IKEA Restaurant - Review

IKEA Restaurant

Atlantic Station

441 16th St.

Atlanta, GA 30363

Open 9:30-8:30 Daily

My mother and I visited IKEA for lunch on 5/19/2007. The IKEA Restaurant also serves breakfast. IKEA is a fascinating store, an import straight from Sweden that offers Swedish furniture and ideas to the U.S. instead of conforming to ours. They don't seem to worry that Swedish things might be too strange for us, instead, they seem sure that we will love everything, and we do... because it is all priced so low. They really do have some great products, and the restaurant is adequate for sustenance and as a food adventure.

IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, when Ingvar was 17. His father gave him the gift of starting his own business as a reward for good scholarship. The name IKEA is his initials and the first letters of Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd, the farm and village where he grew up. "IKEA originally sold pens, wallets, picture frames, table runners, watches, jewellery and nylon stockings - whatever Ingvar found a need for that he could fill with a product at a reduced price. When Ingvar Kamprad outgrew his ability to make individual sales calls, he began advertising in local newspapers and operating a makeshift mail order catalog. He distributed his products via the county milk van, which delivered them to the nearby train station."

Back to food - The restaurant is on the second floor and is modern and colorful. I felt like I was in Legoland. Food is served in cafeteria style, similar to La Madeleine. First you select a dessert. I chose Blueberry Cake, my mother chose Daim Cake (like Swedish Snickers Pie). The next case displayed cold sandwiches and salads, some bizarre in appearance like the Shrimp Sandwich.

We decided to have hot entrees. I ordered the Daily Special, Swedish Meatballs and Mac and Cheese; Mom selected the Herb Poached Salmon. We drank bottled water. Our meal came to around $17 for two.

My meal was filling and delicious. Apparently, IKEA has Swedish Meatballs down. They are served with a flavorful gravy and with lingonberry jam! I obligingly dipped my meatballs in the jam and loved it. An interesting combination, but very tasty.

My mother enjoyed her Herb Poached Salmon, which came with new potatoes and vegetables, but I thought the salmon appeared to be a bit overdone. Its texture and flavor were fine, though.

We split the desserts in half so we could taste both. The Blueberry Cake was sweet and really good. There was a light graham-type crust on the bottom, a creamy layer, and a jam layer on top. The Daim Cake was even better with layers of a sweet creamy yellow pudding-like substance and layers of chocolate candy. The top was coated with nuts and chocolate, but the flavor is delicate.

I loved going to the IKEA Restaurant. When you finish, you put your tray on a trolley and the staff removes the trolleys. There are lots of unique touches. Also, you can purchase Swedish cookies and foods at the restaurant. If you want even more selection, there is a whole Swedish foodmarket down on the first floor!

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.

This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

• Good food 7 • Quick bite 8 • Family-friendly 10

• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion