Ikea Cafeteria

What if I told you I just went to a great new restaurant but it's a little out of the way?  I'm sure you would ask just how far out we're talking.  Well, it's in the middle of nowhere in Brooklyn, and I had to take a subway and shuttle to get there.  Most people would reserve a trek like that for a James Beard nominee or whatever restaurant the latest Top Chef winner has just opened.  Me, I make that trip for Ikea.  

I was on a mission for night stands that I plan to kiss with a little DIY tenderness and food was the last thing on my mind.  Once I arrived I realized my grumbling stomach needed to be tended to and this may be my rare chance to finally try the Ikea food court.  I am completely sold.  Some food is better than others, but one quick glance and you can figure out which items to go for.  I'll give you a hint: go with the meatballs.  Nothing is more Swedish than meatballs and they do a fine job.  For $4.99 you get a huge plate of about 20 meatballs, lingonberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  That $4.99 is the combo price, which means you also get a side salad or soup (the salad is measly; go with the soup, especially if it was the sweet butternut squash and apple that I had) and a fountain drink.  Other than those characters in the Dragon Tattoo series, it seems like all Swedish people are super nice.  They were happy to offer a taste of the meatballs before I committed and allowed me to trade my fountain drink for an elderflower juice box.  My drink choice was both because I'm not a Pepsi fan and because elderflower sounded extra Swedish.  It was the exact opposite of Pepsi, and by that I mean it was good.  It was Vitamin Water-esque and tasted like Sweden.  Sweden tastes like melting snow and efficiency.

I love my night stands, but Ikea could stop producing furniture altogether and I would still be happy.  Even McDonald's looks expensive next to this lil restaurant whose meal is much more well-rounded.  It seems a little extreme to go all the way to Ikea for lunch, so make up some bogus excuse about needing new throw pillows and get you some Swedish meatballs, pronto.