I haven't walked by recently. Is the cafe open? Has anyone been? What do they serve?

Its open. Its a coffee shop with food, sandwiches, desserts, etc.

They are still getting set up so their menu is not yet complete, but so far the coffee and treats are very good.

Here's a bad cellphone shot I took the night before they opened

walked by past weekend. According to the friendly hostess they'd been open for a week. The place opens at 6:30 weekdays, 7:30 on w/e. The stand outside advertises coffee, baklava and other delicacies; alas, they seemed to have run out of baklava when I stopped by (Memorial day, around 2pm). There are bowls with water outside (for four-legged visitors) and, if I'm not mistaken, Wi-Fi for 'net junkies.

Will def. be back earlier for my baklava fix.

I stopped in Cafe Fulya three times over the long weekend, seems like a great addition to the neighborhood to me. I live right on 2nd just past Monroe, so it also helps me get my caffine fix right outside my front door. Had the walnut baklava - it was amazing. I have seen them working on it over the past few months, so it was nice to get to check it out.

Looks to me like they are still working on the food part - but I will be happy to report back once I have been able to try some of their other offerings.

Have been in a few times. The deserts are really good. Had the baklava, the creme brulee and some coconut cake. Also had the Turkish coffee which is an interesting twist in the area. The space is pretty nice as well.

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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. - H.L. Mencken

We went down tonight for dessert, and they have gotten more items. They now have baguettes with turkish meats and cheeses, and salads. And of course, dessert-my wife got the baklava and I got the tart. Very good. And they make, IMO, the best cappucino in the area.

I love this place. The owner and the people who run it have truly invested a lot of time and effort. I admit I'm biased because this is my new coffee spot due to its proximity to my house.

BUT, of course, some local fascists decided to rain on everyone's "Fulya" parade by calling L&I and reporting that the Cafe had been using illegal outdoor seating during their opening day - FREE FOOD & DRINK - fest. In appreciation of this nice addition to the neighborhood, apparently, a "neighbor" had called and reported them. I witnessed the L&I visit the other day as I waited for some Tabule...here's how it went.

L&I guy walks in and starts asking where the outdoor seating is. Woman behind counter says that they have none. L&I guy says well if you did, you can't because you didn't file the paperwork. He was really nice and just told her to apply. He then commented that some neighbors had called and reported it and then sarcastically added "Nice Neighborhood."

I couldn't have been more embarassed as a member of this community. Yes, they should have applied for the outdoor seating permit, they didn't, but here's my problem. These type of laws are enacted to protect the IMMEDIATE neighbors from noise, etc. correct? Well it's unlikely that any immediate neighbors called, as many, if not all of them were in attendance at the grand opening. Additionally, the hours of a coffee shop don't really generate rowdy late-night gatherings. So, it's pretty apparent to me that someone on this board who began the discussion of the Cafe by bitching about how they didn't have to apply for an outdoor seating license most likely called L&I. Talk about sour grapes. Yes, it sucks that you or your friend had to jump through hoops to get the license, but don't hold it against a fellow new business.

Though not on the same level, I find a strange similarity between the Stamper Square argument: "would you rather stare at a hole for another 10 years" and these L&I whistle-blowers who apparently want to see this new business fail and stare at an empty store front for a few more years. Those Society Hill people who opposed that development are idiots, but so are you (whomever you are) for crying "but they didn't have to do what I did to get outdoor seats." Come to think of it, all people who complain about outdoor seating are clueless...but we've had this discussion before. Sorry for venting, I know that "laws exist and need to be followed, yada yada" but come on.

By the way, their coffee is cheaper than Philly Java and Red Hook.

I walked by it tonight on my way home from dinner and took a look inside ... very nice looking and I'm definitely going to give it a go for morning coffee one weekend soon, although I have developed something of a loyalty to the Java at 2nd and Christian.

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---Shosh

I was the only one who questioned the idea of outdoor seating in another thread, so if you've got something to say, just say it. You'd be wrong. I plainly said in another thread that I was there opening day-and they didn't have outdoor seating the two times I went for coffee. I didn't call anyone, and since I'm the only one who questioned outdoor seating, you have to be referring to me.

I would, however, respectfully submit that if you wish to blame someone in this thread, look no further than the mirror because you were the only one who stated that they were having cafe seating. Many neighborhood coffeeshop owners read this thread, and some are also your very close residential neighbors. There are also a few residential neighbors who own restaurants that have been denied outdoor permits. Since the chairs never existed, there's only one way the complainant got the idea that there would be outdoor seating-from you.

With that said, your stampers square argument has no relevance to this. Cafe Fulya opened, and seem to be doing well without cafe seating. Although some may think a place can avoid the rules so that we don't have vacancies, my previous and current position is that no place should have an unfair advantage against neighboring businesses. Unfair advantages cause as much loss of business in this city as over enforcement.

Cafe Fulya does not meet a single requirement under the law to have outdoor seating:

At least 5 feet of sidewalk space must remain cleared-there is no way they could put tables on either sidewalk(2nd or monroe) and have 5 feet of clearance. Monroe's sidewalk is so thin I don't even think its 5 ft. period.

No commercial activity may block a fire hydrant-directly in front of their space is a fire hydrant, so curbside seating is not an option

No door or vent may be blocked by tables. Clear egress must be maintained around all doors-By the time you add up their cellar door, entrance way, and adjacent property which can't be impeded, there is no way to place seating on 2nd street.

At least 10 ft. of clearance must be maintained for any cafe on a corner where two streets intersect. That alone negates almost their entire area.

In addition, any place that wishes to have outdoor seating must procur insurance for the seating, a corporate bond to absolve the city of liability, and pay an annual fee of $160. As you can see, its not just a matter of "jumping through hurdles", its also a matter of constant financial responsibility for those who follow the law.

The chairs and tables existed outside on the opening day.