scandinavian style. A bar mitzvah upstairs made it a very lively brunch.

When the owner/manager sits in full view of diners, and is eating a pizza (ordered out) instead of her own restaurant's offerings, it'' not exactly a "good look".

I wanted to visit Bjork cafe for a long time which is part of Scandinavian House. Me and my mom had one of the best meals in quite some time! Amuse Bouche - Hummus and mushroom Swedish Meatballs - Traditional Beef with Mashed Potatoes, gravy, lingonberries, pickled cucumber Open face sandwiches: Herring and egg Swedish Meatballs and beats Apple Cake with Vanilla sauce This was unbelievable! The service was great! The dishes were beautifully presented and the taste was immaculate! Perfection!

Unexpectedly amazing! Seems like it's just a cafe in a museum but the menu is quite extensive. Everything was just delicious. And apparently I like herring now. Our waiter was very helpful and offered great suggestions. This ain't no Ikea!

The food is always delicious and consistent, both incredibly important for a good restaurant. The restaurant is cozy and sleek embracing the Swedish theme. The dishes are very well plated and cooked to perfection, making the place feel elevated. Servers and hosts are always welcoming, helpful, and efficient.

Went here the other day and being my first authentic Swedish/scandavian food experience other than ikea it was a refreshing experience. I was pleasantly surprised everything was quite good (herring, shrimp). The wine was a nice touch too.

Great food. We shared the smorgasbord and roasted cauliflower. The cauliflower was a big chunk with puréed mushrooms on the bottom, pickled onions and some other delicious flavors. I'd order both again. (Was so good we started eating before taking pics) The princess cake is a must if you're not familiar with Scandinavian dessert. Casual, nice atmosphere. Although if you feel like dressing up, you wouldn't feel out of place.

I brought 2 friends here for lunch and we were all very, very pleased. We enjoyed our wine and got a variety of food, all good - there are Scandinavian dishes and fish, nice potato leak soup, sandwiches, and other choices. The menu includes both light and larger dishes, with the opportunity to get a couple of cookies if you can't fit a big dessert. The wait staff manage to be totally professional, knowledgeable about the food, and also friendly. The dining room is buffered from busy Park Avenue outside by a small gift shop that carries some Nordic food; Scandinavia House has another gift shop, and usually an art exhibit can be viewed upstairs. Try it! Liz D.

Absolutely delightful little café inside the Scandinavian cultural center. Delicious food and drink plus culturally specific gifts shop. I had the Friday special Pytt i Panna with Pickled Beets which was absolutely wonderful.

Good is ok. Not bad, but great. We tried a few dishes. All average. Drinks too. The "fresh orange" juice is not freshly squeezed, but bought in bottle that had "fresh" on it! Price a little above average. The real dealbreaker is that all their dishes are offered once a week.. or at least it looked that way. One dish for each day of the week. And giving dishes fancy little names is cool, but up to a limit. You have to ask the server about half the item you read. Which bring me to the service, which is excellent, from everybody, from the reception, to the waiting crew, to the gentleman yo picks up the empty dishes at the end. But went in for the food too, sorry. A solid three-star otherwise, but because I'm worried I am harsh, I gave it 4.

Very good Nordic / Scandinavian. The food, decor and ambiance all hit the foundational points of a solid and good value Nordic restaurant. The service is fine. It gets the work done. The food is solidly delivered everyday Scandinavian food. Nothing exciting, no surprises, no downside. It is a good place for the money. Modern Scandinavian vibes. All good.

Try something a bit different, even for NYC.. Great food and service, just a tad expensive!

It's a nice place with Scandinavian food. Simple and tasty. There are small stores in the front and the back of the cafe where you can find Kosta Boda items.

I visited because early February is the time to get the traditional Swedish Shrove Tuesday bun called Semla - which is a cardamom bun filled with whipped cream and almond paste. I love this treat and I saw from an internet search that it was available at Bjork Cafe. I bought one to go today. It is $8 plus tax. I brought it home and had it with coffee. It was fantastic! It is one of the best semla buns I have had. I am so happy about my food experience from Bjork Cafe!

Regards. Came in tonight for 2 pieces of Princess Tårta to go & was charged $32.66. Thought that was a bit high considering your other cakes start at about $10. Paid in cash & was told your restaurant had no coins to give proper change. Had to ask for my receipt. The cake piece was small, not good & certainly not worth $16 per piece. Extremely disappointing & a ripnoff to say the least. Shame on you.

Very good. Nice ,clean ,expertly presented food in a nice space with great service by Stefan. Had the smorgasoard plate, sweedish meetballs nice Austrian wine and for dessert apple cake ,good coffe and home infused aquavit. Highly reccomended

Excellent spot for delicious Scandinavian food! The ambiance is cozy and the service very friendly!

I had dinner here with a friend before a wonderful concert. We both chose waffles. My friend had the ones with shrimp and lemon/dill dressing. I had the ones with bacon and lingonberries. Both were very good, but I ended up feeling hungry. We had the almond/hazelnut cake and chocolate cakes for dessert. I liked the entrees more than the desserts. If I were to return, I'd probably try to find an appetizer or side dish to order to supplement the main.

The ambiance of Bjorne Cafe is lovely. It's light and calming. The service was terrific. Timely, attentive, polite. I had the fish and shellfish bisque and open face chicken salad sandwich. The soup was very tasty although it was not what I thought of as a bisque. The chicken salad sandwich was great. This restaurant is a .super place to go for a relaxing, wonderful meal.

Love this new Scandinavian (mostly Swedish) restaurant on Park Avenue just below Grand Central! I had the open-face Toast Skagen - delicious baby shrimp w/sauce, lemon, brown bread, more. My husband and fellow guest, Annika, had the Smorgasbord plate . A great classic dish - they are both Swedish (living in NYC for over 30 years) and said it was the best they'd ever had in NYC, or even Sweden. Particularly good: the gravlax, meatballs, and Jansson's Temptation potato dish. Then, Princess Cake! Not on the menu, but available a couple days a week. Yummmm..... The clean elegant decor is lovely, and conducive to pleasant dining (also, it's not a loud place, like so many these days. You can actually have a conversation with your dinner partners!). They should take over the space up to the windows. Living in the neighborhood, I walk by often and see folks peering in trying to see the restaurant (which is behind a kind of knick-knack shop area).

Excellent food, service, and setting. The 3 of us had a variety of food & drink - all were excellent examples of what they were (waffle w/bacon & jam!, open face sandwiches, herring plate, soup). The service was professional and friendly. Very good value.