Fiat Café in Soho, New York: A Cute Spot That Missed the Mark

First Impressions of Fiat cafe SoHo

Nestled in the heart of Soho, Fiat Café immediately stands out from the street. The exterior gives off that unmistakable European charm small, stylish, and just a bit retro. The café is themed after the iconic Fiat car, and the design cleverly incorporates the brand’s elements without feeling too gimmicky. Small vintage details, like framed Fiat posters, muted colors, and metal accents, make the space feel both nostalgic and modern.

Even though we arrived early on a Sunday morning, the outdoor tables were already full, buzzing with chatter and laughter. It’s clearly a popular brunch destination, especially for people who enjoy people-watching on a sunny morning in Soho. The interior was compact yet inviting, a mix of casual café vibes with touches of Italian coziness. The smell of espresso and butter instantly made me feel hungry and excited to try the food. LowKey, I was really expect for the Bagels!

At first glance, everything looked promising. Cute ambiance? Check. Friendly energy? Check. A menu filled with comforting classics like pasta, bagels, and French toast? Only $30 A bottle of wine? Absolutely. But as the dishes started arriving, things took a different turn.

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What We Ordered at Fiat cafe

We decided to go for a variety of items to get a good feel for their menu: French toast, a salmon bagel with avocado, linguini fini pasta, and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Everything came out fairly quickly, and presentation-wise, everything looked beautiful. But as we learned, not everything that looks great tastes great.

French Toast

Visually, the French toast looked picture-perfect. Thick slices of golden-brown bread dusted with powdered sugar and served with a small pitcher of syrup. It looked like something you’d expect from a cozy European café brunch.

Unfortunately, the taste didn’t match the look. The toast was soggy in the middle, and the flavor felt flat, missing that rich buttery balance and the subtle sweetness that good French toast should have. It almost tasted as if the egg mixture wasn’t fully absorbed or the bread was too dense.

I was expecting something decadent and comforting, but it just felt uninspired. In a city like New York, where you can find incredible French toast at countless spots, this one was forgettable. Pretty for photos, but that’s about it.

Please let me know is there any nice frenchtoast resturats hahhah.

Salmon Bagel with Avocado

You’d think it’s hard to go wrong with a salmon and avocado bagel, especially in New York City, the land of bagels. Sadly, this one didn’t impress either.

The bagel itself was average, neither chewy nor crispy, and the smoked salmon was fine but lacked that buttery richness or depth of flavor. The avocado was fresh but under-seasoned, and together, the combination just didn’t spark anything exciting.

In New York, where bagels are practically sacred, this version felt like something you could easily make at home. not bad, just not memorable. If you’re in Soho, there are dozens of nearby spots like Russ & Daughters or Black Seed Bagels that easily outshine this.

Lowkey, maybe my version of salmon will way much better.

Linguini Fini Pasta

The linguini fini pasta ended up being the most enjoyable dish out of everything we tried. It had a light, olive-oil-based sauce with hints of garlic, clams, and herbs, something close to a vongole pasta.

The noodles were cooked just right al dente, springy, and satisfying and the seasoning had a nice savory depth. However, while it was definitely the best of the meal, it still lacked a certain spark. It tasted like a pasta dish from a small Italian diner rather than something crafted with love and personality.

Still, if you end up at Fiat Café, this is probably the dish to go for. It’s solid, comforting, and pairs well with wine. Just don’t expect it to blow you away.

Cabernet Sauvignon

We ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that was attractively priced at $30. For Soho, that’s quite a good deal, especially considering how expensive drinks can get in this neighborhood.

The wine itself was decent smooth, medium-bodied, and drinkable but it didn’t stand out in any particular way. It paired well with the pasta, but it’s not something you’d remember or order again. Still, it’s a fair value if you’re just looking to sip and relax.

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Service and Experience at Fiat cafe

The atmosphere at Fiat Café was cozy and relaxed, with the kind of slow Sunday rhythm that makes you want to linger. The staff was polite but not particularly attentive, which wasn’t a big issue since the café was quite busy.

However, one major frustration came when it was time to pay: cash only. This wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the menu or by the staff when ordering. In a modern city like New York, that’s quite inconvenient. There is an ATM inside the restaurant, but it felt like an unnecessary hassle. Especially after spending a decent amount on food and drinks.

That small detail left a bit of a sour note on the whole experience. When restaurants don’t communicate things like that upfront, it feels inconsiderate to customers.

The ambiance, though, deserves credit. Between the vintage Fiat posters, cozy seating, and the sunlight streaming in through the windows, the café nails that “casual Italian brunch” vibe. If you’re after cute aesthetics or a place to take a photo, this place delivers.

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Final Thoughts about Fiat cafe

Fiat Café in Soho has so much potential. The atmosphere, the theme, the location, but it struggles to back it up with food that matches the charm. The dishes ranged from average to disappointing, and while the wine was fine, it wasn’t enough to save the experience.

The café is definitely Instagram-worthy, and the Fiat theme gives it a unique identity. But in a city filled with amazing Italian restaurants and brunch spots, cute decor alone isn’t enough. For the same price or less, you can find places with both personality and genuinely great food.

If you’re just stopping by for a quick coffee or glass of wine, it’s a nice little detour. But if you’re planning a full brunch or dinner here, you might walk away wishing you’d chosen another spot.

So, while Fiat Café wins points for charm, it falls short where it really counts, the flavor.

We can find much better Italian brunch cafe NYC.