| Bigger, better and maybe even a little bluer – that’s the new IKEA store in Deerfoot Meadows (8000 - 11th St. S.E.; phone 273-4338). In the past, Calgarians have journeyed from all the sprawling corners of the city to stroll the circuitous shopping path of this furniture mecca. And now, to do a decent sweep of the new location, it takes approximately 3.5 additional hours. That means you may want to stop at least once to eat. To facilitate that, IKEA provides a "restaurant and café" as part of the store.
So which is it: restaurant or café? And who should we dine with in IKEA and what should we have? Those were the questions that three friends and I set out to answer as we hit Deerfoot Trail.
Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to find immediate access to the restaurant from the entrance, meaning you can fuel up first and then burn it off during the walking shop-a-thon. But this happy discovery was soon eclipsed by the reality of no table service. Pushing plastic trays along the counter, we were herded in organized IKEA fashion toward the hot-food station. Things were looking less and less like a restaurant – or even a café. We were smack dab in the middle of a true cafeteria, reminiscent of The Red Grille of Woolco fame, only cleaner and brighter. Regardless, Diana, the cashier, couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful, ensuring that we had the beverages and dinner rolls included in our menu choices.
Inspired by our table’s backdrop mural of the Stockholm Harbour, we first sampled the Swedish Meatballs ($4.49). These were served with lingonberries and boiled potatoes (yes, the menu actually says "boiled"). This dish was a little bland but palatable, as was the Baked Salmon Plate ($6.99), which boasted herbs that simply weren’t there.
The second lingonberry incarnation was the chipotle sauce version offered alongside the Chicken Breast with Sesame Rosti ($5.99). The best part of this dish was its accompaniment of deliciously seasoned potato pancakes. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavour of the Mac & Cheese ($1.99) and I suppose the consistency was fun in a squish-through-your-teeth kind of way. The Penne with Marinara Sauce ($.99) is for children raised on Chef Boyardee or very small adults with ulcers.
More successful were the items from the cold fridge. There was the open-faced sandwich of tasty shrimp, generous mayonnaise and lettuce served on thick fresh bread ($3.99). The tuna sandwich ($3.49) was hearty and fresh, wrapped in a tortilla that maintained its firm integrity. We all loved the Gravad Lax Plate ($4.49) served with a slightly sweet dill mustard sauce – even the friend who grew up on barbecued bologna in Regina. Gravad Lax is available for take-out purchases from the Swedish Food Market for $5.99 per 200 grams. For dessert, we recommend the Carrot Cake ($1.49) or the Almond Torte ($1.99).
Endless conveniences abound: in the centre of the cafeteria is the children’s section, complete with a miniature picnic table and a television. Highchairs and strollers are available, as is a microwave for heating Heinz baby food ($.79). Bottled water is only $1. A nearby elevator ensures wheelchair access. The restaurant’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The only inconvenience was our search for the bus station to deposit our dirty plates.
I felt a little like I had just attended an eight-year-old’s birthday party (no offence to my guests). But for what it seeks to accomplish, which is to feed the hungry and shopping weary, and maintain its reputation for value, it works. In fact, as cafeteria – I repeat, cafeteria – food goes, we agreed that this is the best any of us had tasted.
Finally, who should we dine with in IKEA and what should we have? Swedish meatballs would help hungry children maintain their rambunctious energy (or the macaroni and cheese for young vegetarians). Once those children are corralled in the Smalland Magical Forest, frazzled young parents will enjoy a mazarin ($.99) dunked into the best machine-made cappuccino around ($1).
Treat those hungover friends who are hell-bent on picking up tea lights or clip-frames on Sundays to heaps of absolutely delicious fries and gravy. For your romantic partner, I suggest you stick with the cold food – that is, if you two are serious and both have a say in what goes in the shopping cart. Save the hot dishes for dates whose knickknack choices displease you and therefore inspire you to exit, without a trace, via the sofa department. Just be sure to grab a hotdog on your way out. |
Copyright ©2005 FFWD. All rights reserved.