PrintThe Food at Ikea: Cheap and Good
First, I'm sure there are some of you that are sick of hearing about the new Ikea in Red Hook. You've heard about the people who lined up for free stuff, you heard about locals' reactions to having the store in their neighborhoods. But you haven't really heard about the food at Ikea. Granted, that might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Ikea, but I had heard the food was good, cheap and worthwhile. That said, I went yesterday to check out what they had to offer.
The main dining area is an immediate left after you come up the escalator when you come up from the entrance. It's a big dining area with expansive views if you can get the window seats. The feel of it all reminds me of a really nice university or office cafeteria. It's all clean and stylish.
So I tried out the Swedish meatballs (of course) with some fries, the apple cake, Swedish almond cake, and the Daim torte.
The Swedish meatballs were tasty and plentiful. They came with some lingonberry jam. You also could get the meatballs with a side. A plate of meatballs is $4.99.
They also have chicken tenders, apple-glazed salmon, gravad lax, Buffalo chicken wrap, and chicken Caesar salad. There's also soup and a salad bar. For the kids they have peanut butter and jelly pockets, mac and cheese, and a small portion of Swedish meatballs. For drinks you get a glass cup for soda for $1.29, with free refills, and coffee or tea for 99¢, also with free refills.
My favorite dessert was the Swedish almond cake. The apple cake had a mosaic of apple slices. The Daim torte comes with a Daim candy. The apple cake is $2.29 (add coffee for 50¢); the Swedish almond cake is $1.29; the Daim Torte is $1.79. They also have a Delicato Sampler Plate and Chocolate Mousse.
After you eat, they encourage you to bus your table and bring your tray of dishes (heavy dishes) to a hub of racks.
After eating I made way through the furniture and random stuff back downstairs to the food market and "Bistro," where they have really, really cheap food. Pretzels, cinnamon buns, nonfat frozen yogurt, soda, bottled water, and milk are $1 each. A hot dog is 50¢, and potato chips and coffee are 75¢ each. For combinations: a hot dog and soft drink are $2; a six-pack of cinnamon rolls are $5; and two hot dogs, chips, and a soft drink are $2.50.
I tried a 50¢ hot dog. It is 50¢! I was surprised. The hot dog wasn't bad at all.
At the food market, they have sampling areas. There, if you don't want to commit to an entire plate of meatballs, you can sample one. You can also sample the sparkling juice drinks.
At the food market, among the different things they have, there they also have Swedish fish candies.
Previously
Ikea Hack: Free Ferry and Bus Service GIves Easy Access to Red Hook Ball Fields
How to Make Homemade Ikea Meatballs
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16 Comments:
But if a soda is $1 and a hot dog is $0.50, then why opt for a $2 combo?
OneWallKitchen at 6:28PM on 06/20/08
All the items I have gotten from the Ikea cafe were really great. The desserts are definitely worthwhile. The only thing I hated was the coffee (perhaps it was old, or someone just didn't know how to make coffee).
beth1 at 6:41PM on 06/20/08
I completely agree with this! My parents and I have chosen Ikea as a lunch destination before, when we don't even need any furniture, just food. The meatballs are the best, and anything with Daim is to die for. Also, the Kristian Regale sparkling cider available in the shop is wonderful.
maasikas at 7:23PM on 06/20/08
The actual $2.50 combo here in Orlando is 2 hot dogs, chips and a drink. So, share with your kid or husband and you've got a screamin deal! :)
katarina_santiago at 7:48PM on 06/20/08
This is the second time I have read the words "food might not be the first thing you think about when you think of Ikea" on this website! (Adam wrote it the other day)
Food *is* the first thing I think about when I think of IKEA!!! And I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm a huge fan of the meatballs with lingonberries. Thanks for the report Gordon. I was totally wondering what kind of stuff they were serving, and how much it was...
Zach Brooks at 10:54PM on 06/20/08
@ OneWallKitchen.....I had the same question. Why am I paying an extra 0.50 to buy them together?
And the cinnamon buns are amazing! In my opinion, better than Cinnabon.
amanda0730 at 11:45PM on 06/20/08
I agree about the food being the primary thing I thought of when I traveled 2-1/2 hours to the nearest one. I love furniture and stuff, don't get me wrong. I even got my grumpy husband wanting to go back - although he wants to look at the furniture again. It was a quick walkthrough of the place and I squealed with glee when I saw the cafe. I didn't care what specials they had, I just wanted the meatballs! The special was the meatballs (not sure if it's always the special) -- $4.99 for 12 meatballs with sides.
I can't wait to go back!
Cassaendra at 7:42AM on 06/21/08
We travel over five hours to get to our nearest Ikea. I heard about the food there (specifically the meatballs) before I heard about the furniture and other things in the store, and I'm always more excited to eat than I am to shop.
kmnola at 5:27PM on 06/21/08
OK, OK. Maybe with this crowd, food IS the first thing that comes to mind. I still always think of the damn hex-head wrenches from having to put together that furniture.
Adam Kuban at 8:06PM on 06/21/08
The $1 soft serve frozen yogurt was surprisingly delicious when I tried it - not the best frozen yogurt I've ever had, but for a dollar, it's a great value!
poke87 at 9:58PM on 06/21/08
This is just scary.
Why does it seem the Ikea food all comes in shades of washed-out browns with an emphasis on tan, white, and spots of red for accent? Is that part of the decor of furniture store gastronomy?
Meat, fries, and three desserts with one even having a dessert of it's own, all topped off by a hot dog and samples? It's a wonder we can waddle our way there.
I can't even imagine what kind of "food" goes into it to make it so cheap and what sort of chems make it taste as it does. It does show that people will go out of their way for "bargain" food. Want people to show up? Give gratuitous grub. Worked for us with the PTA. Couldn't get parents to come for Open House at their child's school to find out out what Junior did all day but when we bribed them with free dinner we were over-run with entire families including Grandma. A friend of mine told me about his mom making him take her to town for the Fourth of July so they could stand in line for 3 hours to get a free hot dog. He kept saying he'd be happy to buy her one but she'd have none of that. She wanted the crappy one of unknown origin because she was getting a "deal."
How the United States was finally conquered; with the partly assembled furnishing cuisine of Scandanavia sold in modular units. Indeed, ordering by picture and paying 50 cents extra for a complete combo thinking it's a heck of deal. P.T. Barnum would be proud.
I'm off to brush up on my Nordic languages...
Sieseye at 4:00AM on 06/22/08
Best chicken fingers hands down.
coffee at 5:14PM on 06/22/08
The nearest Ikea to me is 40 min away, I usually don't indulge in the food because there is a great grocery store next to the Ikea. Things there I can't find at home. I like the cheap $2.00 throw rugs!!!!
joanpieroni2 at 7:25PM on 06/22/08
I love love love the meatballs at IKEA. I always buy a 5-pound bag of the frozen meatballs to take home with me, and heat them up with lingonberry or red currant jam when I get home. They rarely last very long.
My former roommate, a native Swede, assures me that IKEA's meatballs are remarkably authentic.
klg19 at 11:49PM on 06/22/08
has anyone had a panzarotti from ikea? it's like a pizza pocket. i'm from orange county so maybe they only have it on the west coast? they are delicious.
@ OneWallKitchen & amanda0730..... this is kinda a shot in the dark, but after squinting at the picture of the menu from the article, i think the combo is $2 because you get a polish sausage instead of a hot dog. talk about tricky!
foodbeast at 5:25AM on 06/23/08
The nearestr Ikea is four hours away. We do try to go whenever we can. The free standing kitchen storage unit we have is a wonderfully useful and a solid piece of furniture. (I was able to bribe someone to put it together for me by giving them my old microwave.) I saw all the pieces - I got the better deal.
But I think you meatball lovers have been overcome by the fumes from too much pdf boards. I had the meatballs several years ago and there were awful. My partner agreed. We have never eaten there since. Buy cheap Euro-origin food at Trader Joe's. Not Ikea.
dnc
JohnFred at 1:36PM on 06/23/08