The Norfolk IKEA opens on April 10th and I got a sneak peak at it today. Because of the volume of information and pictures I am going to split the information up into two posts. This first one is going to be all about the food!
In case you aren’t familiar IKEA has their own restaurants inside the stores. Naturally they are furnished with IKEA furniture and I have always found them very comfortable.
Want to know more about the store? Check out A Sneak Peak at the New Norfolk IKEA Part TWO: The Store.
They have a fantastic mix of both American and Swedish Food and are famous for their meatballs. Before you look at the dishes below please know they also have things like hot dogs, grilled chicken, chicken tenders and more “normal” food. So if you head to the store and want to eat (which I recommend) please don’t feel like you have to experiment if you don’t want to!
The meal they served us today is called a Smorgasbord and they do this periodically at their stores. You do have to buy a ticket ahead of time but for IKEA family members it is only $12.99 for adults and $2.99 for kids 12 and under. And it is all you can eat!
Here are some of the items they served us today and our thoughts on them! I am vegetarian and most dishes weren’t so I was relying on the responses of people around us! I got shots of the tags as best I could so you can see the ingredients.
People liked the salmon and horseradish but the crispbread was a little big. Most people agreed that this on a piece of pita would have been perfect. You can purchase the salmon in the bistro as you exit the store if you want to make it at home.
Both sets of these eggs got thumbs up from everyone around me. You can purchase the salmon in the bistro as you exit the store if you want to make it at home.
This wasn’t the most appetizing thing I have ever seen but the universal sound for “yum” was heard all around me when people tasted it. Everyone seemed to like it and I heard from some they liked it better than Honey Baked Ham!
I tried. I just hate beets.
They didn’t have any vegan meatballs out for me today but my tour partner had her first ever IKEA meatball and LOVED them. If you have never had them and go to IKEA I feel like it’s a right of passage to try them. You can buy the meatballs frozen and take them home to eat!
This was my plate. Besides the beets the dishes were a sort of hash brown type thing (designed to have fish eggs and sour cream on it) that was good. The red potato was just cooked in butter and dill and tasted exactly like you expected. The pancake thing was YUMMY with the famous IKEA lingonberry preserves. I could eat a ton of those. The last dish was pickled cucumbers and tasted like, well, pickles.
Rave reviews from all around me. The muesli can be purchased at the store to take home as well.
The butterscotch in this was not my favorite but if you like those tastes you can grab one of the candy bars to take home.
This was yummy. The entire thing was soft and I would have liked some crunch on the bottom but if someone offered it to me at a party I wouldn’t argue. You can buy a whole one of these at the store to take home at the bistro downstairs after you check out.
Both of these cookies are available to be purchased and taken home. The bottom one is coconut with cocoa. I did not like it (tasted like coffee to me) but my coffee drinking tour mate LOVED THEM.
The green cookie was KAFFEREP– a pastry with marzipan coating and chocolate dipped ends. UTZ certified cacao: ensures sustainable farming standards and good conditions for workers. You can grab a 6 pack for $1.99 to take home.
But those top cookies. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THEM. These are called a KAFFEREP cookie with filling- they have chocolate and raspberry flavors. The top has jam and inside the two cookies is an icing filling. They are light and delicious.
I was very sad we couldn’t buy any to take home (they will be available- they just didn’t have any cashiers to ring us up).
I thought this item in the bistro was fun- just add water, shake, pour into the cupcake holders and bake!
They also sent me home with these so they have some fresh baked items to go as well!
After today I am even more excited to see the store open and go grab lunch one day. They have a huge food area with lots of interesting things to try! Plus all the fresh fruit was amazing so I am sure those items taste great as well.
If you are interested in attending the store opening here is the info for you:
Customers can begin to line up outside the store at 5:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 10. Entertainment for customers waiting in line will start at 6:00 a.m. ET, followed by the grand opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m. ET. Doors will officially open at 9:00 a.m. ET. Customers can learn more about the grand opening plans and promotions at IKEA-USA.com/Norfolk or by joining the free IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.
Activities and giveaways include:
IKEA Welcome
- The first 200 children (12 & younger) in line receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy, valued at $4.99.
• The first 1,000 adults (18 & older) in line receive a special “welcome” gift.
IKEA Welcome Sweepstakes
- On Grand Opening Day, visitors in line before 8:00 a.m. ET will be entered for a chance to win one of three (3) gift cards, valued at $500, $1,500 and $2,000.i
IKEA FAMILY $250 Gift Card Giveaway
· Visitors who join IKEA FAMILY in-store or scan their IKEA FAMILY card in-store at an IKEA FAMILY kiosk or tablet will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of twenty $250 IKEA Gift Cards through the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.
IKEA Norfolk Offer
- IKEA FAMILY members – use your IKEA FAMILY card between Wednesday, April 10 and Sunday, April 21 and spend a minimum of $125, and you will receive a coupon for $20 off next purchase of $100 or more. Must opt-in to receive IKEA FAMILY emails to receive offer.
Deborah Montagna says
That “pancake thing” is a crepe! Our family makes them frequently and fill them with various favorites. Sometimes we make blintzes, sometimes we just roll them up with peanut butter and/or maple syrup……. they’re great with fruit as well 🙂
I really had little interest in IKEA before your post – now I feel compelled to try a meatball!